Maori leadership

Direct negotiation implies a meeting of chiefs. Unfortunately Maori have cast aside their traditional whakapapa chiefs in favor of modern academics (mostly educated in Pakeha mainstream institutions). We tend to select our leaders from people that have worked in government and know the ropes. We are impressed by those that know how to access government grants and funding pools (putea).

Have Maori forgotten how the colonization engine has affected them? Businesses don't select their business managers form the state sector. They select from the private sector. Why is it that Maori select from the state sector?

When the crown and Maori meet to negotiate on one side there is the minister of justice, a bunch of influential CEO's, a chief crown negotiator all backed with the resources of the state. On the Maori side there are often government employees (or ex employees) with little financial backing and little experience in dealing with the crown. If you are a government employee, to go against the government of the day would be financial suicide.