Mana Āheinga – Capability and culture as drivers of Māori participation in the economy

Next to the overall New Zealand population, Māori are comparatively young and will comprise a growing proportion of the future workforce. Developing further skills and capabilities among the young Māori population would contribute significantly to economic growth, prosperity, and higher living standards. Māori culture is a unique asset available to the Māori population and of increasing interest to other New Zealanders. It is therefore relevant to examine the intersection of capability, culture, and Māori participation in the economy. How do cultural skills contribute to overall human capital development? Cultural skills and capabilities may be perceived less valuable than ‘core’ skills, such as literacy, and technical skills used in the workplace. This analytical note tests some of those assumptions. Culture is important for fostering a coherent sense of identity that builds resilience and confidence, creating a platform for participation in education, society and the economy. Many cultural skills have broad application. When the skills desired by employers are placed alongside those valued by iwi and Māori enterprises, it becomes apparent that many of those skills align. This suggests that cultural and technical skills should be seen as complementary rather than competing. It is also important to recognise the potential grounding effect of cultural skills in the face of disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence. This note proposes a Te Ao Māori perspective on human capability, based on the He Ara Waiora framework. The findings aim to inform policymakers, researchers, and other interested readers on these matters, while also indicating areas for future research and discussion.