82 | Te Kaha Nursery Ltd 6929 SH 35 | RD3 Opotiki 3199 | M 027 405 8805 Te Kaha Nursery Limited, wishes to congratulate Te Kaha 15B Hineora Orchard on their outstanding success in the “The Ahuwhenua Awards for excellence in Maori horticulture”. As part of the success team Te Kaha Nursery based in Te Kaha provides excellence in plants to the horticulture industry from Kerikeri in the North, Auckland, Coromandel the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne in the East. Award recognises Trust’s achievements T Sue Russell Today, the trust produces over 133,000 trays per ha of G3 Sun Gold over its total land area. Hineora Orchard HORTICULTURE Asmall Trust but with “a really big heart,” is how chairman of Te Kaha 15B Ahu Whenua Trust Norm Carter, describes the Iwi-based trust in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. The history of the land that today is home to Hineora Orchard - an 11.5 hectare kiwifruit joint venture operation - dates back to 1915 and over many generations was primarily used for growing crops for the local community before becoming a small dairy operation. In the 1970’s those working the land ventured into growing oranges, however this also did not prove successful. In 1998, Norm’s older brother, John Lawson, along with other Trustees decided to look at kiwifruit production with the first plantings on the block taking place in 1999. “We became the sixth and last block to go into Kiwifruit production,” says Norm. First growing the Haywood variety, when PSA struck back in 2011 the vines were cut out and replaced with G3 Sun Gold and today that fruit is grown over 8.5ha effective, with the balance of the land holding the former commercial pack-house now leased to a kiwifruit spraying and orchard management company, Te Kaha Goldsprayers. This company is partly owned by Te Kaha 15B, Hineora Orchard. The other shareholders are the other five blocks that make up Te Kaha Gold Group. As a member of Te Kaha Group (TKG), Hineroa Orchard contributes to providing training and employment opportunities for whanau seeking to work on their ancestral lands. Today, the Trust produces over 133,000 trays per ha of G3 Sun Gold over its total land area and in three years’ time will undergo another evolution by assuming full ownership of the land. “This is a time we are very much looking forward to,” says Norm. “Under the original agreement with our partners, their financial involvement would cease after 21 years. It’s been a very good way for us to come into full ownership and responsibility for the orchard.” Recognition of the outstanding work the Trust has achieved at the orchard, came in the form of the ‘wonderful surprise’ of being named 2020 recipients of the coveted Ahuwhenua Trophy. The Trophy, which champions excellence in Maori farming was first awarded in 1933 to a dairy farmer from nearby Raukokore, Bill Swinton and for Norm and fellow Trustees, being recipients of the inaugural horticultural trophy, made the award even more poignant and special. “We had absolutely no expectation of taking out this award as we were up against really strong competition from Otama Marere in Te Puke and Ngai Tukairangi in Tauranga.” Presented to the Trust, in front of 750 dignitaries and whanau, by Governor General, Dame Patsy Reddy at a gala dinner event in Rotorua in November, Norm says he felts very proud to have the Trust’s hard work on the land recognised at such a prestigious level. Asked what he puts the success of the Orchard down to, Norm says there are a number of essential factors. Get in touch for your obligation free chat Address: 5 Richardson Street, Whakatāne | Postal: P O Box 304, Whakatāne 3158 Email: admin@arrowaccountants.co.nz Telephone: +64 7 308 7155 Arrow Accountants is an independent boutique chartered accountancy based in beautiful Whakatāne, New Zealand. We partner with our clients to help make their enterprise better, whether they are a Trust, small or medium sized business, or a multinational company. Arrow takes the headache out of accounting We create a fertiliser tailor made for your farm or orchard. • Designed to match the requirements of your soil and your budget • Builds soil biology and humus • Provides what the soil can handle, no waste of fertiliser • Laboratory tests show greatly reduced leaching and runo ! • Excellent cost e ective results • Comprehensive soil and herbage testing with easy to understand independent recommendations • Friendly, honest, professional service and advice • Proven Results for: pasture, crops, avocados, kiwifruit and more! Call Trevor on: 021 663 560 or Enquiries free phone 0800soilfert (0800-764 5337) See our website www.totalfert.co.nz
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