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Latest statistics show that more Māori are in business, more have jobs and more are leaving school with qualifications in Wairarapa, says local MP Georgina Beyer.
Māori are making significant contributions to the economic and social-well being of New Zealand communities and this should be celebrated in ours, she said.
"Nationwide, Māori unemployment is at its lowest since records began, dropping from an annual average figure of over 17 percent in 1999 to 8.7 percent today," said Ms Beyer.
"Māori students in the Waiararapa have surged ahead in our schools, with the proportion of school leavers with University Entrance rising from 3 percent in 2002 to 8 percent in 2004. Meanwhile, the proportion of Māori school leavers with no formal qualification fell from 40 percent in 2002 to 26 percent in 2004.
"More Māori are getting a tertiary education; more than 11,000 graduated with an undergraduate degree or higher between 2000 and 2003, and last year 23,000 took part in industry training and Modern Apprenticeships," Ms Beyer said.
Meanwhile the distribution of fisheries quota to Iwi will create a demand for capital investors to grow more Māori-owned export businesses. The fisheries settlements have led to the growth of Māori-owned assets now worth the thick end of one billion dollars.
"Iwi stand to benefit from $55.0 million in fishing assets earmarked to return to Rangitane, Ngati Kahungunu in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti electorate. Combined with the 20 percent allocation of aquaculture assets, it will enhance the already significant Māori shareholding in the Fishing industry."
Ms Beyer said New Zealanders are among the world's most entrepreneurial people according to successive Global Economic Monitor reports; and Māori particularly bring unique elements to their business operations, hence a growing role in the commercial sector. She says the Government's Māori Business Facilitation Service has helped 143 Māori businesses in the region to grow.
"Māori are significantly contributing to Wellington's 3.4 percent and Manawatu-Wanganui's 4.5 percent growth rate, and it looks set to continue," she said.
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