Mana Moana: The legacy of Māori fisheries
18 February 2025
A groundbreaking new book, Mana Moana, dives into the legacy of Māori fisheries, Indigenous economic development, and the role of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in business.
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Mana Moana, a new book written by Professor Carla Houkamau (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Kāi Tahu) and Dr Robert Pouwhare (Ngāi Tūhoe), weaves together history, mātauranga Māori, and politics to explore how te ao Māori values shape economic development and sustainability efforts in Aotearoa.
The book explores Māori fishing traditions, inter-tribal trade, and traces the enduring connection between Māori and the moana. It also highlights key moments in Māori fishing rights, including the 1992 Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Settlement and the creation of Moana New Zealand—a company owned by 58 iwi, guided by te ao Māori values.
As academics of Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland’s Business School, the authors hope Mana Moana can help people, particularly students, understand how Te Tiriti o Waitangi shapes business today.
“We saw a clear need for a resource that could effectively teach Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Treaty within a business context,” says Professor Houkamau. “While Māori businesses operate across a wide variety of industries, fisheries provide a perfect lens."
Māori currently hold approximately 33 percent of New Zealand’s commercial fishing quota and a 50 percent share in the Sealord Group. However, Mana Moana argues that these rights, while significant, have been returned in a vastly different form from traditional practices.
“Understanding the full arc of Māori fisheries, from pre-colonial systems to the modern Quota Management System, provides a more nuanced perspective on Māori economic sovereignty,” says Dr Pouwhare.
“We want readers to appreciate the sophistication of traditional Māori fishing practices and the intricate management systems that sustained these resources for generations – not just the technical expertise.”
Houkamau adds that many in New Zealand do not fully grasp the historical and contemporary significance of Māori fisheries.
“Māori connection to fisheries runs deeper than most New Zealanders realise. From sophisticated pre-colonial fishing practices to early trading dominance, Māori have always been leaders in this space.”
A key focus of Mana Moana is Moana New Zealand, the commercial entity established as part of the 1992 Māori Fisheries Settlement.
While it’s a well-known example of a pan-tribal enterprise guided by Māori principles, the book also acknowledges the many iwi-led and whānau-owned businesses reclaiming economic independence.
“Moana New Zealand is at the heart of this book, but the story is much bigger,” says Houkamau. “It’s about the broader movement of Māori businesses embedding ancestral values into governance, investment strategies, and stakeholder relationships.”
Pouwhare also highlights the core Māori principles that guide Moana New Zealand: whakapapa (genealogy), kaitiakitanga (environmental guardianship), manaakitanga (care and relationships), and whakatipuranga (long-term sustainable well-being). These values ensure that sustainability remains a priority alongside economic growth.
“When your connection to fishing grounds goes back hundreds of generations, you think differently about sustainability. It’s not just about this year’s catch, it’s about protecting these resources for future generations,” says Pouwhare.
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Houkamau also emphasises that while land loss is widely acknowledged, the loss of access to water-based resources, including traditional fishing grounds, was equally significant.
“The recognition of Māori fishing rights through the Quota Management System and the Sealord Deal was a major achievement, but it’s crucial to acknowledge that these rights were returned in a very different form from traditional practices,” she says.
"Moana New Zealand stands unique among global fishing companies, born from the Māori Fisheries Settlements. Its distinctive heritage shapes how the company balances commercial success with cultural obligations and environmental stewardship in fisheries and aquaculture."
Mana Moana also incorporates whakataukī (proverbs) and te reo Māori throughout its text to enrich storytelling and provide deeper insight into Māori worldviews.
“We both agreed that it was important to use te reo in the book as its inclusion could open minds and hearts to the Māori worldview,” says Pouwhare.
“We have used whakataukī extensively throughout the text of the book to guide us with Māori-centred values. Whakataukī contain wisdom, knowledge, and collective memory from thousands of years of experience. When spoken, they nurture te reo and tikanga.”
Pouwhare believes these expressions inform and provide insights that help people seek solutions.
“Toitū te Whenua, Toitū te Moana, Toitū te Tangata: When the land endures, when the sea endures, the people endure. This isn’t just a poetic saying, it represents a living framework for responsible business.”
Houkamau and Pouwhare believe that Mana Moana is a timely resource that complements the launch of the new first year paper WTRBUS 100: Waipapa Taumata Rau: Exploring the Māori Economy - Business Beyond Profit.
“Mana Moana will be crucial for understanding the intersection of Māori economic aspirations, sustainability, and business in a modern world shaped by Te Tiriti o Waitangi.”
Mana Moana, published by Auckland University Press, is available in print and online here.
Media Contact:
Te Rina Triponel | Kaitohutohu Pāpāho Māori
te.rina.triponel@auckland.ac.nz