Business number will give Maori useful data 12 May 2021 13:06 PM Photo: New Zealand Business. Māori businesses can now identify themselves as such when they register for a New Zealand business number. Ross van der Schyff from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment says it will give the government better data to support Māori businesses. Government can also start to understand the contribution that Māori businesses make to the economy, make it easier for investment or collaboration and help better measure the effectiveness of government policies for Māori. Pania Tyson-Nathan from NZ Māori Tourism, which was one of the Māori organisations pushing for the move, says having good, reliable Māori business data will enable her roopū to tailor and direct its support for the Māori tourism sector to where it is most needed.