110 | Engagement with wider iwi crucial The 10-year goal of the Peria programme is to develop 200-500ha of land, create 130 jobs and generate $25 million in earnings per annum. from page 108 Matamata: Ngāti Hauā Iwi Trust COMMUNITY 07 2806561 sales@pgohort.co.nz www.pgohort.co.nz PGO: Horticultural and Hydroponics solutions Quiedan High Tunnels Protect your crops and drive production P 027 238 8822 W quiedan.co.nz E phil@coverz.co.nz “This is a very positive and exciting time and there’s much work to be done. We’re engaging with significant agricultural partners such as Starta Fresh Ltd, Ag Research, Assure Quality and Plant & Food Research who each bring great value through their specific expertises into the project.” Ruku is also careful to point out that the journey of engagement with land-owners and wider iwi is of critical importance to the longterm success of Ngāti Hauā’s endeavours. “The Peria Standard has far-reaching consequences in the market as well. Once we have grounded these standards into the production processes they will frame the provenance and traceability that consumers are increasingly seeking these days.” The 10 year goal is to develop 200-500ha of land, create 130 jobs and generate $25 million in earnings per annum. The Peria Programme has so far achieved much including, but not limited to:: • Conversion of Mangateparu School into a learning centre; a place for whānau to share knowledge and experiences. • Establishment of training programmes to offer whānau opportunities to learn and practice a range of land-use strategies. • Development of 5ha of tunnel housing for blueberry production. • Development of the Peria Standard which will scaffold the land use practices • Development of a co-operative model to bring the kai grown to market. What has been achieved so far is establishing a strong foundation for future work and best of all, Ruku explains, is that the path is being travelled at the right pace to bring whānau on the journey well. “It’s very much a case of ‘show me, don’t tell me’ so we are taking steps carefully because this is just as much a journey of the whānau as it is of the whenua.” The local region is recognised as having a relatively low income and the people are yet to be provided various opportunities to upskill. “The ecosystem is fragile and threatened with climate change, resource depletion and pollution, so what we are doing now is vital for the survival, health and the long-term prosperity of our people. “Once we have grounded these standards into the production processes they will frame the provenance and traceability that consumers are increasingly seeking these days.” “I feel very privileged to be part of this journey which embraces the wisdom of generations of traditional land-use practices.” Guiding all that has so far been achieved and directing future steps is a steering group with an MPI representative. Ruku chairs this group and is the conduit for information to and from this group, land-owner organisations and the wider iwi. “We have 6000 members of our tribe and limited financial resources, so we have to use our smarts to get the most from it. “It has all been co-designed at a local level so we take people along the journey together.”
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