Cognitus has unparalleled institutional knowledge of settlement redress possibilities. On any settlement process with which he is involved, Dr Meade combines this institutional knowledge with his extensive economic and commercial experience and expertise to deliver the best possible outcomes for Cognitus' iwi clients.
Māori Sector
"I feel very privileged to have served so many iwi in their Treaty settlement negotiations over the past 25 years. This is an important opportunity for me to use my economic expertise, and professional experience, to bring about socially-important change for both iwi and all New Zealanders."
Dr Richard Meade, Principal Economist, and Ngāi Tahu Negotiating Group member 1992-98
Used with permission, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.
Cognitus is proud to have contributed to Māori sector developments, by acting for iwi in Treaty settlements and otherwise, since 1992.
Cognitus' Principal Economist, Dr Richard Meade, has been active in Treaty settlements, and other Māori sector work, for 25 years. Since first acting on the landmark Ngāi Tahu settlement over 1992-98 and subsequently, he has been instrumental in developing numerous innovative settlement features, and acted on many of the most significant settlements achieved to date.
Richard is passionate about the settlements process not only because it helps to restore the relationship between iwi and the Crown after so many decades of poor relations. More importantly, it re-establishes the footprint of Māori in the only country that calls them tangata whenua, and presents an unprecedented opportunity for Māori-led economic and social change benefiting all New Zealanders.
Dr Meade negotiated the relativity mechanism that was included in the Ngāi Tahu settlement (with Waikato-Tainui the only other iwi having such a mechanism), guaranteeing Ngāi Tahu a specific share of the present value of all settlements. As a consequence of that mechanism's implementation, he is well versed in the detail of all settlements agreed to date.
Click here for a downloadable summary of the Treaty settlements acted on by Dr Meade, and the range of Treaty settlement services offered by Cognitus.
Cognitus welcomes approaches by iwi that are either in, or commencing, their settlement negotiations, to discuss the negotiations process and requirements, and how Cognitus might assist in enhancing settlement outcomes. Contact details are provided in the About section, or send Cognitus an email.
Treaty Settlement Services
Treaty Settlement Services
Other Māori Sector Services
Māori sector clients often bring Cognitus the same types of questions as non-Māori clients, but with particular needs and focuses. For example, Māori sector clients need to know how policy or regulatory changes affect their interests and strategies, or how ownership and other governance arrangements might be improved.
However, primary industries such as agriculture, forestry and fishing play a relatively high role in the Māori economy. Māori also have a range of geographical and inter-generational focuses not shared by non-Māori to the same degree, as well as distinct socio-economic indicators.
Features such as these mean Māori can be impacted differently to non-Māori by policies such as New Zealand's Emissions Trading Scheme. These features also offer Māori unique advantages, such as in providing authentic and sustainable tourism opportunities, commitment to New Zealand based activities, or culturally-appropriate social service and educational delivery.
Cognitus' 25 years of experience in dealing with Māori sector issues means it has considerable relevant institutional knowledge, and is well placed to tailor its economic advice and analysis, and other services, to the Māori context.
Examples of Cognitus' Māori sector services - in addition to Treaty settlement negotiation services - include:
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Advising on the value impact of climate change policy, or other regulatory changes, on Māori assets
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Assessing the impact of climate change policies on Māori relative to non-Māori
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Acting for Māori landowners in commercial negotiations for structuring profit-sharing carbon farming ventures
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Advising on governance arrangements for shared Māori assets.
Services