Indigenising Economic Development: Beyond the Western Playbook

Economic development has traditionally been defined by Western frameworks: GDP growth, market efficiency, shareholder returns. These metrics have their place, but they tell an incomplete story, particularly for Indigenous communities whose wealth is measured in relationships, cultural vitality, and intergenerational wellbeing. Indigenising economic development is not about rejecting modern economics. It is about expanding the definition of what prosperity looks like and who it serves. For Maori, economic development has always been collective. Iwi, hapu, and whanau operate within systems where success is shared and decisions are made with future generations in mind. This is not a weakness to be corrected by market logic. It is a strength that produces resilient, sustainable, and deeply rooted economic outcomes. The Maori economy, now valued at over $126 billion, demonstrates that Indigenous approaches to development are not only culturally important but economically powerful. Maori enterprises across fisheries, forestry, agriculture, tourism, and technology are proving that values-led business is viable business. But Indigenising economic development requires more than Indigenous businesses succeeding within existing systems. It requires fundamentally rethinking how we design economic strategies, measure success, and distribute value. At T.I.I.N.A., we support organisations to move beyond conventional frameworks and design economic development strategies that are grounded in cultural authority, community aspiration, and long-term thinking. Because an economy that does not serve its people is not an economy worth building.