Hostname: page-component-669899f699-cf6xr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-04-25T18:23:09.334Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Success factors of Māori entrepreneurs: A regional perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 August 2018

Diane Ruwhiu ,
Maria Amoamo ,
Katharina Ruckstuhl ,
Janine Kapa  and
Anaru Eketone
Diane Ruwhiu*
Affiliation:
Department of Management, Otago Business School, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Maria Amoamo
Affiliation:
Department of Management, Otago Business School, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Katharina Ruckstuhl
Affiliation:
Otago Business School, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Janine Kapa
Affiliation:
Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin, New Zealand
Anaru Eketone
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, Gender & Social Work, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
*
*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper reports on an exploratory study into critical success factors as they are perceived by Māori small- to medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners in the Otago/Southland regions of New Zealand. We draw on interview responses from 11 Māori business owners and four representatives of SME support services. The aim of this study is to explore Māori SME characteristics in terms of the critical success factors that help or hinder the achievement of their business aspirations. The findings indicate three main thematic concerns: Māori SME owners’ perception of being Māori impacts on how they position themselves as a business; the regional business environment has particular features that impact in a particular way on Māori SMEs; and, notions of business strategy are culturally nuanced. We propose that a culturally constituted regional business support system will better enable Māori SMEs to achieve their aspirations.

Keywords

Māori businesssmall- to medium-sized enterprisesregional developmentIndigenous economic development
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 27 , Issue 1 , January 2021 , pp. 41 - 61
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2018

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Anderson, R. B., Dana, L. P., & Dana, T. E. (2006). Indigenous land rights, entrepreneurship, and economic development in Canada: ‘Opting-in’ to the global economy. Journal of World Business, 41(1), 45–55. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2005.10.005 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ANZ Bank. (2015). Te Tirohanga Whānau: The ANZ privately-owned business barometer Maori business key insights 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2016, from https://comms.anz.co.nz/barometer-reports/article/detail.html?id=21304&name=Maori0Business Google Scholar
Ates, A., Garengo, P., Cocca, P., & Bititci, U. (2013). The development of SME managerial practice for effective performance management. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 20(1), 28–54. https://doi.org/10.1108/14626001311298402 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Awatere, S., Mika, J., Hudson, M., Pauling, C., Lambert, S., & Reid, J. (2017). Whakatipu rawa ma nga uri whakatipu: optimising the ‘Maori’ in Maori economic development. Alternative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples, 13(2), 80–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bargh, M. (2011). The triumph of Maori entrepreneurs or diverse economies? Aboriginal Policy Studies, 1(3), 53–69.Google Scholar
Barr, T., & Reid, J. (2014). Centralized decentralization for tribal business development. Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, 8(3), 217–232. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JEC-10-2012-005 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Battisti, M., Jurado, T., & Perry, M. (2014). Understanding small-firm reactions to free trade agreements. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 21(2), 327–344. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-10-2013-0151 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Battisti, M., Lee, L., & Cameron, A. (2009). Keeping the Business Running. Evidence of Sustainability Practices in New Zealand Small Firms. In ICSB World Conference Proceedings. International Council for Small Business (ICSB). Google Scholar
Bazeley, P. (2007). Qualitative data analysis with NVivo. London, UK: Sage Publications Ltd.Google Scholar
Bishop, R. (1996). Collaborative research stories. Palmerston North: Dunmore Press Ltd.Google Scholar
Blackburn, R., Hart, M., & Wainwright, T. (2013). Small business performance: Business, strategy and owner‐manager characteristics. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 20(1), 8–27. https://doi.org/10.1108/14626001311298394 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boynton, A. C., & Zmud, R. W. (1984). An assessment of critical success factors. Sloan Management Review, 25(4), 17–27.Google Scholar
Brewer, K. M., Harwood, M. L., McCann, C. M., Crengle, S. M., & Worrall, L. E. (2014). The use of interpretive description within kaupapa Māori research. Qualitative Health Research, 24(9), 1287–1297.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Broughton, P., Wilson, T., & Ruwhiu, D. (2006). Building business partnerships: Closer collaboration between Māori and general business communities. Wellington: Hui Taumata Action Taskforce.Google Scholar
Chapman Tripp (2017). Te Ao Māori: Trends and insights. Retrieved July 9, 2017, from http://www.chapmantripp.com/Publication%20PDFs/2017%20Chapman%20Tripp%20Te%20Ao%20Maori%20-%20trends%20and%20insights%20E-VERSION.pdf Google Scholar
Darcy, C., Hill, J., McCabe, T., & McGovern, P. (2014). A consideration of organisational sustainability in the SME context: A resource-based view and composite model. European Journal of Training and Development, 38(5), 398–414. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-10-2013-0108 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Devlin, M. H. (2007). Maori entrepreneurship: Fact or fallacy? International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 4(4), 407–418.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eketone, A. (2013). Māori development and Māori communities. In J. Aimers, & P. Walker (Eds.), Community Development: Insight for Practice Aotearoa New Zealand (pp. 151–162). Auckland, New Zealand: Dunmore Publishing.Google Scholar
Foley, D. (2008). What determines the bottom line for Māori tourism SMEs? Small Enterprise Research, 16(1), 86–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Foley, D. (2010). The function of social (and human) capital as antecedents on Indigenous entrepreneurs networking. New Zealand Journal of Employment Relations (Online), 35(1), 65.Google Scholar
Gibbs, G. R. (2002). Qualitative data analysis: Explorations with NVivo. Buckingham: Open University Press.Google Scholar
Haar, J., & Delaney, B. (2009). Entrepreneurship and Maori cultural values: Using ‘Whanaungatanga’ to understanding Maori business. New Zealand Journal of Applied Business Research, 7(9), 25–40.Google Scholar
Hanita, J., Rihia, J., & Te Kanawa, R. (2016). Māui Rau: Adapting in a changing world. Auckland, New Zealand: KPMG. Retrieved December 12, 2016, from https://home.kpmg.com/nz/en/home/insights/2016/05/maui-rau-adapting-in-a-changing-world.html Google Scholar
Henry, E. (2007). Kaupapa Maori entrepreneurship. In L. Dana, & R. B. Anderson (Eds.), International handbook of research on Indigenous entrepreneurship (pp. 536–548). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.Google Scholar
Henry, E. (2017). The creative spirit: Emancipatory Māori entrepreneurship in screen production in New Zealand. Small Enterprise Research, 24(1), 23–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/13215906.2017.1289853 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hilal, A. H., & Alabri, S. S. (2013). Using NVivo for data analysis in qualitative research. International Interdisciplinary Journal of Education, 2(2), 181–186.Google Scholar
Isenberg, D. J. (2010). The Big idea: How to start an entrepreneurial revolution. Harvard Business Review, 88(6), 40–50.Google Scholar
Katene, S. (2010). Modelling Māori leadership: What makes for good leadership? MAI Review, 2, 1–16.Google Scholar
Kraus, S., Rigtering, J. P. C., Hughes, M., & Hosman, V. (2012). Entrepreneurial orientation and the business performance of SMEs: A quantitative study from the Netherlands. Review of Managerial Science, 6(2), 161–182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11846-011-0062-9 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leung-Wai, J., & Sanderson, K. (2008). Māori in the Taranaki region: An economic profile. Retrieved September 18, 2014, from https://www.tdhb.org.nz/misc/documents/berl%20report_2010.pdf Google Scholar
Man, T. W., Lau, T., & Chan, K. (2002). The competitiveness of small and medium enterprises: A conceptualization with focus on entrepreneurial competencies. Journal of Business Venturing, 17(2), 123–142.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mika, J. P., & O’Sullivan, J. G. (2014). A Māori approach to management: Contrasting traditional and modern Māori management practices in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of Management & Organization, 20(5), 648–670. https://doi.org/10.1017/jmo.2014.48 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment (2014). Small Business Sector Report 2014. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment. Retrieved July 9, 2017, from http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/business/business-growth-agenda/pdf-and-image-library/2014/The%20Small%20Business%20Sector%20Report%202014%20-PDF%208.8%20MB-1.pdf Google Scholar
Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment (2015). Regional Economic Activity Report 2015. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment. Retrieved July 9, 2017, from http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/business/business-growth-agenda/regions/documents-image-library/rear-2015/min-a003-rear-report-lr-optimised.pdf Google Scholar
Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment (2016). Small Business Factsheet. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment. Retrieved July 9, 2017, from http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/business/business-growth-agenda/sectors-reports-series/pdf-image-library/the-small-business-sector-report-and-factsheet/small-business-factsheet-2016.pdf Google Scholar
Ministry of Economic Development (2011). SMEs in New Zealand: Structure and dynamics. Retrieved September 18, 2014, from http://www.med.govt.nz/business/business-growth-internationalisation/pdf-docs-library/small-and-medium-sized-enterprises/structure-and-dynamics-2011.pdf Google Scholar
Peredo, A. M., & McLean, M. (2013). Indigenous development and the cultural captivity of entrepreneurship. Business & Society, 52(4), 592–620.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rakow, L. F. (2011). Commentary: Interviews and focus groups as critical and cultural methods. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 88(2), 416–428.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rapley, T. (2004). Interviews. In C. Seale, G. Gobo, J. Gubrium, & D. Silverman (Eds.), Qualitative research practice. London: Sage.Google Scholar
Reihana, F., Sisley, M., & Modlik, H. (2007). Maori entrepreneurial activity in Aotearoa New Zealand. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 4(5), 636–653.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rewi, T. (2014). Utilising kaupapa Mäori approaches to initiate research. MAI Journal, 3(3), 243–254.Google Scholar
Ruwhiu, D., & Cathro, V. (2014). Eyes-wide-shut’: Insights from an indigenous research methodology. An International Transdisciplinary Journal of Emergence, Complexity & Organization, 16(4), G1–G11. https://doi.org/10.emerg/10.17357.c6082837526dc778e18b3d46eeb6a27f Google Scholar
Ruwhiu, D., & Cone, M. (2010). Advancing a pragmatist epistemology in organisational research. Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management, 5(2), 108–126.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ruwhiu, D., & Cone, M. (2013). Pragmatic leadership: A return to wisdom. Journal of Management & Organization, 19(1), 25–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schulze, H., Generosa, A., & Molano, W. (2012). Situational analysis: Māori contribution and position in the Bay of Connections Economy. Wellington, NZ. Retrieved September 18, 2014, from https://www.boprc.govt.nz/media/523554/situational-analysis_-maori-contribution-and-position-in-the-bay-of-connections-economy.pdf Google Scholar
Small Business Advisory Group (2012). Small and medium businesses in New Zealand. Retrieved September 18, 2014, from http://www.med.govt.nz/business/business-growth-internationalisation/pdf-docs-library/small-and-medium-sized-enterprises/small-business-development-group/previous-sbag-reports/small-medium-businesses-in-nz-apr-2012.pdf Google Scholar
Smith, L. (2012). Decolonizing methodologies (2nd ed., London, UK: Zed Books.Google Scholar
Spiller, C., Erakovic, L., Henare, M., & Pio, E. (2011a). Relational well-being and wealth: Māori businesses and an ethic of care. Journal of Business Ethics, 98(1), 153–169.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spiller, C., Pio, E., Henare, M., & Erakovic, L. (2011b). Wise Up: Creating organizational wisdom through an ethic of kaitiakitanga. Journal of Business Ethics, 104, 223–235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spiller, C., & Stockdale, M. (2013). Managing and leading from a Māori perspective: Bringing new life and energy to organisations. In J. Neal (Ed.) Handbook of faith and spirituality in the workplace: Emerging research and practice (pp. 149–173). New York: Springer.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stam, E. (2015). Entrepreneurial ecosystems and regional policy: A sympathetic critique. European Planning Studies, 23(9), 1759–1769. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2015.1061484 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Statistics New Zealand (2016). Tatauranga Umanga Māori 2016: Statistics on Māori businesses. Retrieved July 9, 2017, from www.stats.govt.nz Google Scholar
Storey, D. (2011). Optimism and chance: The elephants in the entrepreneurship room. International Small Business Journal, 29(4), 303–321.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tam, S., & Gray, D. E. (2016). Organisational learning and the organisational life cycle: The differential aspects of an integrated relationship in SMEs. European Journal of Training and Development, 40(1), 2–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tapsell, P., & Woods, C. (2008). Potikitanga: Indigenous entrepreneurship in a Maori context. Journal of Enterprising Communities, 2(3), 192–203. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/17506200810897196 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tapsell, P., & Woods, C. (2010). Social entrepreneurship and innovation: Self-organization in an indigenous context. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 22(6), 535–556.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Te Puni Kōkiri (2014a). Māori economy in the Waikato region. Retrieved July 9, 2017, from http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/a-matou-mohiotanga/business-and-economics Google Scholar
Te Puni Kōkiri (2014b). Ngā Takahanga Waewae o Ngā Kaipakihi Māori: The Footsteps of Māori Entrepreneurs. Retrieved July 9, 2017, from https://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/a-matou-mohiotanga/business-and-economics/nga-takahanga-waewae-o-nga-kaipakihi-Māori-the-foo Google Scholar
Walker, S., Eketone, A., & Gibb, A. (2006). An exploration of kaupapa Māori research, its principles, processes and applications. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 9(4), 331–344.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Warriner, V. (2007). The importance of traditional Maori values for necessity and opportunity: Maori entrepreneurs-iwi-based and individually owned. In L. Dana, & R. B. Anderson (Eds.), International handbook of research on Indigenous entrepreneurship (pp. 558–564). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.Google Scholar
Yeo, A., Legard, R., Keegan, J., Ward, K., McNaughton-Nicholls, C., & Lewis, J. (2014). In-depth interviews. In J. Ritchie, J. Lewis, C. McNaughton-Nicholls, & R. Ormston (Eds.), Qualitative research practice: A guide for social science students and researchers (pp. 177–210). London: Sage Publications Ltd.Google Scholar
Zahra, S. A., & Nambisan, S. (2012). Entrepreneurship and strategic thinking in business ecosystems. Business Horizons, 55(3), 219–229. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2011.12.004 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zapalska, A., Dabb, H., & Perry, G. (2003). Environmental factors affecting entrepreneurial activities: Indigenous Māori entrepreneurs of New Zealand. Asia Pacific Business Review, 10(2), 160–177.CrossRefGoogle Scholar