Ōmataroa Orchard Chairman Tiaki Hunia says there has always been a dream for Ngāti Awa to own its tribal estate again even if that means buying it back acre by acre.

Speaking at the 2023 Stakeholder Site Visit, Tiaki said Ōmataroa Orchard is another step to achieving that goal by acquiring and utilizing land that was once firmly held within the Ngāti Awa estate.

Ōmataroa Orchard is jointly owned by Ihukatia Trust, Moerangi Kereua Ratahi Trust, Kiwinui Trust and Ngāti Awa Farms Limited. The Ngāti Awa Farms Limited is solely owned by the financial arm of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Awa Group Holdings.

The site, which is located State Highway 30 at Te Teko, is currently being developed as a Ruby Red Kiwifruit Orchard, after the owners successfully secured a license to grow the variety.

The orchard comprises of two internal blocks on the farm, which have been called Te Waiwhero and Te Wai-o-Koroahu based on ancient names of nearby sites.

In 2022, international kiwifruit marketer, Zespri, allowed for a maximum of 10ha bid for the orchard development and the license was granted in April of that year.

Construction on the orchard commenced with a karakia and turning of the first sod on June 20, 2022. The first plants were established at the site on December 19, 2022, and the milestone was celebrated by the iwi.

The first orchard tour was held in 2023 to showcase the development, including the pond, to stakeholders including members of the trusts and ngā uri o ngā hapū o Ngāti Awa.

At that tour, Tiaki said the group of owners had taken the same model that they had used previously and applied it to developing the orchard.

“This is currently the biggest Māori-owned Ruby Red orchard and will provide enormous financial benefits once its potential is realised in 2025. But beyond that, this development provides us with an opportunity to showcase our commitment to ensuring sustainable processes and fulfilling our responsibility of being kaitiaki for this whenua.

“It also provides a social imperative through job creation. Currently we have 14 people working on site and at its height there was 30 people working.”

Southern Cross Horticulture, which is developing the orchard for the owners, is reporting the below factors ahead of this year’s tour:

·       Heading into the first crop and looking for an average size of 36

·       Canopy is filled to an average of between 60 to 65 per cent

·       Production target is 5000 trays for each hectare

·       Water frost protection

Ōmataroa Orchard Visit:

When: Friday, 8 Whiringa-ā-rangi, 10.30am with a BBQ lunch to close out proceedings.

Where: 1792 State Highway 30, Te Teko

RSVP: to Danielle.pugh@ngatiawa.iwi.nz to register your attendance.