Ōmataroa Orchard Part of Dream to Buy Back Ngāti Awa Tribal Estate

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

Speaking at a Stakeholder Site Tour, Tiaki says Ōmataroa Orchard is another step in achieving that goal by acquiring and utilizing land that was once firmly 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 at 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.

Tiaki says the group 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.”

He says being successful in the development of the orchard will allow the partners to continue to look at investing in whenua within the tribal estate. 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.

Tracey Hook, Chief Executive of Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Limited, says following a tender process Southern Cross Horticulture was selected to undertake the development.

“The industry expertise across our orchard board, and within Southern Cross Horticulture means that we are well placed to mitigate any risk. Furthermore, this development will add value to the existing land and provide higher returns than dairy.”

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 off 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 hapū representatives, members of the Rūnanga board, NAGHL, kaimahi and partners. The first fruit will be ready in 2025.

The site tour was to showcase the orchard to stakeholders including members of the trusts and ngā uri o ngā hapū o Ngāti Awa.