A Maori delegation representing the Maori Research Institute is currently in India to discuss ways and means of fostering commercial, educational and cultural ties with New Zealand in general and Maoridom in particular.
Academics, scientists, community leaders, artistes and businesspersons are among the members of the delegation drawn from a number of Maori trusts spread across the country.
The delegation landed in India on February 27 and would visit a number of cities and attend conferences and meetings on business, education and tourism before returning home on March 11.
Rotorua deputy mayor Trevor Maxwell, Te Arawa Federation of Maori Authorities and Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust chairman Malcolm Short, Waiariki Institute of Technology Kaumatua Ken Kennedy, Auckland University Business School associate dean associate professor Manuka Henare, Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi Indigenous University development head Tumu Ihorangi Tu Waaka, Maori Research Institute senior resident scientist Dr Guna Magesan, and Crown Research Institute scientist Dr Rajiv Chaturvedi are in the delegation.
The delegation is a part of Hindu Maori whakawhanaungatanga (kinship).
Dr Magesan and Dr Chaturvedi are respectively General Secretary and Media and Public Relations Officer of Hindu Council of New Zealand.
New Zealand’s High Commissioner to India Jan Henderson hosted a reception at the New Zealand House in Delhi on February 28.
The delegation will visit places of historical and cultural interest such as Akshardham temple in New Delhi, Taj Mahal in Agra, and a famous palace in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The members will also participate in the Holi festivities in Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, he said.
Also on the agenda are meeting with school students to share Maori traditions and display traditional costumes and artefacts.
Core industries
“The focus of business meetings will include export of dairy, forest and sea products, indigenous education and inter-cultural exchange. The World Hindu Economic Forum is facilitating the business meetings,” Dr Magesan said.
He said that G K Dairy, Ballabgarh (Haryana), manufacturer of Gopaljee Dairy products will host the delegates at their site to discuss their dairy business expansion and potential collaboration.
“Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya (University), an establishment for cultural and spiritual renaissance of the Globe has invited the delegates from Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiarangi Indigenous University, the Waiariki Institute of Technology and the Maori Research Institute to visit their University for discussions on education and cultural exchange of indigenous people and communities,” Dr Magesan said.
Conference on tradition
The Vishwavidyalaya is organising the Fourth International Conference of the Elders of Ancient Traditions and Cultures from March 3 to 7, 2012, in association with the International Centre for Cultural Studies at Haridwar, India, under the theme, ‘Nourishing the Balance of the Universe.’
“One Maori Elder from New Zealand will be awarded an honorary degree from the Research Institute of World’s Ancient Traditions, Cultures and Heritage during the conference. As a Free Trade Agreement between India and New Zealand gets closer to reality, the Maori delegation aims to develop contacts for business opportunities with India,” Dr Magesan said.
According to Mr Short, collaborating with emerging economies such as India will help Maoridom.
“We believe that the Maori delegation will contribute immensely for the development of trade and commerce between India and New Zealand during our business meeting in India. Being big landowners in the primary sector such as agriculture, dairying and forestry, Maori community is excited with the FTA agreement with India,” he said.
