The value of total exports by Māori authorities continued to rise in 2020 despite the impact of COVID-19, Stats NZ said today.
The role of Māori authorities and their subsidiaries is to receive, manage, and/or administer assets held in common ownership by Māori.
The value of exports by Māori authorities was up $14 million (1.8 percent) to $755 million in 2020 compared with 2019.
"Māori authorities' total export value rose in each of the last five years," business statistics senior manager Darren Allan said.
"The growth in Māori authority exports was higher than growth in New Zealand exports over that same time period."
Between 2015 and 2020, exports by Māori authorities rose 55 percent. Over the same period, exports by all New Zealand businesses rose 22 percent.
Kaimoana (seafood), including fish, crayfish, and mussels was the Māori authorities' top commodities export in 2020 at $311 million. Over 40 percent of Māori authorities' total exports were kaimoana, compared with just three percent of total New Zealand exports.
Māori authorities also exported $153 million worth of milk powder, butter, and cheese in 2020. This accounted for 20 percent of the total Māori authorities' exports in 2020.
| Year | Total goods exports | Kaimoana | "Milk powder |
| 2010 | 284000000 | 237000000 | butter |
| 2011 | 373000000 | 268000000 | and cheese" |
| 2012 | 441000000 | 269000000 | |
| 2013 | 514000000 | 260000000 | 55000000 |
| 2014 | 528000000 | 293000000 | 124000000 |
| 2015 | 486000000 | 304000000 | 196000000 |
| 2016 | 543000000 | 341000000 | 171000000 |
| 2017 | 630000000 | 313000000 | 119000000 |
| 2018 | 695000000 | 320000000 | 133000000 |
| 2019 | 741000000 | 365000000 | 168000000 |
| 2020 | 755000000 | 311000000 | 193000000 |
The top two commodities for Māori authorities - kaimoana and milk powder, butter, and cheese - together accounted for over 60 percent of Māori authorities' total exports in 2020. However, both saw falls in value in the latest year.
In contrast, Māori authorities' exports of all other commodities (such as wine, textile articles, and meat and offal), which account for almost 40 percent of the total, rose 46 percent in 2020 compared with 2019.
China continues as top export market for Māori authorities
In 2020, Māori authorities' top export market was China. Total exports to China were worth $352 million and accounted for almost half of the value of all Māori authorities' goods exports. By contrast, China accounted for just over a quarter of good exports for all New Zealand businesses.
"China has been the top export market for Māori authorities over the past 10 years, and a key export market for both kaimoana and milk powder, butter, and cheese for New Zealand," Mr Allan said.
