Flavell led a trade delegation of nine Maori firms covering food and beverage, seafood, horticulture, agriculture, forestry and tourism, on his first visit to the country. 

At a breakfast forum hosted by the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, known as ‘The Kiwi Chamber’, he addressed more than fifty local business community leaders on the sizeable role Maori enterprises play in the New Zealand economy, constituting 5.6 percent of its gross domestic product. 

Highlighting the Korea-New Zealand free trade agreement that entered into force on 20 December, the minister spoke about extending the links between Korean and New Zealand-Aotearoa communities. Aotearoa is a Maori term for the country of New Zealand, meaning ‘the land of the long white cloud’.

Tony Garret, the chamber chair and associate professor at the Korea University Business School, said, “The minister illustrated very well the importance of Maori enterprises to our economy through Maori innovation, leadership and business practices represented in the trade mission.” 

In particular, the food and beverage and seafood industries are the backbone of Maori culture and economy. The native inhabitants of the island nation in the southwestern Pacific Ocean export kiwifruit, apples, pears, wine and fresh and processed vegetables. 

Kiwifruit and wine are the largest exports, each exceeding $700 million a year.

Source: koreaherald.com