ISLAND has forestry (4000ha), seven dairy farms (2000ha), and kiwifruit, avocado and maize growing. This 6000ha island stretches 27km from Bowen Town, near Waihi Beach, south to Tauranga.
Some 250 people live here, 500 in the summer, much of the land needing permits for access. Some land is privately owned, and large tracts of Maori-owned land are controlled by trusts and incorporations – some in multiple titles.
The main forestry blocks are owned by the Te Kotukutuku Corporation and Blakeley Pacific, Seattle. Rayonier NZ Ltd has cutting rights, harvesting about 240ha annually. This land is immediately replanted with genetically improved pines.
Dairy farmers came to the field day from Opotiki, Te Awamutu and Coromandel, crossing by ferry from Omokoroa to visit two dairy farms and hear from local farmers, Chris Glassie, DairyNZ, and Terry Harding, Ballance Agri-Nutrients. All knew of the island, but most were making their first visit.
The island’s seven farms all supply Fonterra, some on winter milk contracts. The tanker crosses daily by barge in the flush and every other day as milk supply drops. The channel is not deep, so the barge trip may take 15 minutes at high tide – straight across – or 45 minutes at low tide if the vessel has to follow a longer, defined channel.
First stop was Tirohanga Trust farm and lower order sharemilkers Enoka Ngatai and his wife Myra (see sidebar).
The visitors were addressed by Enoka’s father Mark and his grandfather discussing the many problems of ownership and administration of Maori land. Harding also spoke.
SMASH is run by eight farmers to meet the needs of farmers with smaller herds. At least 58% of dairy farms nationally have fewer than 350 cows, and SMASH believes these can be overlooked in an industry dominated by large corporate farms; smaller farms are seen as having a significant role.
Some 17% of Fonterra suppliers produce less than 50,000kgMS, 54% less than 100,000kgMS and 64% less than 200,000kgMS.
The group was formed two years ago, funded by DairyNZ and run by a committee chaired by Noldy Rust, Te Awamutu.
John van der Goes, of Walton, is on the committee: “We have arranged a series of field days so that, along with informing and advising this group, the farmers also get to socialise with each other and remind each other of the important part they play in the dairy industry.”
Our day began at the wharf, where locals met us with trucks and utes for the day outing. After the Tirohanga Trust get-together and a more-than-adequate morning tea, farmers moved on to John Gardner’s farm.
There Chris Glassie, DairyNZ, and Gardner discussed options for new crops such as chicory and plantain, for the end of this season and the future.
Said one farmer, John van Heuvan, Hinuera, “All the people here today are progressive farmers and are not focussing on the drought but rather looking at ways to improve and better their farming systems.”
The day ended with lunch at the Matakana Island Recreational and Community Club.
