60th session of the Human Rights Council: Interactive Dialogue with the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Ministry Statements & Speeches:

Delivered by Permanent Representative Deborah Geels.

Thank you, Mr. President.

New Zealand welcomes the opportunity to engage with the EMRIP and we thank them for their presentation. We affirm our commitment to supporting Indigenous Peoples’ participation in traditional economies.

The Māori economy is a vital and growing contributor to New Zealand’s overall economic prosperity, representing approximately 9% of GDP. Māori are a young and dynamic population, projected to comprise 20% of the workforce by 2040.

To support this growth, the Government has launched a strategic framework to unlock the potential of the Māori economy. This includes reforms to increase infrastructure investment, accelerate exports and unlock the potential of Māori land.

Māori have a long history of utilising geothermal resources and are actively involved in commercial uses, such as electricity generation, food production, and tourism. The Government is finalising a strategy that acknowledges their unique role in geothermal development and supports Iwi (tribe)-led initiatives to facilitate co-investment in infrastructure projects and build investment capability.

New Zealand recognises the value of Māori traditional knowledge. Work is underway to support Māori-led biodiscovery and commercial uses of Indigenous flora and fauna, ensuring Māori knowledge systems are respected and protected.

Through such initiatives, New Zealand affirms its commitment to supporting Māori participation in their traditional and contemporary economies, and to advancing Indigenous economic development as a core part of our national growth.

Thank you.

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