New Books in Economics Matthew Scobie and Anna Sturman, "The Economic Possibilities of Decolonisation" (Bridget Williams Books, 2024)
Dec 22, 2025
In an enlightening discussion, Matthew Scobie, a Māori political economy researcher, and Anna Sturman, a political economist and geographer, dive into the economic possibilities of decolonisation. They explore how pre-colonial Māori economies can reshape Aotearoa's political landscape. The duo discusses the impact of land dispossession, ongoing Māori economic practices, and the importance of mutual aid. They also present concrete legal and policy recommendations to honor the Treaty and advocate for a transformative future rooted in indigenous perspectives.
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Origins In A Crisis Brief
- Matthew Scobie and Anna Sturman teamed up during the 2020 lockdown to analyze how crises enable state power over Māori.
- That collaboration grew from a 2-page brief into a book connecting colonialism and capitalism in Aotearoa.
Taonga, Whakapapa, And Exchange
- Māori pre-colonial economies combined communal taonga, whakapapa obligations, and extensive trade networks without profit as the sole motive.
- These systems emphasized intergenerational obligations and differed fundamentally from individual fee-simple property regimes.
First Commercial Impulse: Be More Māori
- Early contact saw Māori engaging with Europeans on their own terms and often amplifying Māori practices rather than simply imitating settlers.
- Markets appeared as opportunities to extend existing exchange, not as an immediate imperative to abandon whakapapa-based economies.