Tairāwhiti Whenua Charitable Trust

Rata Forest Management Ltd. are creating opportunities for whenua Māori land blocks in Te Tairāwhiti through the ETS.

#meetthetrustees Meet Tom Te Kahu. Tom Te Kahu the chair of various Wairoa Ahuwhenua Trusts and Incorporations, has accepted his nomination and joined the Tairawhiti Whenua Maori Charitable Trust as a Trustee. Tom is the Chair of Proprietors of Whakaki 2N, Anewa Trust and Te Whakaari Incorporation. Tom, whose involvement with these blocks first started in the late 1980s, has witnessed steady improvements in both production and profitability with the growth in governance and management capabilities. When he joined these farms as part a governor, 100% lambing was considered a good result. Now “…we expect to better 150% from our ewes and at least 90% from our in-lamb hogget’s” he commented as he reflected on his 38 years on the 13,500 ha Te Whakaari board and 35 years as Chair of a seven-member board. He has also seen a shift from large-scale land clearance to a change in land use with the advent of the Emission Trading Scheme. This has required a change in mindset, but he acknowledges the need to protect the land from erosion and address concerns about water quality. Tom was appointed in December 2024, and we are incredibly privileged to have him as a trustee on Tairāwhiti Whenua. Kia ora, Tom. #tairawhiti #whenua #whenuamaori

🌱 Transitioning towards sustainable land management practices It is now two years since Cyclone Gabrielle hit our region leaving our landscape scarred, hill country heavily eroded and high value flats buried under layers of wood and silt. Homes were flooded and communities isolated by road closures and bridges washed away. We have witnessed an immediate response with woody debris and silt remediation work, homes in lower lying areas either ruled inhabitable of lifted above flood levels and road progressively being reopened. Great near-term response to aid the regions recovery. However the longer term challenge of creating sustainable land management practices remains. The Tairāwhiti Whenua Charitable Trust (TW) is a collective representing 200,000+ ha of Whenua Māori from Wairoa to Potaka in the north. TW is delivering a work program that will help landowners and their community in which they live to better understand their land resource. The program is designed provide landowners with updated mapping to understand their land use capability and susceptible connectivity layers or Overlay 3B areas. These are areas that are most at risk of future erosion and need to be transitioned into a permanent tree cover, preferably native overtime. Read more about the community wānanga that we have planned, and the work being coordinated by TW Focus Group Coordinators Pania King and Bella Hawkins with support from Hilton Collier. https://lnkd.in/gFNH-UKX

Beef + Lamb New Zealand continues to build its support for Whenua Māori, having established its very first Kāhui (Māori agribusiness advisory group) to represent the needs of Whenua Māori entities. The Kāhui acts as a sounding board for B+LNZ extension work and policy positions by providing advice and insights into Māori sheep, beef and dairy farmers’ perspectives, needs and concerns. The group supports the B+LNZ Māori agribusiness team with a Regional Delivery Plan (RDP), that would commonly align with the current B+LNZ Farmer Council RDPs. Tairāwhiti Whenua congratulates Hayden Swann, the first Kāhui Chair, and also Beef + Lamb New Zealand for the continued work to strengthen relationships and support, reflecting the significant contribution Māori make to New Zealand’s red meat sector and the different needs of Māori farming entities. Read more about the Kāhui, and meet the roopu: https://lnkd.in/gcWwfPiU.

🥾 Out the Gate! Tairāwhiti Whenua are excited to share this opportunity with all of our members: the countdown is on for Out the Gate 2025, powered by the B+LNZ Farmer Council & Kāhui | 26 March | Rotorua. Out the Gate 2025 is a jam-packed event for farmers with straight-talking insights, hands-on workshops, and big ideas – all designed to help sheep and beef farmers tackle change with confidence. 💬 Plenty of conversations to be had, especially around farm productivity, leadership, people, and markets. Expect world-class speakers - Simon Quilty (meat marketing expert), Shamubeel Eaqub (Economist) and David Letele (motivational powerhouse), practical takeaways, meaningful networking opportunities, and a few good laughs, topped off with a lively gala dinner. Head to the below link to secure your ticket: https://lnkd.in/gMrAZKKz - the day event is FREE for farmers!

🏆 Tairāwhiti Whenua would like to congratulate the first graduates of the nationally recognised forestry diploma celebrated in Gisborne. Ten Tairāwhiti students became the first graduates of Tūranga Ararau’s nationally recognised Whakatipuranga Ngahere New Zealand Diploma in Forest Management (Level 6) last week. Amongst the ten students were two cadets: John Henry and Seth Andreasen of Rata Forest Management Ltd🌲🎓 The graduation at Whakatō Marae celebrated two years of hard work from the students. It marked a journey of more than two years for the Gisborne-based iwi tertiary education provider to get New Zealand Qualifications Authority accreditation for the diploma. Tairāwhiti Whenua wishes all of the students the best as they move forward and become the future leaders of the industry. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gCiGpxEj

📣 KIA HIWA RĀ 🏆 Ngā mihi ki Onenui Station, Mahia - one of two finalists for the 2025 Ahuwhenua Trophy, recognising their excellence in Māori sheep and beef farming. Tawapata South Māori Incorporation Onenui Station, on which Rocket Lab’s New Zealand launch complex is located, and Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust in Northland were announced as the 2025 finalists at a function at Parliament this week. The Ahuwhenua Trophy is recognised as the most prestigious award for Māori agriculture. It was inaugurated in 1933 by Tā Āpirana Ngata and the governor-general at the time, Lord Bledisloe. Read more below about Onenui Station and their achievements. As part of the Ahuwhenua Trophy, finalists are to each hold a public field day from 9am to 3.30pm and all are welcome. We are excited for Onenui’s field day on April 10, with the overall winner announced at an awards dinner on June 6. Good luck, e te whānau o Onenui Station. https://lnkd.in/gS8k5YVU

🏞 A Māori Approach to the Future of Agribusiness Hilton Collier (Ngāti Porou) is the General Manager of Pakihiroa Farms, a Farm Management Advisor and one of the founding Agfirst shareholders. His 20 plus years of experience in pastoral farming systems has led him to work increasingly in the Māori agribusiness sector. We are also honoured to have Hilton as a Trustee for Tairāwhiti Whenua. A belief farmers needed greater visibility and connection to their consumers has seen him involved with innovative marketing companies such as Merino New Zealand and the Firstlight’s Wagyu program including serving as a farmer director with the latter company. He is deeply connected to his community serving as a Trustee for his Marae and as a director of several large-scale environmental projects. Watch Hilton’s kōrero at E Tipu 2022: The Boma Agri Summit, where he shares a Māori approach to the future of agribusiness in Aotearoa. https://lnkd.in/guMc6ADK

🏞 MARANGAIROA B3 Project: Cattle Yards Rebuild “Ko mahi Ko ora - Work brings health and prosperity” The North Island Weather Events (NIWE) Primary Producer Finance Scheme (the Scheme) was a $240 million fund designed to help North Island land-based primary producers that had been severely impacted by the North Island Weather Events, including Cyclone Gabrielle. For many members of Tairāwhiti Whenua (TW), the destruction of Cyclone Gabrielle was vast and devastating with many still feeling and working through the effects of the weather event. For the whānau of Orutua Trust (Marangairoa B3), the rebuild of their cattle yards, funded by NIWE, has provided much healing to more than just the whenua and yards, but also to the wider whānau ties, strengthening their course for future generations. The project commenced in May 2024, with the timber transported to Orutua, East Cape. The team of workers were all whānau volunteers with different strengths and expertise who had committed to supporting the improvements of the whenua. With builders, fencers, digger operators, farmers and labourers all bonded by the aroha of reshaping whānau land into a productive enterprise, the project also led to the reconnection of kinship ties, relearning whakapapa stories and developing a base for Orutua Farm to build on for future growth. The TW team reminisces on how special and enlightening it was to watch cousins test their abilities on this project, digging holes, mix and pour concrete, build gates and construct the yards. The experience made even more special through knowing that the design and make-up of the yards was planned on the spot. The Orutua Trust whānau now look towards building a utility room for smoko for whānau, workers and visitors when needed. The block is also being leased, strengthening collaborative relationships throughout the region and with Chair, Pat Makiri, encouraging all locals around Horoera to use the Orutua cattle yards for their stock at any time. TW would like to give a special mention to papa Edwin Wanoa and all whānau who prepared kai each day for the whānau and workers. The level of manaakitanga kept spirits high for the workers. The project was sponsored by Henry Waitoa (tip truck), MC4 (tractor) and Pat Makiri (digger). We’d also like to thank Larsen’s Saw Mill, Gisborne for providing the timber. Read more on the amazing work completed at Orutua cattle yards: https://lnkd.in/gzEGTysc

In December 2024, Tairāwhiti students were taken inside a commercial forest for there first time in many years. The field trip was hosted by Erica Kinder from the program Discover Forestry NZ. The not-for-profit industry-funded program provided the education programme, giving the teachers and students a good time and understanding how whole forest ecosystems worked. Read more | https://lnkd.in/g5VpP5mC