Māori Economy Gearing Up for Growth Under New Zealand–India Free Trade Agreement

A new trade deal between New Zealand and India is being hailed as a major step forward for the Māori economy, moving beyond traditional commodities toward high-value innovation and cultural partnership. Te Taumata chair Hone McGregor attended the first reading of the New Zealand–India Free Trade Agreement Bill in Parliament, advocating for a forward-looking perspective on the nation's trading future. The agreement follows a formal ceremony held in New Delhi on April 27, 2026, attended by NZ Trade Commissioner to India Graham Rouse, Chief Trade Negotiator Vangelis Vitalis, and McGregor. While some critics have focused on the limitations regarding dairy and specific Tiriti provisions, McGregor notes that the agreement provides immediate benefits for Māori interests in horticulture, fisheries, forestry, wine, and the digital services sector through tariff reductions and enhanced market access. A standout feature of the deal is Chapter 13, which focuses on cultural co-operation. This section explicitly recognises mātauranga (traditional knowledge) and creates pathways for Māori to collaborate internationally on research, traditional medicines, and SME development. McGregor, who also chairs Wakatū Incorporation, says this aligns with the intergenerational 500-year plan, Te Pae Tawhiti, as it mirrors the long-term civilisational outlook held by many Indian commercial partners. Specific opportunities are already being identified in the biodiscovery space. As chair of AuOra, Wakatū’s biodiscovery company, McGregor points to potential partnerships between Māori natural products and India’s AYUSH traditional medicine system. He emphasizes that while the agreement sets the framework, the success of the deal will rely on building deep, trust-based relationships and increasing 'India literacy' across the New Zealand business landscape to ensure Māori exporters can fully diversify into these resilient markets.