Award for Te Kaha orchard

FILE

An East Coast kiwifruit orchard has won the PGG Wrightson Land and Life Award for commitment to people, community and passion for sustainable practice.

The Ballance Farm Environment Awards were held in Tauranga on Friday.

The Hamama Orchard owned by the Te Kaha14B2 trustees is a successful joint venture with external parties that brings employment and renewed confidence to its community.

Today up to 30 people, mostly locals, work in the Te Kaha orchard. Orchard Operations Team Manager, Alan Dobbie said that after decades in orcharding this was the most exciting project he'd been involved in.

"This joint venture is making a huge difference to Te Kaha. The locals now have employment, are gaining new skills and qualifications and take pride in what they are achieving," Mr Dobbie said.

In 1999 the Trust had land suitable for horticulture but no resources to develop it. At that time they started a 20-year joint venture with independent investors to bring financial resources and expertise. In six years' time the agreement with their investors will expire, and the landowners will own the entire business operation.

Te Tumu Paeroa: the new M?ori Trustee is responsible trustee for the Te Kaha 14B2 Trust. Te Tumu Paeroa supports the governance, strategic planning and management of the Hamama Orchard.

"It has been great to be nominated to the finals of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards, we're in good company with the other nominees. Te Kaha 14B2 have come a long way and we're constantly looking at new solutions to improve the way in which we farm and always with the interests of the people at heart," said Business Performance Manager, Blair Waipara.

Te Kaha 14B2 advisory trustee, Korina Ellis reflects on the journey their owners have taken and the courage needed to start the development.

"In the beginning it's scary but once you get a chance to understand the technicalities of the business and orcharding it gets very exciting."

The trust was awarded $1000 of PGG Wrightson vouchers and all trustees agreed to gift the vouchers to buy winter gear for the workers of the Te Kaha orchards.

"This has been an outstanding opportunity to showcase the collective hard work everybody has put in to make the orchard successful and sustainable," said advisory trustee, Hawaiki Edwards.