Abstract
This paper reports on an exploratory study into critical success factors as they are perceived by Maori small- to medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners in the Otago/Southland regions of New Zealand. We draw on interview responses from 11 Maori business owners and four representatives of SME support services. The aim of this study is to explore Maori SME characteristics in terms of the critical success factors that help or hinder the achievement of their business aspirations. The findings indicate three main thematic concerns: Maori SME owners' perception of being Maori impacts on how they position themselves as a business; the regional business environment has particular features that impact in a particular way on Maori SMEs; and, notions of business strategy are culturally nuanced. We propose that a culturally constituted regional business support system will better enable Maori SMEs to achieve their aspirations.