ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the trade war between the United States of America and China initiated during former president Donald Trump's leadership provides a foil to explore more productive partnerships between the indigenous Māori people of Aotearoa New Zealand and their Chinese business partners. The two life-full symbols of the Dragon and Taniwha open the possibilities of learning about the world of business partners beyond commercial transactions. The remarkable synergies between contemporary Māori and Confucianism reveal that understanding the antecedents of cultural values, curiosity, and poly-dexterity are precursors that guide successful business partnerships.
