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Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee chair Kingi Smiler and Minister of Māori Development Nanaia Mahuta pictured at the recent field day.
A crowd of more than 150 people turned out at a recent field day at Ngai Tukairangi Trust’s kiwifruit orchard at Matapihi on the outskirts of Tauranga.
The Trust is one of three finalists in this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy competition for the top Māori horticulturalist of the year. It is the first time in the award’s 87-year history that horticulture has been included in the competition.
In the past, the competition has been for dairy and sheep and beef, held in alternate years. However, this year the competition was widened to include horticulture. The field day attracted a wide range of people from the kiwifruit industry – as well as the wider agri business sector. The day commenced with a Powhiri at the picturesque Hungahungatoroa Marae, which overlooks Tauranga Harbour. This was followed by a series of presentations from trustees and staff about its history, governance, strategy and business planning.
Those attending the field day were also taken on a tour of the property. One of the special guests at the field day was the Minister of Māori Development, Nanaia Mahuta. She said the competition helps raise the bar for Māori in terms of horticulture and enables landowners to demonstrate the importance of legacy, partnerships and relationships, and holding on to their whenua (land). Mahuta says that post-Covid 19, Māori producers are going to make a significant contribution to the future of New Zealand.
Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee chair Kingi Smiler says it was a special and historic day for Māori to have their efforts in the horticultural sector recognised. He says Māori are major contributors to the wealth generated by the sector.
It is estimated that Māori own more than 10% of the kiwifruit plantings in NZ and this is increasing. Smiler praised Ngai Tukairangi for its organisation of the field day and says they have set a benchmark for others who enter this competition in the future. He says field days are a great way of showcasing the achievements of growers and farmers and people can see at first-hand how an operation works.
The other two finalists in the competition are Hineora Orchard, Te Kaha 15B Ahu Whenua Trust. This is a Māori freehold land block located in the Eastern Bay of Plenty township of Te Kaha, 65km east of Opotiki on which the Trust run a kiwifruit joint venture operation. The other finalist is Otama Marere (Paengaroa North A5) Block in Paengaroa near the Bay of Plenty town of Te Puke.
It grows a mixture of Green, SunGold and organic kiwifruit – as well as avocados.
Smiler says all three finalists are exemplars of excellence and says they do the competition proud. The winner of the Ahuwhenua Trophy for Horticulture will be announced at a function in Rotorua on Friday November 20.
Kiwifruit is a Kiwifruit is a key sector for the country's horticulture industry and contributed almost $2 billion to communities across NZ in 2020. Covid-19 has thrown a major spanner into the country's harvests by severely limiting the number workers, many of whom would usually come from overseas. Mike Murphy of NZ Kiwifruit Growers Inc. talked with Bay of Plenty grower and employer Sean Carnahan about the challenges.
Robbie Ellison describes himself as a fisherman with a kiwifruit orcharding habit.
The success of some of the early Māori adopters in the kiwifruit industry is starting to catch on.
Anaru Timutimu wants to see more Māori in leadership roles in the kiwifruit industry
Kiwifruit is just too valuable not to be picked and despite the challenges of labour and weather, it will be picked.
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