What Poutama Trust does

Poutama Trust is an independent, apolitical, pan-tribal charitable trust established on 5 July 1988 in Rotorua, New Zealand, dedicated to business development services for Māori-owned enterprises (pakihi Māori). The trust delivers a portfolio of interconnected services: matched grant funding through the Poutama Development Investment (BDI) programme (50-50 co-funding up to NZD $10,000 per application, NZD $30,000 lifetime maximum), Regional Business Partner (RBP) Network support funded by MBIE and Callaghan Innovation, the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) programme delivered in partnership with MBIE's Kānoa unit (NZD $4.6M deployed to 74 businesses), and practical 'Adapting to Change' workshops delivered with Whāriki Te Tai Tokerau. The trust also incubates sector clusters and collectives including MiHI (27 hemp businesses), Waiū Dairy (11 Māori enterprises), Kāhui Fashion, TUKU Wine, Indigenous Cuisine Cluster, and Mīere Coalition.

The operating model combines an investment portfolio (whose returns fund operations) with Crown-entity programme delivery contracts and small distributed grants. Distribution is field-based via a small team of six staff (Commercial Manager, Information Manager, Finance Administrator, two Business Advisors, and one RBP Growth Advisor) plus a Board of Trustees, supported by website, e-newsletter (Poutama Pānui), social media, workshops, and referral partnerships with Te Puni Kōkiri, MWDI, and NZ Māori Tourism. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The trust targets regional and micro-to-small Māori businesses across Aotearoa, with eligibility requiring ≥50% Māori ownership, 12+ months operation, and NZD $80k+ annual turnover. Technology is limited to a WordPress/FormCraft website and FormCraft-based online application; no proprietary software or AI/ML capability exists.

Strategically, Poutama is positioning beyond traditional grant distribution into the innovation and technology ecosystems via co-sponsorship of the NZ Hi-Tech Awards Māori Hi-Tech Company of the Year, support for biotech ventures (AgriSea's nanocellulose biorefinery), and facilitation of AI-adoption pilots for small businesses. The trust underwent a generational leadership change in March 2021 when long-serving CEO Richard Te Hurinui Jones departed after 20+ years, with current governance led by Chair Heta Hudson and four trustees.

Name

Poutama Trust

Legal name

Poutama Trust

Website

https://poutama.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Poutama Trust is an independent New Zealand charitable trust (est. 1988) providing business development services, matched grants, and Crown-programme delivery to Māori-owned SMEs (pakihi Māori) across Aotearoa, with a small Rotorua-based team and an investment-portfolio-funded operating model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maori business development services

NAICS

Business Support Services (5614), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (52592)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Growth, Livelihoods & Private Sector Development (BPADAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Development Finance & Blended Finance Facilities (BPADAOAD)

Keywords

• Maori business development
• Business advisory services
• Grant funding programmes
• Regional business partner
• Nonprofit trust services

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotorua

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Investment Returns: Income generated from Poutama's investment portfolio enables the trust to engage in activities and provide services that support and facilitate Māori business development. As an independent charitable trust established in 1988, revenue is reinvested into Māori business support programs.
2. Government Program Administration: Poutama partners with MBIE to deliver the Poutama ki te taumata: Accelerating Māori enterprise development programme utilizing $5 million from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF). The trust acts as a delivery partner for government-funded initiatives including Regional Business Partner (RBP) Network support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Poutama Trust delivers business development services to Māori-owned enterprises (pakihi Māori) through three principal lines: (1) the Poutama Development Investment (BDI) programme providing 50:50 matched grants up to NZ$10,000 per application with a NZ$30,000 lifetime cap; (2) Regional Business Partner (RBP) advisory and capability-building support connecting Māori businesses to mentors, training and R&D programmes via MBIE/Callaghan Innovation; and (3) Provincial Growth Fund programme administration, under which Poutama partnered with MBIE/Kānoa to deliver NZ$4.6 million to 74 regionally-based Māori businesses between 2020 and 2021.

Product overview

Poutama Trust operates as a business development organization providing a portfolio of interconnected services to Māori enterprises. The core offerings include grant funding through the Development Investment (BDI) programme and Regional Business Partner support, alongside the Provincial Growth Fund programme. Additional services encompass practical business workshops and cluster/collective initiatives spanning hemp innovation (MiHI), dairy processing (Waiū Dairy), fashion (Kāhui), food & beverage (Indigenous Cuisine Cluster), honey production (Mīere Coalition), and historical networking events (CL2IMB). The organization focuses on fostering collaboration and economic growth across Māori businesses nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Poutama Development Investment (BDI) Matched grant funding programme providing 50:50 co-contribution grants up to NZ$10,000 per application to Māori-owned businesses for innovative business development, products/services for growth, and capability building. Lifetime maximum of NZ$30,000 across up to three applications. Requires minimum 50% Māori ownership, 12+ months of operation, NZ$80,000+ annual turnover, business plan, and financial statements.
• Regional Business Partner (RBP) Support Advisory and capability-building service that connects Māori-owned businesses with mentors, capability development training, and Callaghan Innovation R&D programmes. Funded through MBIE and Callaghan Innovation under the RBP Network, with Poutama acting as a delivery partner alongside other RBP organisations. Registration via business.govt.nz.
• Poutama ki te taumata: Accelerating Māori Enterprise Development Programme Government-funded programme that delivered NZ$4.6 million in Provincial Growth Fund grants (NZ$15,000–NZ$100,000 per recipient) to 74 regionally-based pakihi Māori across Aotearoa, for capital investment, equipment, vehicles, websites, apps, and infrastructure. Forecasted 254 jobs created; sectors served include construction (39%), agriculture (10%), food & beverage (9%), forestry (8%), trades (7%), aquaculture (6%).
• Adapting to Change Workshops for Pakihi Māori Workshops for Māori business owners, operators, whānau businesses, side hustles, and growing pakihi Māori covering practical strategies for rising costs, changing customer behaviour, funding pressure, digital disruption, and economic uncertainty. Delivered in-person (Whangārei, Whangaruru) and online. Designed as a Māori-led space grounded in whakaaro Māori, real-world business experience, and collective learning.

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• MBIE (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2020Poutama has partnered with MBIE to deliver the Poutama ki te taumata: Accelerating Māori enterprise development programme ($5 million PGF). Also identifies regional Pakihi Māori investment opportunities via MBIE's Regional Strategic Partnership Fund, and collaborates on climate change mitigation and Future of Work Tripartite Forum.
• Kānoa – Regional Economic Development and Investment UnitcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2020Kānoa is MBIE's regional economic development unit. Since November 2020, Poutama has helped deliver $4.6 million to Māori SMEs/businesses through the PGF Programme in partnership with Kānoa. Delivered funding to 41 regionally-based Māori SMEs totaling $2.97 million in grants of $15-100k.
• Callaghan InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Poutama tautoko (supports) Pakihi Māori by connecting them to R&D services and co-funding. Ongoing engagement with Callaghan's Business & Māori Economy team. Partnered to deliver Matariki X regional Māori Inspire events (2016, 2017, 2019). Co-sponsor of Māori Hi-Tech Company of the Year award.
• Te Puni KōkiricoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPoutama works in partnership with Crown entities to help grow successful and sustainable Māori enterprise. Connects and refers pakihi to TPK programmes supporting business including apprenticeships and cadetships. Delivers national and regional programmes achieving objective of enhancing the Māori Economy.
• New Zealand Māori TourismsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnduring partnership supporting Māori owned and operated tourism businesses across Aotearoa. Both entities work together to support the Māori tourism sector and broader Māori economy. Previously helped profile and showcase tourism operators in relevant tourism markets, including COVID-19 MBR Programme.
• Māori Women's Development Inc (MWDI)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnduring partnership. Poutama sponsors the MWDI Business Awards and refers wāhine entrepreneurs, leaders, and business owners to each other. Both entities work together to support the Māori economy, including COVID-19 MBR Programme. Respective kaupapa enable wāhine to grow and thrive in business.
• Whāriki Te Tai TokerausecondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPoutama partnered with Whāriki Te Tai Tokerau to deliver 'Adapting to Change Workshops' as part of the Regional Business Partner Network programme. Whāriki provides practical tools, real conversations, and implementation-focused support designed for Māori businesses.
• Charities Services (New Zealand)secondaryOthersPoutama Trust is registered with Charities Services (New Zealand), ensuring compliance with charitable organization requirements.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Callaghan Innovation: NZ government R&D agency that co-funds and partners with Poutama to connect Māori businesses with innovation services. Larger, broader remit covering all NZ businesses with deep R&D focus; Poutama acts as Māori-facing delivery partner.
• Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu: Largest South Island iwi with extensive commercial operations across seafood, tourism, property, and forestry. Operates a major Māori enterprise portfolio, comparable in serving Māori economic self-determination but at significantly larger scale and iwi-specific rather than pan-tribal.
• Te Puni Kōkiri (TPK): Government Crown entity focused on Māori development policy and investment. Comparable because it serves overlapping Māori enterprise/whānau objectives through funding, capability building and policy advisory, but at much larger scale and with a broader social policy remit beyond business.
• New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE): NZ government export development agency. Poutama refers Māori exporters (Mīere Coalition to 8 countries, My Taiao to China) and could be considered a delivery pathway for NZTE's Māori-focused capability; broader NZ-wide export remit.

Direct peers

• Indigenous Business Australia (IBA): Australian government entity providing business development, finance and capability support to Indigenous Australians. Closest international analog to Poutama's pan-tribal apolitical broker model and grant/loan delivery function.
• Māori Women's Development Inc (MWDI): Wāhine-focused Māori business development organisation. Poutama sponsors MWDI Business Awards and refers wāhine entrepreneurs between organisations; both serve Māori enterprise capability-building with overlapping but distinct target segments.
• NZ Māori Tourism: Sector-specific organisation supporting Māori-owned tourism businesses across Aotearoa. Poutama maintains an enduring partnership with this entity; both work with the same pakihi Māori customer base but NZ Māori Tourism is sector-focused.
• Amotai: NZ supplier diversity organisation connecting Māori and Pasifika-owned businesses to procurement opportunities. Directly comparable — both support Māori enterprise growth, deliver international delegations, and partner with Poutama on the 2026 International Programme.
• Whāriki Te Tai Tokerau: Māori business advisory organisation partnering with Poutama to deliver Adapting to Change workshops. Closest comparable peer by operating model — direct Māori business advisory, capability building, and grassroots workshop delivery.

Others

• Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit: MBIE's regional economic development unit. Direct partner funder ($2.97M delivered through PGF) of Poutama's SME support programme; comparable in objective (regional economic uplift) but acts as government policy/funder rather than direct advisor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PoutamaTrust
• Facebookfacebook.com/PoutamaTrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/poutama
• Instagraminstagram.com/poutamatrust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Poutama Trust