He Ara Whanake – Building an Indigenous Trade Corridor to the World

Our delegation will travel to Toronto and Ottawa to participate in two of Canada’s most influential Indigenous economic forums: the First Nations Major Projects Coalition Conference and the NACCA Indigenous Prosperity Forum. Alongside this, we are proud to be part of a wider Aotearoa cohort, representing alongside Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po and Minister Tama Potaka, as we collectively strengthen relationships with First Nations leaders, institutions, and businesses.

This work is not a one-off visit; it is part of a deliberate, future-focused International Programme. Our intent is clear: to help build a thriving Indigenous trade corridor between Aotearoa, Australia, and Canada. We are doing this in close partnership with our sister network Supply Nation, connecting our ecosystems to share knowledge, unlock opportunity, and grow the global supplier diversity movement.

Through this delegation, our businesses will gain insight into large-scale Indigenous economic models, ranging from infrastructure and clean energy to Indigenous financial institutions and procurement systems. Just as importantly, they will build relationships grounded in shared values: whakapapa, reciprocity, and intergenerational impact.

Back home, this knowledge strengthens how we support Māori and Pasifika suppliers, using procurement as a lever for change with our global corporate partners. Together, we are creating pathways into “sunrise” opportunities, lifting capability, and positioning our businesses to participate not just locally, but globally.

We also acknowledge the important mahi happening across Aotearoa. Organisations like Te Taumata, Federation of Māori Authorities, alongside iwi and hapū, are all contributing to a stronger, more connected Māori economy. This collective effort is what enables us to step confidently onto the global stage.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to bring these global connections home. We will be hosting our international partners at our annual SUMMIT in Tāmaki Makaurau on 6 August, before travelling to Perth for Supply Nation CONNECT (11–12 August) continuing to deepen relationships across our network.

As we grow this programme, we are thinking about the bigger picture:

• How can global corporates better support Indigenous supplier capability across borders?
• What does it take to connect procurement systems, capital, and opportunity across Indigenous economies?
• And how do we ensure our businesses are ready to step into these global value chains?

What role could you play in this journey?

If you’re a Māori or Pasifika business looking to expand globally, or a corporate partner wanting to support Indigenous capability and connection, we’d love to kōrero.

Reach out to learn more about our International Programme: missy@amotai.nz