Understanding the distinct approach adopted by many Māori businesses can enable you to build stronger relationships with Māori business, gain further insight into your Māori employees and learn how your business could further its progress.

There is no single way of describing a Māori business. However, the following gives a broad guide to the ethos driving Māori organisations. Māori business can be described using the Four Ps approach of:

Purpose

This is the stated reason for which the business exists. A distinctly Māori business for example, might:

• Aim to optimise cultural, social, environmental and economic wealth over generations.
• Operate in terms of collective shareholder value. For example, there is no free entry and exit of shareholders.
• Use profits to help develop social capital, which in turn benefits the shareholders as they are members of the community.
• Apply social responsibility throughout the business.
• Seek to protect and enhance the physical environment.
• Take account of shared cultural values, both Māori and those of others in the community.

Principles

These are the beliefs that guide the business's actions. In addition to commercial principles a Māori business might be guided by principles such as:

• Iwitanga: expression and celebration of those qualities that make an iwi or hapū unique.
• Kotahitanga: respect for individual differences and the desire to reach consensus, unity and solidarity.
• Kaitiakitanga: stewardship or guardianship of the environment.
• Manaakitanga: caring, sharing and hospitality.
• Whanaungatanga: the bonds of kinship that exist within and between whanau, hapū and iwi. It is also used broadly in an organisational context to denote building and encouraging relationships.
• Tau utuutu: acts of giving back or replacing what you receive, the principle of reciprocity.
• Urunga-Tu: developing a spirit of mutual respect and responsibility through participation.

Practices

These are the actions that an organisation takes to fulfil its purpose. Māori business practice may address the concerns of stakeholders, including shareholders, customers, employees, suppliers, the community and the environment.

Examples include:

• Community dialogue and partnerships.
• Environmentally, socially and culturally responsible production and product development.
• Employee training in Māori language and culture.
• Long-term partnerships with suppliers.
• Profitability and investment of dividends in initiatives benefiting shareholders and stakeholders alike.

Performance measurement

Performance measurement is the way a business measures how effectively its practices are fulfilling its purpose and reflecting its principles. A sustainable Māori business accounts for cultural, social and environmental, as well as economic, performance. This involves quantitative and qualitative measures, using both stakeholder perceptions and business data to determine performance. A Māori business also takes account of intangible concepts such as "mauri" or life force.

Questions to consider when working with Māori

• What sort of relationship do you want with Māori? 
• What do you hope to gain from this relationship?
• How do you see Māori benefiting from this relationship?
• What strategies would you use to develop this relationship?
• What mechanisms (or techniques) do you think will facilitate these strategies?
• What do you see as the optimal outcomes of this relationship?