Big Maori landowner in Wanganui earmarks 1600ha for conservation

A Wanganui-based Maori land incorporation has been applauded for a decision to set aside large tracts of tribal land for conservation purposes.

Atihau-Whanganui Incorporation, representing around 7000 iwi members, controls around 42,000ha of tribal lands in the central North Island.

The group has been praised by Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia for a move to create a Nga Whenua Rahui, or conservation covenant, over 1600ha of tribal land.

The initiative, in conjunction with the Department of Conservation, creates one of the largest privately owned conservation estates in the country.

Incorporation chairman Whatarangi Murphy-Peehi said the decision was culturally and commercially driven.

He said: "This is all to do with the conservation of things, we are hardline we want to increase our bottom-line, but there is a bigger regional, community and conservation issue to consider."

The incorporation was formed in 1970 to manage land returned to tribal ownership as long term leases expired.

"We decided that it was important that we preserve native flora and fauna, while continuing to seek the best financial returns for our share-holders."

Mr Horomia said the group, which also invests in training beneficiaries, was a model for Maori landowners. "They are pretty smart operators, they are right into the environment, their board is a good mix of young and old."

He said as further leases expired within the incorporations boundary, the group was set to become one of the largest farmers in the country.

Included in the estates scattered throughout tribal land between Mt Ruapehu, to Wanganui to Taranaki, is a 303ha block at Ohorea Station, on the Parapara highway around 30kms southwest of Ohakune.

The area has been fenced off to protect rare native species including kiwi, the endangered plant Dactylanthus taylorii, and native bats.

Atihau-Whanganui Incorporation is one of the largest Maori landowners in the North Island, and employs around 40 staff. Land holdings include around 2000ha of forests with 19,000hs farmed, with 206,000 stock units of mainly beef and sheep.

Mr Murphy-Peehi said other initiatives planned including replanting harakeke, or flax, along waterways on farmland to filter run off from the incorporation's farms, and to provide material for weavers in the manufacture of kite and tukutuku panels.

Conservation is the reason we are shutting up these blocks, but we are also looking at the development of sustainable resources.

The conservation blocks are presently open to beneficiaries, but the group is working with DoC to establish policy for opening them up to other members of the public, he said.

- WANGANUI CHRONICLE