UDTR Global Rights of Nature Radar

Māori Perspectives on Digital Trade

Identification

Public canonical key

doi:10.15663/3610366.12jj

Authors

Danielle Lucas

Reported year

2025

Reported language

en

Source type

report

First detected

2026-11-09T19:04:47.790659+00:00

Last metadata observation

2026-11-09T19:04:47.790659+00:00

Last HTTP verification

Not checked

Documentary abstract — original language

Māori have engaged in trade for generations, both domestically and internationally (Mika 2014, Spiller et al 2025). As a way to access resources and build or strengthen relationships, trade allowed Māori in the North Island to access pounamu from the South Island and now allows those around the world to experience Whakatōhea mussels, Tai Tokerau mānuka honey and Tohu wines (Tohu Wines 2021, Open Ocean Whakatōhea mussels 2021, Tai Tokerau Honey 2025). With Māori authorities and businesses exporting a combined $1,350 million worth of goods in 20233, Māori international trade is becoming increasingly important to both the national and Māori economies. However, the way we trade, and what we are trading, are rapidly changing. Advances in technology, from improved refrigeration and transportation to the creation of the internet, are expanding flows of trade in goods, services, capital, labour and now data. This new form of trade, in digital assets and on digital channels has “…fundamentally altered the production and consumption of goods and services worldwide over the past two decades (OECD 2023 page 1).” As a growing part of the national economy, Māori are increasingly engaging in digital trade, from utilising online platforms and QR codes for product identification to creating and exporting applications. As Whaanga et al (2015) state, Māori have a long history of “…adopting new technologies, but also of innovating and developing technologies that suit their specific needs and allow for the expression of their culture and identity.” As digital trade grows, it is important that Māori communities can participate in and protect against digital trade. Therefore, this scoping report looks at Māori perspectives on digital trade. Although there is currently limited focus placed in this area4, the rapidly developing nature of digital trade means it is one of increasing importance to Māori communities. This report provides a basis to explore digital trade. Firstly, it discusses definitions for digital trade, taking time to explore the growing divergence between 1) digitally traded goods and services, and 2) trade in digital assets and services. The next section highlights the policy impacts of these diverse forms of digital trade (compared to traditional or non-digital trade) and how these forms of trade may cause unique considerations for Māori communities, providing some of the limited evidence available on this. This analysis highlights the tensions between the desire for Māori organisations to take part in the economic and social benefits of digital trade while ensuring that Māori rights and interests are not lost during the growth of digital trade. In conclusion this report lists further areas where Māori perspectives on either trade or the technology sector are offered, which may help shed light on Māori perspectives of digital trade. Noting that there is a large number of adjacent reports to this area, the report recommends there is more specific and intentional research (such as a survey) on Māori perspectives on trade in digital trade to ensure these perspectives can be incorporated into trade policy.

Identifiers

OPENALEX

W7163925290

DOI

10.15663/3610366.12jj

Documentary context

Documentary family

Report — institutional provenance unspecified

Source-reported types

report

Natural entities mentioned

Ocean

Entity mentions are not evidence of legal recognition. Jurisdiction studied is separate from author affiliation country.

Sources

OpenAlex · Record 1 · Record 2

• DOI · https://doi.org/10.15663/3610366.12jj
• OpenAlex · https://openalex.org/W7163925290

Documented bibliographic relations

Source-declared references and links; they do not establish legal support or UGLC qualification. Up to 20 outgoing references are displayed.

• openalex:w3016300527 · CITES
• The Routledge Handbook of Indigenous Development · CITES
• openalex:w4306408003 · CITES
• openalex:w4388267586 · CITES
• openalex:w4393951891 · CITES
• openalex:w4408147316 · CITES
• openalex:w4409317578 · CITES

0 incoming references within the detected corpus

Documentary status

Relevance pending

Library

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