A Lower North Island iwi wants to work with other neighbouring tribes, some of whom belong to the same waka, as business partners.
Rangitikei tribe Ngati Apa used some of its Treaty settlement money last year to buy a 17% stake in the Trafalgar Square shopping mall in Whanganui, and just recently bought a shopping complex in Palmerston North.
Director of Ngati Apa Developments Andrew French says his iwi is keen to share its business knowledge and experience with other kin tribes from the Kurahaupo waka.
He says it would be fantastic if other iwi from the same waka or ancestral canoe came on board with them.
Mr French says Ngati Apa has already acknowledged it's operating in the Rangitane rohe because the company managing the Palmerston North property has been named Taikorea, which is a combination of two hapu who have strong links to both Rangitane and Ngati Apa.
He says his iwi just has to wait now for Rangitane and Levin tribe Muaupoko to settle their Waitangi claims with the Crown and see if they want to join in.
Mr French says business partner opportunities are open to all iwi and are not exclusive to just Kurahaupo tribes in the Lower North Island and the top of the South Island.
Kurahaupo tribes are resident in Rangitikei, Manawatu, Horowhenua, Tararua, Wairarapa and Marlborough.
