Development of indigenous enterprise in a contemporary business environment – the Ngāi Tahu Ahikā approach
Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy
ISSN: 1750-6204
Article publication date: 7 August 2018
Issue publication date: 14 September 2018
Abstract
Purpose
Tribal economic development in post-settlement era Aoteroa/New Zealand has opened up opportunities for Maori to invest in the sustainable commercial utilisation of their traditional economic resources. Mahinga kai (traditional food and food sources) has always been at the heart of the Maori tribe Ngāi Tahu’s spiritual, cultural, social and economic existence. The purpose of this research is to revitalise mahinga kai enterprise through the commercial development of traditional and contemporary food and food resources in a culturally commensurate manner.
Design/methodology/approach
Participant action research theory and practice were used by researchers from Toitū Te Kāinga (Regional Development Unit of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu) between 2008 and 2012. This was informed by a Kaupapa Maori philosophy of respect and empowerment of the participants’ needs.
Findings
The development of the Ahikā Kai Indigenous business system shows that competitive advantage can be created for Indigenous businesses and enterprises through a four-pronged strategy based around: first, human rights that empower tribal members; second, product differentiation based on cultural principles; third, an internal accreditation system to help verify the ethical credibility of the products; and fourth, lowering producer costs through website marketing and direct-to-consumer selling.
Originality/value
This research adds to a growing (yet still evolving) body of literature on Indigenous entrepreneurship and the role of voluntary certification in Indigenous business development. The Ahikā Kai business system is an original world first for this type of Indigenous development based on creating a competitive advantage for multiple independent enterprises while maintaining the core integrity of its cultural brand and its operations.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge Un Punto Macrobiotico (Italian Macrobiotic Association) for sharing vital information about its own food supply chain business model. Information from Un Punto Macrobiotico formed part of the research team’s thinking during the early developmental phase of Ahikā Kai.
This work was funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment under contract to the Agricultural Research Group on Sustainability (ARGOS). ARGOS is an unincorporated joint venture between the Agribusiness Group Ltd, Lincoln University, University of Otago and Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu. ARGOS has the task of exploring the environmental, social and economic sustainability of New Zealand farming systems and is funded by the Ministry for Science and Innovation, a New Zealand government agency. ARGOS also acknowledges in-kind support from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.
Citation
Barr, T.L., Reid, J., Catska, P., Varona, G. and Rout, M. (2018), "Development of indigenous enterprise in a contemporary business environment – the Ngāi Tahu Ahikā approach", Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Vol. 12 No. 4, pp. 454-471. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEC-05-2016-0014
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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