Māori authorities demonstrate their commitment to kaitiakitanga in response to climate change

Over half of Māori authorities, compared with a third of all New Zealand businesses, took actions in response to climate change in the last two years, Stats NZ said today. Over half of Māori authorities, compared with a third of all New Zealand businesses, took actions in response to climate change in the last two years, Stats NZ said today.

Stats NZ’s Business Operations Survey for 2021 asked businesses about impacts of, and their responses to, climate change .

Demand from management, board, or employees was a key reason for undertaking climate change-related actions for 57 percent of Māori authorities.

In addition, two out of five Māori authorities reported they acted because they have experienced the physical impacts of climate change.

Around a quarter of Māori authorities are in the primary industries, and these industries are vulnerable to climate-induced impacts.

“We know that kaitiakitanga – which includes the responsibility that people have for looking after the environment – is a key Māori value. It appears that Māori authorities are preparing for and responding to the changing environment,” tatauranga umanga Māori manager Geraldine Duoba said.

In the last two years, Māori authorities carried out the following actions in response to climate change:

• 54 percent undertook climate-change related actions
• 30 percent reduced waste
• 26 percent developed programmes to offset emissions
• 17 percent measured direct greenhouse gas emissions.

Māori businesses prepare for transition to a low-emissions economy

More than half (54 percent) of Māori authorities and around one in three other Māori enterprises said they were very aware of government policies and programmes to reduce New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions, compared with 27 percent of all New Zealand businesses.

Other Māori enterprises are businesses that have Māori ownership, have self-identified the business as a Māori business, are economically significant, and are not Māori authorities.

Māori businesses showed their commitment to respond to climate change with a higher proportion of Māori authorities and other Māori enterprises planning to take action across all climate change-related actions, compared with all New Zealand businesses.

Eighty-five percent of Māori authorities and 51 percent of other Māori enterprises said they planned climate-change related actions in the next five years, compared with 45 percent for all New Zealand businesses.

“More than three in five Māori businesses plan to invest in climate-change related actions in the next five years, compared with half of all New Zealand businesses,” Ms Duoba said.

“This includes investments in lower-emission plant or equipment, building efficiency, digital technology, and staff training.”

Data sources

The results reported here are from the 2021 Business Operations Survey, a sample survey of New Zealand-based businesses with six or more employees that collects information about business practices.

In 2021, the survey sample included all Māori authorities with six or more employees and 175 other Māori enterprises. Module C of the survey asked businesses about potential impacts and opportunities in responding to and adapting to climate change as New Zealand transitions to a low-emissions economy.

Business Operations Survey: 2021 has more data from the survey.