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Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu is a $1.7 billion iwi entity that exists to grow and develop the collective interests of over 77,000 tribal members. Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu delivers a range of programmes and initiatives designed to create intergenerational wellbeing for all Ngāi Tahu whānau (families).
These opportunities are made possible by the diverse commercial activities of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, such as farming, seafood, mānuka honey, property, and tourism. China is a key market for several of these businesses where Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu continues to build positive and enduring relationships.
The relationship between Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and China began as trade and travel agreements were established.
Ngāi Tahu Tourism were soon welcoming Chinese tourists to its New Zealand experiences and Ngāi Tahu Seafood began to grow its presence in the Chinese seafood market.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu has continued to strengthen this relationship in recent years. Some highlights include 2018’s visit from Consul General Wang Zhijian to Ngai Tahu headquarters to meet with Chair Lisa Tumahai and Chief Executive Arihia Bennett to discuss bilateral exchanges and cooperation. The same year a large delegation of leading Chinese jade experts and dignitaries were hosted by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu in Hokitika, and in 2019 Chief Executive Arihia Bennett was appointed as a representative on the New Zealand-China Council.
Ngāi Tahu Holdings Chief Executive Craig Ellison says there is a resonance between Ngāi Tahu and Chinese cultures.
“I have had some remarkable experiences in China. From being part of delegation at the historic signing of the 2008 FTA with Prime Minister Helen Clark, to the 2012 visits with Minister Dr Pita Sharples, through to seeing the insightful work Minister Nanaia Mahuta is doing to ensure New Zealand maintains a strong commercial relationship with China”.
Craig says the hospitality shown to Ngāi Tahu staff visiting China has always been tremendous, as has the support Ngāi Tahu Seafoods have seen from our Chinese customers.
“From the early days of exporting canned abalone to today’s preference for live product, Ngāi Tahu Seafood’s growth in China reflects our commitment to building enduring relationships, using local expertise and knowledge, and delivering products that excite local palates”.
Leader of Da Chong Hong company Alex Chu and Sir Tipene O’Regan have a fantastic relationship which has been vital in allowing Ngāi Tahu Seafood to pull together supply strands from New Zealand to ship directly into China.
Craig says Ngāi Tahu Tourism has also benefited from building strong ties in China.
Of the 300,000-odd Chinese visitors to New Zealand in 2015, 70 per cent were customers of Ngāi Tahu Tourism. In a short space of time, China became Ngāi Tahu Tourism’s single largest market.
However, recent years have been much tougher.
“Covid has been remarkably difficult for both the Chinese and New Zealand economies and operating within this environment has tested everyone. We watched our Chinese tourism numbers go from ‘hero to zero’, while Ngāi Tahu Seafoods and Oha Honey faced challenges maintaining access and licensing to get products into China”.
“Our robust relationships have helped us overcome these difficulties and we anticipate China will play a great part in the success of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu in the future,” says Craig.