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Centralized decentralization for tribal business development

Tremane Lindsay Barr (Toitu Te Kainga, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Christchurch, New Zealand)
John Reid (Toitu Te Kainga, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Christchurch, New Zealand)

Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy

ISSN: 1750-6204

Publication date: 5 August 2014

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research was to identify and create a decentralized development system specific for the whanau (family) and hapu/runanga (sub-tribe) members of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. In New Zealand, a number of Maori tribes have negotiated compensation with the New Zealand Government for past injustices. These assets are typically centralized within iwi (tribal) corporate structures to protect and grow the asset base on behalf of tribal constituents. This centralization of assets has caused political tension within tribes.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides a case study of whanau/hapu-level businesses facilitated by the post-settlement iwi – Ngāi Tahu – to demonstrate how each level can work synergistically to encourage multi-level economic development in a way that matches cultural patterns and expectations. Participant action research theory and practice was utilized by researchers from Toitu Te Kainga (Regional Development Unit of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu) between 2008 and 2012. This was informed by an Enterprise Facilitation person-centred perspective and a Kaupapa Māori philosophy of respect and empowerment of the participants needs.

Findings

This paper argues that while a certain level of centralization is required, to ring-fence and protect tribal assets at an iwi (tribal) level, the benefits gained by that centralization can then be utilized to provide a springboard for decentralized economic development at the whanau (family) and hapu (sub-tribe) levels.

Originality/value

This new indigenous development system is referred to as the symbiotic development model and is an original outcome of this research paper. The paper concludes that tribal economic development in the post-settlement era in New Zealand needs to combine aspects of both centralization and decentralization.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Ministry for Science and Innovation under contract to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (TRoNT). TRoNT is the elected tribal authority representing the people of Ngāi Tahu, a tribe of New Zealand Māori indigenous to Te Wai Pounamu (the South Island of New Zealand). TRoNT is contracted by Otago University to conduct the He Whenua Whakatipu research project as one of the objectives within the Agricultural Research Group on Sustainability (ARGOS). ARGOS is an unincorporated joint venture between the Agribusiness Group Ltd., Lincoln University and the University of Otago. 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

Lindsay Barr, T. and Reid, J. (2014), "Centralized decentralization for tribal business development", Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Vol. 8 No. 3, pp. 217-232. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEC-10-2012-0054

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Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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