Public lecture with Helmut Modlik, CEO Te Rūnanga O Toa Rangatira
Local economy: tail or dog?
Date and Time: 8th May 2026 2:00 pm [Updated]
Venue: QUAD2, Lecture Theatre, Geology Building, University of Otago
Or join online via Zoom [Meeting ID: 994 6668 2618, Password: 313264]
Te Maea, CEFGroup and Business South welcome you all to this public lecture with Helmut Modlik
Speaker
Helmut Modlik, CEO Te Rūnanga O Toa Rangatira is an experienced director, executive, and consultant with extensive experience across the private and public sector and with specialist skills in business and economic development, strategic planning, change management, and finance. Helmut’s work over the last 20 years has focused on chief executive leadership of private sector company mergers, turnarounds, and business improvements. Since 2020 Helmut has been CEO of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, with executive and governance responsibilities across a broad range of social and commercial enterprises.
Topic
Private sector economic actors typically focus on enterprise value maximisation i.e. the creation of more “means”. Public sector actors by contrast focus more on desired “ends” and use commercially generated “means” directly (dividends) or indirectly (taxes) to achieve them. Over the long run, however, investors can only expect to earn 8-9% per annum. In a context of growing polarisation of economic and social outcomes and the largest social and physical infrastructure deficit ever, using a subset of those returns to achieve desired “ends” is never going to be enough! What else might we do? Ngāti Toa has pursued an alternative investment strategy for achieving outsized social, environmental, and economic outcomes and believes there are lessons for other like-minded communities.
Registration link
Please click here: Helmut Modlik Public Lecture – Registration
Host
Te Maea Māori and Indigenous Economy and Enterprise Research Theme. Our goal is to undertake research that contributes to the development of sustainable and equitable Māori and Indigenous economies and enterprises. We aim to undertake relevant research and to develop the next generation of Māori business leaders. We work with academics, practitioners and community members from across the University of Otago and beyond.
The Climate and Energy Finance Group (CEFGroup) undertakes high-quality, rigorous, quantitative and independent research in the areas of climate finance, sustainable investing, sustainable reporting, and energy and carbon markets. The group is a founding member of the Global Research Alliance for Sustainable Finance and Investing (GRASFI). CEFGroup is based in the Department of Accountancy and Finance which is a CFA® Program Partner. We are a funded Research Theme of the University of Otago.
Business South is your Southern Business Association. We believe that every business should have the best chance at being the best it can be, we optimise employers’ health and growth potential through a wide range of support services, training and networking opportunities for whatever stage they are at and advocate for businesses with decision-makers in local and central government.
