27 September 2011
PKW Meets Ngai Tahu
South Island Iwi Ngai Tahu is eyeing up the booming dairying sector and recently met with PKW to build relationships and share knowledge.
“It is good to meet other Maori businesses operating in the sector to share knowledge and compare practices,” Group General Manager Dion Tuuta said, “Ngai Tahu have an opportunity to develop into a national leader in the dairy industry and PKW is happy to work with them to share knowledge.”
Ngai Tahu Property rural operations manager Andrew Clayton outlined the Iwi’s aim of becoming a national leader in sustainable dairying practices. The board of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu has approved a proposal to trial three dairy farms, with milk production to begin as early as next season.
Ngai Tahu currently manages assets worth $450 million, including 83,600ha of rural land in the South Island, of which 90% has been leased to forestry companies. Ngai Tahu Property has identified 35,000ha of these forestry areas for future development, including dairying. The iwi also owns and operates 29,000ha of high country stations at the head of Wakatipu.
Andrew said Ngai Tahu’s first 3 trial farms will start producing milk in August 2012. "Ngai Tahu is a massive land holder in Canterbury and economically the highest and best uses for this land is to convert it to some form of agricultural use."
The iwi was prepared to take "ownership positions and leadership positions" in regards to its own dairying and water management operations, Andrew said. Ngai Tahu has been working with scientists from Lincoln University to find the right commercial dairy model for the iwi, with the first farm planned for a former forestry block at Eyrewell, North Canterbury.
PKW Group General Manager Dion Tuuta said he was looking forward developing a closer relationship with the Iwi and watching Ngai Tahu progress its dairying operations.