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HortNZ chief executive Kate Scott.
More Māori land is being used for growing commercial fruit and vegetables, according to a new report commissioned by Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ).
The Snapshot of Māori in horticulture 2024 research found the gross output from Māori horticulture during 2024 was $305 million, up from $220.5 million in 2019.
While horticulture currently comprises just over one per cent - 5,715 hectares - of Māori farmland, this is growing steadily.
The amount of Māori land in horticulture has increased by 50.4% since 2017 and now represents about 7% of total fruit and vegetables land in New Zealand.
Kate Scott, chief executive of HortNZ, says this figure is notable, given that overall, there has been a decline in the amount of land in horticulture.
"One of the key priorities in the Aotearoa Horticulture Action Plan is increasing Māori-owned land in high value horticulture, so it is heartening to see the data trending in this direction.
"While horticulture currently comprises a small proportion of Māori land use, Māori involvement in horticulture is diverse and expanding, from Māori individuals and businesses to iwi and their commercial arms."
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