Orchards win for Wi Pere Trust Horticulture of Gisborne

The Wi Pere Trust from Te Karaka won the Ahuwhenua Trophy for Excellence in Maori Horticulture at an awards ceremony in Tauranga on Friday night. Pictured from left are Secretary for Maori Development Dave Samuels, Kingi Smiler of the Wi Pere Trust, Minister for Maori Development Willie Jackson, Wi Pere trustee Trudy Meredith and Associate Minister of Agriculture Jo Luxton. Picture by Alphapix

Wi Pere Trust Horticulture of Gisborne was named the winner of this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy for the top Māori horticultural enterprise. at an awards function in Tauranga on Friday night.

Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson made the announcement at the awards dinner, attended by over 900 people.

There were jubilant scenes at the announcement, and Wi Pere whānau came on stage to join in the celebrations, where Trudy Meredith, trustee and granddaughter of Wi Pere received the coveted Ahuwhenua Trophy.

This is the second year in a row that Wi Pere Trust have won this prestigious award.

In 2022 they were named the winner in the Ahuwhenua Trophy for the top sheep and beef farm.

Minister Jackson congratulated all the finalists and winners in both the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition and the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower Award.

He told the gathering  the awards were always a very special occasion which sees whānau come together and have a great evening, relishing the chance to celebrate history in a very special way.

“The achievements of Māori have long been underrated and while there are many other problems in the country, it seems quite ironic that the Māori economy is going through the roof and is worth up to $80 billion,” he said.

Wi Pere Trust trustee Trudy Meredith said winning the Ahuwhenua Trophy was “absolutely wonderful”.

“My legs were shaking when we went on stage to receive the trophy. My ancestor Wi Pere would have been amazed at the trust winning the Ahuwhenua Trophy for the second year in a row.

“It has been a very strong competition and all the competitors have learned so much from each other.

“I thought we had gaps in our business where Ngāi Tukairangi and MIL, Whiritoa Orchards (the other finaists) had many strengths, so everybody’s taken lessons  from each other,”

Trudy Meredith said she was delighted to see the level of support they had in the district

“This win is important and means a lot for the people of Te Tairāwhiti because of what it has gone through.”

Nukuhia Hadfield, chair of the Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee, said it had been a difficult year for most growers and farmers in the primary sector, but especially hard for all the finalists in the competition.

“A combination and accumulation of events such as frosts, floods and other unseasonal conditions created major problems for all the entrants.

“Despite this adversity, all the finalists remained in the competition and put together exceptionally good field days to showcase their respective orchards.

“I would not like to have been a judge in these circumstances, but certainly full praise to Wi Pere Trust for being judged the winner.

“I have seen their property and they are very worthy winners. Having said that, all the finalists have once again demonstrated the strength and excellence of Māori horticulture.”

■ Wi Pere Trust Horticulture consists of 79ha of permanent fruit crops. This area is made up of 26ha of Gold kiwifruit (11ha of which is organic), 4ha of persimmons, 15ha of citrus, 4ha of blueberries, and 20ha of Rockit and 10ha of Tarzi apples. Three separate orchards combine to make up the diverse horticultural operation — Toroa Orchard at Waerenga-a-Hika, Tangihanga Orchard at Waituhi and Manutuke Orchard at Manutuke. Wi Pere Horticulture is managed by general manager Wayne Hall, with eight full-time staff. Up to 85 casual workers are employed at key times.