New Books Network Matthew Scobie and Anna Sturman, "The Economic Possibilities of Decolonisation" (Bridget Williams Books, 2024)
Dec 22, 2025
Dr. Matthew Scobie, a Māori scholar specializing in political economy, teams up with Dr. Anna Sturman, a political economist from the University of Sydney, to explore decolonization's economic possibilities in Aotearoa. They delve into the rich legacy of pre-colonial Māori economies and how European encounters shaped economic dynamics. The conversation highlights contemporary Māori governance, land issues, and the significance of mutual aid during crises. They also discuss innovative legal frameworks and the transformative potential of Māori perspectives in reshaping New Zealand's economy.
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A 24-Hour Brief That Sparked The Book
- Matthew recalls receiving an urgent lockdown call from a Ngāi Tahu leader to write two pages on crisis and Crown power.
- That 24-hour brief catalyzed collaboration with Anna and eventually the book project.
Origins: A Practical, Collaborative Project
- The authors wrote the book to connect Māori political economy with contemporary crises and change-making.
- Collaboration let Anna and Matthew combine disciplinary strengths to produce a practical, local-focused analysis.
Pre-Colonial Māori Economic Foundations
- Pre-colonial Māori economies had complex collective property and exchange systems centered on taonga and whakapapa.
- These systems enabled trade, social obligation, and intergenerational stewardship without individual marketized ownership.