From the CEO

Anake Goodall

Ngāi Tahu histories are filled with dynamic entrepreneurialism and trade. We traded tītī and other delicacies amongst ourselves, and pounamu with our northern whanaunga. Tuhawaiiki fearlessly set sail for Sydney to trade potatoes and harakeke with convicts and the gentry alike. I sometimes wonder whether our commercial prowess, outstripping that of early settlers, was a factor in the colonial legislators' mind as our rights and resources were steadily removed by the law. Was our commercial success in fisheries a factor in the removal of our tīpuna's rights to oysters and vessels? I can't answer that question, but I do know that the themes of that history permeate this issue of TE KARAKA.

Mai rā anō, Ngāi Tahu has had an active, principled, and at times, fierce commercialism within our traditions. We hungrily acquired new tools and practices to aid our commercial endeavours, and we have been innovative, strident and risk averse in customary Ngāi Tahu proportions. That commercial endeavour has always been, as it is now, both a means towards achieving the development of our own communities on our own terms and also an active articulation of how we see ourselves in our own landscape.

The stories in this issue shed light on the next era of Ngāi Tahu commercialism, and our reclamation of these histories and traditions as we move into a future of new opportunities; partnering with the government on infrastructure and visibly embedding Ngāi Tahutanga into how we do business.

The journey to this new frontier has been a long time coming, and perhaps we seem to be stating the obvious and doing so late; but of course Ngāi Tahu should partner with the Crown commercially, and of course Ngāi Tahu should do business the Ngāi Tahu way. However, it takes time to build confidence and trust, especially in ourselves, and this issue of TE KARAKA is important because I believe it shows that we again have the self confidence to charge into the dawn of the rising Iwi economy with our Ngāi Tahu flag held proudly high.

Aoraki Matatu.