Te Ōhanga Māori Report 2023 overview and insights.

In a new report providing an analysis of the Māori economy, produced by Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Ōhanga Māori 2023, highlights important and significant growth and change.

Here’s a breakdown of what else it showed.

Contributions

Te Ōhanga Māori continues to be a strong and growing part of New Zealand’s economy. The Māori economic contribution to New Zealand economy has grown from $17 billion (6.5 percent of GDP) in 2018 to $32 billion (8.9 percent of GDP) in 2023. While agriculture, forestry, and fishing were the primary contributors in 2018, administrative, support, and other services ($4.2 billion), and professional services ($5.1 billion) now lead the way.

Growth in the Māori Asset Base

The Māori asset base has grown from $69 billion in 2018 to $126 billion in 2023, representing an 83 percent increase. This is made up of $66 billion in assets for Māori businesses and employers, $41 billion in assets for Māori trusts, incorporations, and other Māori entities (Māori collectives), and $19 billion in assets for self-employed Māori.

Entrepreneurship and employment trends

Māori entrepreneurship experienced growth again between 2018 and 2023. The number of self-employed Māori increased by 49 percent, while the number of Māori employers increased by 31 percent. Despite the progress, Māori remain underrepresented in these roles compared to the wider New Zealand population.

For the first time since 2006, Māori workers now hold more high-skilled jobs than low-skilled jobs. Māori representation in the workforce is growing, with the younger generation entering the workforce. In addition, there has been a positive shift in the skill levels of Māori workers, with 46 percent now in high-skilled jobs, 14 percent in skilled jobs, and 40 percent in low-skilled jobs. In 2018, 37 percent of Māori were in high-skilled jobs and 51 percent in low-skilled jobs.

Economic inequality

Home ownership rates continue to be lower among Māori, with only 52 percent of Māori households owning their homes, compared to 67 percent of non-Māori households. Additionally, government grants and social benefits make up a larger portion of Māori household income, accounting for 33 percent of the total, while this figure is only nine percent for non-Māori households. However, this is the first time since 2006 that government assistance for Māori households has not increased.

A growing sector

In 2023, it was estimated that Māori tourism contributed $1.2 billion in production GDP, up from $975 million in 2018 (BERL, 2025). This contribution came from Māori tourism businesses and Māori collectives and represented four percent of production GDP in Te Ōhanga Māori.

Māori tourism businesses generated $1 billion in production GDP in 2023, accounting for 83 percent of Māori tourism’s overall contribution (BERL, 2025). Māori collectives added around $151 million in production GDP to Māori tourism, which was a 34 percent increase from $113 million in 2018 (BERL, 2025).

Read the full report here.