If MPI can support the different trusts and work collectively with them, the potential gross contribution to GDP is $331m and at least 330 jobs could be created. The figures are based on optimising 116,000ha of freehold Maori land in Northland, of the 1.5m hectares that Maori own.
“The other important thing is if we can lift those farmers that are in the bottom 50% up to the average, that is worth $50m per annum. That’s where projects like PGP (Primary Growth Partnership) or the Sustainable Farming Fund come in,” he told Rural News.
“Northland is sitting on a massive productive land base that has pretty good soil fertility and also favourable growing conditions. It is one of the regions that has an amazing amount of potential. The other one is the East Coast of the North Island.”
Guy recently visited Northland to launch a programme to help unlock this potential. “This is the start of a wider programme by MPI to work in partnership with regions to help them further develop industries like agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and aquaculture.”
MPI is already working with two Maori-owned farms in Northland. One involves the conversion of 270ha of Maori land to a dairy farm. The other involves providing technical support for a 2480ha dairy and beef farm to increase productivity, with the support of key partners including Landcorp, Dairy NZ and Te Tumu Paeroa.
Guy visited both farms. The smaller one told him they wouldn’t have made the important step to dairy conversion without the leadership shown by MPI. “I drove through that farm, it is a beautiful farm with a lot of totara, it is in a great location – they will have it up and going in March next year.”
The farm is close to Northland College in Kaihohe, which also has its own farm, and is developing as a training hub in conjunction with Maori agribusiness. The farm had 56% increase in milk solids this season after some management changes. Lincoln is involved and several students told him they will study at Telford after leaving school.
The other farm he visited, the 2480ha Sweetwaters, has been transferred from Crown to iwi ownership. Landcorp is basically the share milker and MPI, DairyNZ and Te Tumu Paeroa (the Maori trustee) are involved, all looking to lift the productivity.
“You are going to end up having two very good projects that will showcase what future dairy has.” He also visited two smaller farms run by Omapere Rangihamama Trust near Kaikohe: Omapere is the beef farm and Rangihamama is the dairy farm.
The next step in the MPI programme will involve formalising the Government’s partnership with the Northland Economic Advisory Group and holding a primary sector hui with partners including iwi, businesses, training and research institutes and local government.
