Unveiling Nuanced Māori Attitudes Toward Capitalism

A groundbreaking study from Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, has shed light on the diverse ways in which Māori view capitalism and the role of government regulation in business. Titled "Between Culture and Context: What Shapes Māori Perspectives on Capitalism and Government Regulation?", the research challenges the notion of a uniform 'Māori perspective' on economic systems, revealing how factors like cultural identity, employment status, and demographics play pivotal roles. Led by Professor Carla Houkamau, the findings highlight that Māori attitudes are far from monolithic, offering valuable insights for policymakers, businesses, and educators aiming to foster an inclusive economy in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This research is particularly timely as New Zealand grapples with economic challenges and debates around sustainable development. By drawing on a large-scale dataset, it provides empirical evidence that can inform higher education curricula in business and economics at New Zealand universities, where understanding Indigenous perspectives is increasingly emphasized.

The Methodology: A Robust National Survey

The study utilized data from Wave 2 of the 2020 Māori Identity and Financial Attitudes Study (MIFAS), a longitudinal national survey conducted by University of Auckland researchers. This dataset included responses from 3,241 Māori participants aged 18 and over, selected through a probability-based sampling method to ensure representativeness.

Researchers employed multiple regression analyses to examine predictors of attitudes. Key measures included:

• Iwi importance: Participants rated 'How important is/are your iwi to how you see yourself?' on a 1-7 scale (1 = not important, 7 = very important).
• Cultural efficacy: Confidence in cultural knowledge and practices.
• Opposition to capitalism: Agreement with 'Capitalism has generally had a negative impact on the way that we live' (1-7 scale).
• Support for regulation: Agreement with statements favoring government intervention in business.
• Employment type: Categorized as employee, solo self-employed, or business owner with staff.

Demographic controls such as age, gender, income, political orientation, and ethnic affiliations were factored in, allowing for a nuanced analysis that isolates the effects of cultural and contextual variables.

Cultural Connection: Iwi and Identity as Key Drivers

One of the study's standout findings is the strong link between cultural identity and economic attitudes. Māori who rated their iwi (tribal) affiliations as highly important to their self-identity showed significantly greater opposition to capitalism and stronger support for business regulation. Similarly, those with high cultural efficacy—confidence in engaging with Māori knowledge and practices—expressed more critical views of capitalist systems.

Professor Carla Houkamau explains, "Cultural confidence strengthens critical perspectives on capitalist systems, indicating that Māori who deemed their iwi as important to their identity, or who had the resources to appropriately engage with Māori culture, reported greater opposition to capitalism than Māori who did not." This suggests that deeper cultural embeddedness fosters skepticism toward market-driven individualism, favoring collective well-being.

In New Zealand's higher education context, these insights resonate with efforts at universities like Auckland to integrate kaupapa Māori (Māori worldview) into business education, helping students navigate tensions between traditional values and modern economics.

Employment Dynamics: Autonomy Shapes Pro-Capitalist Leanings

Employment status emerged as a powerful predictor, independent of cultural factors. Māori employees displayed the strongest opposition to capitalism and highest support for government regulation, while solo self-employed individuals and business owners with staff held more favorable views toward free markets and less enthusiasm for intervention.

Researchers attribute this to the autonomy and agency self-employment provides, contrasting with the perceived constraints of wage labor. As co-author Professor Jason Mika (Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Whakatōhea, Ngāti Kahungunu) notes, "Our study helps to understand who's feeling disenchanted or well-served by the way Aotearoa is doing capitalism. This can help to inform policy on how capitalism can better serve people and the planet."

For New Zealand universities, this underscores the value of entrepreneurship programs tailored for Māori students, such as those at UOA's Business School, which blend capitalist tools with cultural principles to empower whānau (family)-led ventures.

Demographic Variations: Not a Monolithic View

The research debunks any singular 'Māori view' by highlighting demographic nuances:

• Gender: Women showed greater opposition to capitalism and support for regulation than men.
• Age: Younger Māori were more critical of capitalism than older cohorts.
• Income: Lower-income groups opposed capitalism more strongly, linking economic position to systemic critique.
• Ethnicity: Those identifying solely as Māori (vs. multiple ethnicities) favored regulation more.
• Politics: Conservatives viewed capitalism positively but opposed regulation, unlike liberals.

These patterns persisted after controlling for confounders, emphasizing context's role.

Gender, Age, and Socioeconomic Intersections

Diving deeper, the study's regressions revealed women’s attitudes were consistently more regulation-supportive, potentially reflecting experiences of inequality in labor markets. Younger Māori, facing precarious gig economies, mirrored global youth skepticism toward neoliberalism. Lower-income participants' views aligned with 'lived experience' theories, where personal hardship amplifies anti-capitalist sentiments.

At NZ polytechnics and universities, this informs targeted support like scholarships for Māori women in business (explore opportunities) and youth entrepreneurship hubs.

Political Ideology and Ethnic Composition Effects

Political leanings showed conservatives embracing capitalism's opportunities but resisting 'big government', while liberals prioritized equity through regulation. Sole Māori identifiers drew stronger from collective cultural norms, contrasting multi-ethnic Māori who may blend Pākehā (European NZer) individualism.

Houkamau adds, "Māori identity is not a single predictor of economic attitudes. Cultural confidence strengthens critique of capitalism, but those views also vary by income, age, gender, politics, and affiliation." This diversity enriches discussions in NZ higher ed, from psychology to management courses.

Policy and Business Implications for Aotearoa

The findings urge tailored policies: support for Māori entrepreneurship to harness pro-market sentiments among self-employed, while addressing employee disenchantment via fair labor reforms. For businesses, integrating 'economy of mana'—prioritizing reciprocity, prestige (mana), and community over profit maximization—could bridge divides.

In higher education, UOA's Juncture: Dialogues on Inclusive Capitalism centre exemplifies this, hosting dialogues on Māori-led models for sustainable growth. Read more on the Juncture centre.

The Economy of Mana: A Māori Alternative Framework

Aligning with prior UOA work, the study invokes the 'economy of mana', a relational model emphasizing mana-enhancing exchanges, reciprocity, and collective prosperity. Unlike capitalism's focus on individual accumulation, it prioritizes whānau and iwi well-being, resonating with findings on cultural critics.

This framework informs NZ uni research on Indigenous economics, with applications in agribusiness and tourism where Māori assets like land are leveraged sustainably.

Historical Context: From Colonisation to Contemporary Critique

Māori economic views are shaped by history: pre-colonial reciprocity-based systems disrupted by colonisation and capitalist land alienation. Post-Treaty of Waitangi settlements have fueled a $70 billion Māori asset base, yet disparities persist, fueling diverse attitudes. UOA's earlier 'Māori Perspectives on Conscious Capitalism' report (2022) extended this, proposing Māori value theory for equitable business.

University of Auckland's Leadership in Indigenous Economic Research

Waipapa Taumata Rau leads NZ higher ed in this space, with MIFAS providing ongoing data for studies on identity-economy links. Collaborations across psych, business, and Māori studies yield actionable insights, positioning UOA as a hub for decolonizing economics education.

Explore Prof. Houkamau's profile for more.

Photo by Adrien Olichon on Unsplash

Future Outlook: Towards Inclusive Economic Models

Looking ahead, the study calls for hybrid models blending capitalism with mana principles, supported by uni research grants and policy. As NZ universities like Auckland expand Māori business programs, graduates can drive change. Actionable steps include iwi-business partnerships and culturally safe entrepreneurship training.

For academics and students, this research opens doors to further inquiry into Indigenous-global economy intersections. Access the full paper here.