Tutumatai monitor farm project launched in style

Tutumatai

A large turnout of farmers and others attended the Ngati Porou Ahuwhenua Discussion Group Meeting on Tutumatai Station near Ruatoria last Friday for the launch of the Beef + Lamb NZ monitor farm programme on the station.

They came from as far away as Wairoa and Motu.

The field day marked the start of the Ahuwhenua Monitor Project — He kai kei aku ringa — the first on the Coast since Marotiri Partnership more than 20 years ago.

The whakatauki, or proverb, he kai kei aku ringa means to provide the food you need from your own hands.

Friday’s launch was run and supported by Beef+Lamb NZ and driven by Pania King (Mātanga Whenua Māori adviser B+LNZ), who whakapapas to Ngāti Porou on her grandmother’s side — “Ko Wiremu Paaka oku koroua”.

Mrs King thanked everyone for turning up to support this special event on the coast and also reiterated that she will be actively supporting whenua Māori and farming in Te Tairāwhiti.

Tutumatai is a 600ha Māori incorporation running about 3000 breeding ewes and 500 cows, usually finishing all progeny on farm.

The station will host the Ahuwhenua Monitor Farm Programme for the next three years.

Management committee chair Ed Kawhia explained the intergenerational ownership, their long-term vision and how this had shaped their farming operation.

“In the past two decades significant changes in land use have occurred,” he said.

“This has set us up well to face emerging regulations to deal with emerging environmental issues.

“Eroding hill country has been transitioned from pastoral farming into forestry, while other areas have been left to return to native forest.

“This has enabled farming activities to focus on the better land classes with a mix of breeding and finishing taking place,” Mr Kawhia said.

Lachie Grant from Land Vision discussed the importance of matching land use to capability and how the owners had already taken many of the actions that will be required by emerging environmental demands.

Beef+Lamb New Zealand, who sponsor the monitor farm programme was well represented with national extension manager Justine Kidd highlighting the importance of the Maori agribusiness sector with its unique ownership structures and special legislative requirements and why B+LNZ supported the programme.

“Beef+Lamb NZ also had their scientists and researchers sharing and highlighting the importance of this kaupapa and are looking forward to also learning how western science fits in with matauranga Māori,” Mrs King said.

Other speakers covered topics from freshwater policies and animal health management to  genetics.

The discussion group is facilitated by local Moana Puha and she will be supported by Pania King and Hilton Collier.

A small team of farmers will work alongside the farm’s management teams to help make further productivity gains as the owners strive for long-term profitability.