Enterprise Great Lake Taupo's new chair Greg Stebbing wants local iwi entities be more direct about their investments.
Mr Stebbing has just been appointed the new chair of the enterprise, which encourages business investment in the district.
He also holds positions in a number of Maori authorities, including the Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board.
Mr Stebbing said iwi organisations had stuck with passive investments, such as general government bonds, but he could see that changing.
Iwi had a lot of land, trees and geothermal assets, and there's a desire to have more direct investment into businesses to create employment opportunities, he said.