Data standard for Māori business

The data standard for Māori business provides a definition for collecting and producing data and statistics about Māori businesses. 

Ngā kai o roto | Contents

Te whāinga | Purpose
Tautuhitanga ariā | Concept definition
Kupu arataki | Guidance
Ngā tuhinga āwhina | Help notes
Ngā pūtake kohikohi me ngā tūtohu | Collection issues and recommendations
Ētahi atu tautuhitanga | Other definitions
Ngā tikanga tukatuka | Processing methods
Ngā whakaputanga | Outputs
Whakapā mai | Enquiries
Kuputaka | Glossary
Tāpiri 1 | Appendix 1: Tukua mā ngā mātāpono papai e ārahi | Be guided by good principles
Tāpiri 2 | Appendix 2: Ētahi tauira o te whakamahinga a tētahi hinonga i tētahi tautuhitanga umanga Māori | Examples of agency use of a Māori business definition

Te whāinga | Purpose

This data standard was developed by Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa and a cross-sector working group to provide a definition for collecting and producing data and statistics about Māori businesses, for use across New Zealand’s data system.

It is intended for use by government agencies to allow for consistent collection and production of information on Māori businesses. The definition aims to bring consistency across the data system, and can be used as a starting point by organisations for other applications and purposes.

Information on the guiding principles for developing this standard is available in appendix 1.

Tautuhitanga ariā | Concept definition

Māori business

A Māori business is a business that is fully or partly owned by a person or people who have Māori whakapapa, and a representative of that business identifies the business as Māori.

Paearu | Criteria

Ownership and whakapapa

A business is Māori-owned if it is fully or partially owned by a person or people who have Māori whakapapa.

The term business is used in its widest sense to include any organisation undertaking productive activities, including companies, partnerships, sole traders, and non-profit organisations.

Self-identification

A business can self-identify as a Māori business and as Māori-owned to any organisation that collects information on Māori businesses, or via media in the public domain. This includes identifying to Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa, other government agencies, business registers, or Māori business organisations.

Note: Users requiring verification of ownership (or percentage of ownership) may do so at their own discretion using processes appropriate to their data needs.

Kupu arataki | Guidance

Ngā tikanga kohikohi | Collection method

Ngā whakaritenga pātai whakahau | Mandatory question requirement

If using this standard while collecting data on Māori businesses, agencies must determine whether businesses meet the criteria of the definition. The guidance below shows what information must be gathered.

To identify a business as a Māori business, at least two criteria must be confirmed:

• Identification as a Māori business– that is, a representative from the business must report that the business identifies as a Māori business.
• Māori-ownership – that is, a representative from the business must report that the business is partially- or fully-owned by a person or persons who have Māori whakapapa.
  • If the business is Māori-owned, an additional question on proportion of ownership must be asked.

Questions must elicit a single response.

Note: Proportion of ownership is collected for information purposes. However, proportion does not affect a business’ eligibility as a Māori business.

Example

The questionnaire module below is an example that meets the requirements in this standard. This is the recommended order and wording for these questions. However, other questionnaire modules may vary in format or in the order of questions to suit individual needs and modes of collection, but must conform to the mandatory question requirements.

1. Does this business consider itself to be a Māori business?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

[ ] Don’t know

   2. Do any of the people who own this business whakapapa to/descend from Māori? (That is, do they have a Māori birth parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc.)

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

[ ] Don’t know

[If YES] How much of this business is owned by people who whakapapa to/descend from Māori?

• • Note: If this business has only one owner, select ‘half or more’.

[ ] Half or more

[ ] Less than half

[ ] Don’t know

See example question sets in the Stats NZ Store House (oclc.org): Māori business identifier questions – Questionnaires and Forms. 

Ngā tuhinga āwhina | Help notes

The following help notes are recommended for use when collecting data on Māori businesses.

The first help note explains why the information is being collected, and the second explains why proportion of ownership is asked when it is not directly related to the concept definition.

1. Before asking any questions (either read by an interviewer or included on a self-complete form):

The next questions ask about businesses that have Māori identity and ownership. A business needs to identify as Māori and have at least some ownership by Māori to be counted as a Māori business. Collecting information about Māori businesses helps to produce an accurate picture of the contribution Māori businesses make to the Aotearoa New Zealand economy and to the wellbeing of whānau, hapori, hapū, and iwi.

2. To explain why proportion of ownership is being asked, if necessary:

A business is considered a Māori business if it is reported as partially or fully Māori owned and if it identifies as a Māori business. For this standard, proportions of ownership are only collected for statistical purposes. Other agencies or organisations may use proportions of ownership for their own specific purposes, for example for funding or procurement decisions.

Ngā pūtake kohikohi me ngā tūtohu | Collection issues and recommendations

Te Mōhiotanga ki te Purutanga Māori | Knowledge of Māori ownership

The definition requires that the representative of the business knows if any of the owners whakapapa to / descend from Māori. Agencies that collect this data may recommend that these questions are answered by the business owner.

The processing methods section outlines how to code responses, including instances when a representative may be unsure (that is, answers ‘don’t know’) of their response. Depending on resources available, the collecting agency may choose to follow up with businesses who respond ‘don’t know’ to further clarify the response.

Te arotake i te tautohutanga umanga Māori | Reviewing Māori business identification

An annual review of businesses identifying as Māori businesses is recommended. Business ownership can and does change, and businesses may also change in terms of identifying as a Māori business. Responses may change from a business that previously identified as a Māori business and no longer does, or one that previously did not identify as a Māori business and now does. While an annual review is recommended, it is acknowledged that businesses may not respond each year.

Ētahi atu tautuhitanga | Other definitions

Government agencies need to ensure consistency with the Māori business definition when collecting and producing data about those businesses. However, for specific purposes, additional criteria may be applied to the standard definition. For examples of definitions that are consistent with the Māori business definition but with additional criteria, see appendix 2.

Ngā tikanga tukatuka | Processing methods

To be considered a Māori business, ‘Yes’ responses must be received from both questions on Māori ownership and identification as a Māori business.

Table 1 outlines the coding rules to determine if a business can be considered a Māori business.

Table 1 

Ngā whakaputanga | Outputs

Information produced using this standard can be in any format or output, depending on the agency or organisation’s data needs.

Whakapā mai | Enquiries

standards@stats.govt.nz

Kuputaka | Glossary

Business – The term business is used in its widest sense to include any organisation undertaking productive activities, including companies, partnerships, sole traders, non-profit organisations (abridged from What is an ANZSIC code?).

Hapū – kinship group, subtribe (abridged from Māori dictionary).

Hapori – section of a kinship group, family, society, community (Māori dictionary).

Iwi – extended kinship group, tribe (abridged from Māori dictionary).

Māori – A person of the Māori race of Aotearoa New Zealand and includes any descendant of such a person (abridged from New Zealand Legislation).

Ownership – Ownership of a business will mean something different depending on the type of business. However, ownership may include all or some of the following: owning the assets of the business, holding the financial risk, and being the beneficiaries of financial gain. Types of owners include sole traders, partners, shareholders, and proprietors. For more information on different types of businesses in New Zealand and their ownership structures, see Choosing the right business structure (on Business NZ’s website).

Paearu – criteria (abridged from Māori dictionary).

Te ao Māori – the Māori world/Māori world view (sourced from Berghan Journals)

Tikanga – customary system of values and practices that have developed over time and are deeply embedded in the social context (from Māori dictionary).

Whakapapa – genealogy, lineage, descent (abridged from Māori dictionary).

Whānau – extended family, family group. In the modern context, the term is sometimes used to include friends who may not have any kinship ties to other members (sourced from Māori dictionary).

Tāpiri 1 | Appendix 1: Tukua mā ngā mātāpono papai e ārahi | Be guided by good principles

While the public sector does not own or govern Māori data, Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa and other government agencies do play a key role in the collection and production of Māori data. Kahui Raraunga define Māori data as data that is for or by Māori; data about Māori; and any data that Māori have a connection to (Te Kāhui Raraunga, 2019). The data standard for Māori business will help to create a consistent and reliable approach for the collection and production of Māori business statistics by the public sector – statistics for and about Māori businesses. Under the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and the UN’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Māori data must be safeguarded and protected. Principles and tikanga are important in determining how to look after and appropriately manage data. Aligning te ao Māori concepts with the careful and responsible creation, collection, management, and use of data, recognises the strategic value of data in supporting the wellbeing of whānau, hapū, hapori, and iwi (Hudson et al., 2017).

Ngā Tikanga Paihere is a framework developed for Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa to help establish goals, boundaries, and principles that guide and inform data practice. Ngā Tikanga Paihere draws on 10 tikanga to:

• guide safe, responsible, and culturally appropriate use of data
• ensure data use is carefully considered
• ensure data practices occur in good faith.

While Ngā Tikanga Paihere was originally developed to build and maintain public trust in the way Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa manages access to microdata in the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), the core principles and tikanga of the framework provide a set of guiding considerations over how data is treated (from design to collection and production).

The development of the data standard for Māori business has been guided by the principles and tikanga in Ngā Tikanga Paihere. The principles emphasise the need to develop relationships with relevant communities in order to ensure that collection and output of data is with their knowledge, guidance, and understanding. Developing the standard under the guidance of Ngā Tikanga Paihere ensures the future impact of collecting information has been considered, as have the rights and interests of whānau, hapū, hapori, and iwi been considered.

For more specific guidance on Ngā Tikanga Paihere and the development of the data standard for Māori business, please contact Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa’s Data and Statistical Standards team at standards@stats.govt.nz.

Tāpiri 2 | Appendix 2: Ētahi tauira o te whakamahinga a tētahi hinonga i tētahi tautuhitanga umanga Māori | Examples of agency use of a Māori business definition

The following are examples of a Māori business definition used by government agencies for specific purposes. These are consistent with the Māori business definition, but with additional criteria.

For tax purposes

Te Tari Taake Inland Revenue (IR) defines a Māori authority as an entity that acts as a trustee by administering community-owned Māori property on behalf of individual members. Below is IR’s list of organisations that are eligible to become a Māori authority registered for tax purposes. Eligible entities may choose not to register as a Māori authority.

• Trusts and companies that administer Māori freehold land under Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993
• Māori Trustee
• Māori Trust Boards
• Crown Forestry Rental Trust
• Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Limited
• Aotearoa Fisheries Limited
• Trusts and companies that receive and manage fisheries assets allocated under the Māori Fisheries Act 2004
• Trusts and companies that receive and manage assets of the Treaty settlement redress process

For progressive procurement purposes

For progressive procurement purposes, the definition of a Māori business used is a Māori authority (as classified by the Inland Revenue) or, a minimum of 50 percent Māori ownership for other types of entity.

A set target (for example, five percent) of the total number of government agency (mandated government agencies) procurement contracts are awarded to Māori businesses. This target supports sustainable, long-term behavioural change of government agencies and businesses procurement practices.