Māori female entrepreneurship in tourism industry

The paper explores the characteristics of indigenous Māori female entrepreneurs and identifies the factors that curtailed their entrepreneurial success within the tourism industry in New Zealand. All respondents stated that their indigenous background was a primary factor of being underprivileged, disadvantaged, or restricted. After new policies were implemented and assistance was provided to their groups in the 1990th, respondents were able to obtain education, develop business skills, and obtain financial assistance. Today Māori entrepreneurship involves products and services that focus on Māori cultural and traditional experiences. The Māori female entrepreneurial goal is to create local employment, preserve culture, and conserve the environment. Respondents believe that resources must be responsibly and collectively allocated and they must continue providing education about Māori wisdom, unity, harmony, control, and preservation of the environment and natural resources as means of maintaining the Māori way of life and communal development. They believe that today\u27s tourism industry operating within Māori communities is accountable and responsible for providing well-being and support to their families and younger Māori generations