Kia Whakatōmuri te Haere Whakamua: Reimagining primary production based on traditional models of the past

This research paper identifies and discusses the key differences and commonalites of Pākehā and Māori societal structure, governance and cultural motivation, Western agricultural systems and Māori horticultural and agricultural systems, the early successes of Māori in the “Golden Age” of agriculture in the 1830s to late 1850s, why it was successful and why it was so short-lived.

The findings provide insight into the renaissance of Māori culture, education and economics and show that the entrepreneurial spirit in evidence in the 1800s continues today, especially when coupled with a re-established cultural identity and utilisation of indigenous knowledge systems.