Te pūtahitanga: Commercialising genomic research through Indigenous enterprise

Abstract

This paper examines issues associated with the commercialisation of genomic research of taonga species through Indigenous enterprise in Aotearoa New Zealand. A contribution to Indigenous entrepreneurship knowledge is offered by answering the question, how do Māori enterprises reconcile tensions between cultural, commercial and science imperatives in commercialisation processes? Taonga means anything that is highly prized—tangible or intangible, while taonga species refers to native flora and fauna and traditional knowledge of these biological resources and their uses. Genomic research of taonga species and the commercialisation of this knowledge is advancing, but with limited Māori involvement. International and domestic frameworks recognise risks to Indigenous peoples from commercialisation of their biological resources, with benefit-sharing an alleviating mechanism. While few Indigenous benefit-sharing agreements in genomic research are known, we highlight new frameworks that encourage rights protection, responsible engagement and beneficial arrangements with Indigenous groups in the commercialisation of genomic research among science, business and state actors. We posit ‘Te pūtahitanga’ (the confluence of rivers) as a conceptualisation of how Māori can mediate cultural, commercial and science imperatives using tauutuutu and manahau as Māori principles of reciprocity which has implications for commercialisation processes within Indigenous and non-Indigenous enterprise.