Trans-Tasman partnership supports Māori investment in Australia’s Indigenous economy

Callan Morse Published September 8, 2026 at 2.00pm (AWST)

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Darren Godwell and Tuku Morgan signed the agreement to from an investment partnership between Indigenous Business Australia and the Waikato-Tainui iwi at the weekend. (Image: Joseph Mayers/Indigenous Business Australia)

Two of the largest Indigenous investment institutions in Australia and Aotearoa / New Zealand have formalised a long-term partnership to invest in major Indigenous-led projects across Australia.

Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) and Waikato-Tainui signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Hamilton at the weekend in the company of senior tribal and iwi leaders.

Together, IBA and Waikato-Tainui represent more than A$4.4 billion — the combined value of the balance sheets of IBA and Waikato-Tainui — in Indigenous-owned assets, alongside generations of leadership, knowledge and stewardship.

Under the MOU, the two organisations will investigate opportunities to expand investment in Australian mining and critical minerals, and in long-term infrastructure assets and projects spanning energy, water, transport, and logistics.

IBA chair Darren Godwell said the agreement marked a shift in the role Indigenous institutions play in capital markets.

"This is the first of what we hope will be many such agreements to come and will see hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of offshore capital flow into our Indigenous economy," Mr Godwell said.

"It is a practical agreement focused on building capability, sharing expertise and identifying opportunities where we can work together to deliver stronger economic outcomes for Indigenous peoples."

IBA said Waikato-Tainui is one of Aotearoa New Zealand's largest and wealthiest iwi, with NZ$2.4 billion in assets. Its investments include retail centres, hotels, office blocks and residential subdivisions, as well as ports, agriculture, forests and fishing quotas.

"Signing this agreement in this company says a great deal about the kind of relationship we intend to build," Mr Godwell said.

"Indigenous peoples across Australia and Aotearoa have much to learn from each other's economic journeys.

"This agreement creates a pathway for deeper collaboration and a stronger Indigenous economic future on both sides of the Tasman."

IBA said its relationship with Waikato-Tainui began when IBA took part in the inaugural Ōhanga ki te Ao Māori economic summit in November 2025, and developed through discussions in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand across 2026.

Waikato-Tainui Chairman, Tuku Morgan, said the agreement reinforced the importance of Indigenous economic cooperation across the region.

"Our peoples share a commitment to self-determination, intergenerational wellbeing and long-term economic prosperity," Mr Morgan said.

"This agreement creates a platform for collaboration that can help unlock new opportunities and strengthen outcomes for our communities.

"As the Māori economy continues to grow and diversify globally, there is significant value in exploring investments alongside Indigenous organisations that share a commitment to self-determination, stewardship and prosperity for future generations."

Both organisations have described the signing as the next step in an enduring investment relationship rather than a single transaction, with scope for other iwi to take part over time.