Ngāi Tukairangi Trust with the Ahuwhenua Trophy. Photo / Supplied
Ngāi Tukairangi Trust with the Ahuwhenua Trophy. Photo / Supplied
A Māori trust's grassroots kiwifruit venture established nearly 40 years ago has gone from strength to strength, evolving into a multimillion-dollar business.
Ngāi Tukairangi Trust has not only nearly doubled the size of its operation in recent years but it is constantly looking for new business opportunities and avenues todiversify.
This ambition and their keen presence in the horticulture industry has caught the eyes of the judges for the prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy, for which the trust is a finalist in this year's competition.
It is the first year the Ahuwhenua Trophy has had a horticulture category and Ngāi Tukairangi is confident it can win.
Vice-chairwoman Riri Ellis told the Bay of Plenty Times the trust's entry into the competition was a "coming of age" and a win would "validate our vision".
"If we win, it would be a powerful statement that, while we always knew we were good, we didn't know we were the best.
The Ahuwhenua Trophy Competition judges at last week's Ngāi Tukairangi Trust field day. Photo / Supplied
"I think there is a lot to be said about the collaboration and collective leadership of the Māori trusts in making this a success."
Last week, industry leaders and land trusts throughout the country descended on Hungahungatoroa Marae to hear not only what the trust does, but also to unveil a new accommodation centre for seasonal workers as part of a field-day.
Ngāi Tukairangi Trust started its kiwifruit operation at Matapihi, just a few kilometres from the centre of Tauranga city.
Its land, on the rural peninsula, was previously used for dairy farming but 40 years ago, the hapu feared the land would become incorporated into urban development, as was occurring in other areas in the region.
"The hapu decided it had a better chance of holding on to its land if it developed a single strategy of use and so the Ngāi Tukairangi No2 Orchard Trust, which was the amalgamation of eight blocks, came into being," Ellis said.
"This was in the 1980s, right at the start of when kiwifruit was seen as a viable industry in which to invest.
"The original trustees, under the leadership of their chairman, Turirangi Te Kani, set the vision in play. From there the trust has expanded into 117ha of land planted in kiwifruit."
Ellis said her uncles had been knowledgeable businessmen and would be humbled to see where the trust had gone.
"They would have been chuffed to be in the running for the Ahuwhenua Trophy but they would also be pushing us to see where to go next. They wouldn't want us to rest on our laurels."
Ellis said the trust was constantly looking for opportunities to expand and diversify.
Ellis said being leaders in the kiwifruit industry hadn't always been smooth sailing, with Ngāi Tukairangi being caught up in the PSA crisis.
"Unlike some growers who waited to see what might happen, the trust immediately grafted to the new G3 SunGold variety, which performs better than the old Hort16a towards PSA.
"By acting early, the trust became one of the first orchards to be producing SunGold and gained a commercial advantage.
"The trust has been through good and bad times with the kiwifruit industry but through good governance and management, we have developed a reputation as one of the leaders in the industry."
In 2017, Ngāi Tukairangi grew its investment, taking over 66ha of orchards in Hastings.
"Today the trust produces about 1.6 million trays of mainly gold kiwifruit.
"We are confident the trust can reach the magic 2 million tray mark, and possibly even higher, in the future."
Ellis said as the trust had grown its investment, it had made a point of encouraging whānau involvement and had substantial grants programmes focused on education.
"Over the years the trust has supported many of our whānau in this way. Grants [have helped] young people gain PhDs, masters and graduate degrees, but they have also supported people to gain other skills-based qualifications such as truck driving, sports endeavours and cultural activities.
"While the trust can't pay large dividends to all shareholders, we can create pathways of success for their shareholders through the grants, like the tertiary excellence award for $5000 a year, which is awarded to the most outstanding student committed to advancing community development."
The winner of the Ahuwhenua Trophy Competition will be announced on November 20 at the celebration dinner in Rotorua.
