Empowering Indigenous Women:
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 17
Māori Philippines Learning Exchange
On 13 May 2025, Indigenous women leaders from the Philippines met with Māori leaders and organisations in Wellington to begin a powerful knowledge exchange on land governance, economic empowerment, and Indigenous leadership.
Highlights from the first day included:
Te Tumu Paeroa – Office of the Māori Trustee
Māori land has reduced from 27M to 1.4M hectares. Today, 1,400 trusts are administered, with 40 transitioning to self-governance each year.
Dr Charlotte Severne is the first female CEO of the Office of Māori Trustee, where there is an emphasis on the unique value of women in land leadership and the importance of manaakitanga and tikanga.
Many descendants hold Māori land – collective governance is both a challenge and a strength.
BIG HEARTS
Global Indigenous Trade Networks
Traci Houpapa, Chair of the Federation of Māori Authorities (FOMA), shared how Māori are advancing Indigenous trade through APEC and the Indigenous Peoples Economic Cooperation and Trade Cooperation Arrangement IPETCA, whose founding partners include New Zealand, Canada, Taiwan, and Australia.
Participants were invited to connect directly to build global Indigenous trade relationships.
Delegation Dinner
Peter Kell, former NZ High Commissioner to the Philippines, welcomed participants to New Zealand at a dinner held at Lazy Juan. He encouraged them to:
· Expand Indigenous enterprise beyond the village
· Partner globally to manage/grow community wealth
· Work with organisations like NukuToi to envision, negotiate, and implement long-term plans.
This pioneering programme, with support from the United Nations Development Program and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, is unlocking 21st-century solutions led by and for Indigenous women.
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