| 17 Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Environmental work making a difference Environmental work includes 14 hectares of native plantings on the dairy farm, which has significant wetlands. T T Russell Fredric “We are well on our way to creating employment opportunities which, of course, leads to economic development within the region.” The sound of native birdsong, an environmental award, and returning a profit could be harbingers of a new dawn for Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust. The trust’s whenua and estate covers about 6000 hectares over significant catchments, centred alongside Moerewa and Kawakawa, Bay of Islands, with more than 6000 registered beneficiaries (beneficial owners) represented by seven trustees. Chief executive Heidi Mackey says the trust has a total asset value of $40 million, with its businesses comprising forestry, dairy farming, kiwifruit and apiculture. These include substantial interests in forest leases, along with owning horticultural orchards in the Kerikeri area with 32 hectares of Zespri G3 Sungold kiwifruit – these two businesses contributing significantly to a net profit of $1.1 million in the 2023-2024 financial year. Last year, the trust established a pollination operation, managed in-house by its operations manager and experienced beekeeper Sean Laybourn, and for the first time pollinated its kiwifruit orchards using its own beehives. In 2022, the trust entered into a new beekeeping agreement with Mānuka Health, which has hives on Ngāti Hine’s land on a profit-sharing basis, also returning a small amount of lease income. Capping off the profitable 2023-2024 financial year, Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust won the Outstanding Environmental Management category in the 2024 Northland Forestry Awards. “That was our first time entering,” Heidi says. Its environmental initiatives include a fouryear project in collaboration with Scion to develop a long-term matauranga-led strategy aimed at transitioning from pine trees to natives. “Another component of that project is we’ve planted about 27 hectares in native species and that’s across five trial sites; there’s one more to install. We’ve eco-sourced the seeds and propagated those seedlings in our natives nursery.” The success of a pest-control programme over 3500 hectares, which includes 650 hectares of protected native forest, is heard in the return of native birdsong. Other environmental work includes 14 hectares of native plantings on the dairy farm, which has significant wetlands, in addition to other extensive wetlands throughout the forestry estate. Heidi and the trustees are delighted about the environmental management award recognition. “But I think it’s also real acknowledgement and affirmation of the work that I know that our staff do, and I really want to pay tribute to them and their expertise and their commitment, their dedication to a broader purpose. I know, for them, this is not just a job.” As a part of changes to its business strategy, the trust is focused on creating employment and self-employment opportunities for its beneficiaries across its operations, with 20 new kaimahi hired in 2023-2024. “By managing more work in-house, we can ensure higher-quality outcomes while reducing reliance on external contractors. “We are well on our way to creating employment opportunities which, of course, leads to economic development within the region. We know Northland needs it – the strategic focus on workforce development and creating jobs and opportunities for our local people, especially the young ones. “That is a key focus area for us. I think the employment and learning opportunities – the full potential of that is yet to be realised – but that is a key focus area and I think that’s a key benefit for the beneficiaries to come.” STIHL SHOP Whangarei are proud to support Ngati Hine Forestry Trust For Sales, Service, and Parts STIHL SHOP Whangarei 17 Reyburn Street | 09 438 8841 | www.stihlshop.co.nz/whangarei
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