Te Arawa Fisheries had a rich and productive discussion with Rino Tirikatene this week about Māori innovations and opportunities in the aquaculture industry.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries showed his support towards kaimoana market opportunities for Māori, as well as the recent opening of the Whakatōhea Mussels processing factory in Ōpōtiki.

Te Arawa Fisheries also discussed the opportunity to showcase the Māori aquaculture sector’s innovation and business acumen on the world stage at two upcoming trade events.

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit is a premier business forum, attracting influential business leaders from some of the largest companies in the world.

This year’s summit will be hosted on November 11-12 as a hybrid event, with attendees in Auckland joining virtual participants from around the world.

It was mutually agreed the summit, if harnessed correctly, could be a once in a generation opportunity for Māori businesses, including those in aquaculture, to promote products and services to the leaders representing 60 per cent of the global economy.

Substantial work is also happening behind the scenes in preparation for the World Expo, to be held in Dubai later this year.

The New Zealand Pavilion’s theme reflects the Māori value of kaitiakitanga, which emphasises the deep connection between people and the environment – a fundamental component of aquaculture.

Mr Tirikatene said the Government was committed to working closely with Te Arawa Fisheries, to ensure Māori was at the forefront of science and consenting developments, and Crown investment.