The Māori economy and the Big Four

Abstract

In this commentary, we argue that the Big Four professional service firms (Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC) are positioning themselves as a bridge between Māori and the Crown in Aotearoa New Zealand. In a political economy that is evolving in line with te Tiriti/the Treaty of Waitangi, this bridge presents a profitable opportunity. We engage with theories of imperialism, the business case for diversity and revolving doors to advance our argument. We conclude with opportunities for future research that take the role of the Big Four in the Māori economy seriously.