| 63 Norm Carter, Chairman of Te Kaha 15B Ahu Whenua Trust. HORTICULTURE » Hineora Orchard Hineora Orchard got off fairly lightly Sue Russell Just over two years has passed since Rural North last spoke with Norm Carter, Chairman of Te Kaha 15B Ahu Whenua Trust. Back then all the hard work that had been invested in developing the kiwifruit orchard and processing plant at Te Kaha, 65km east of Opotiki in , Bay of Plenty, was recognised with the inaugural presentation of the coveted Ahuwhenua Trophy, for excellence in Maori Horticulture, presented to the Trust at a glittering awards event in Wellington in 2020. Norm has a positive attitude to seasonal variations in quality of crop. “In 2021 we actually had a really hot summer and water was an issue and now you look at what we’ve been delivered in 2023 where there is too much water. Climate change is something all growers are having to consider in terms of growing crops that can cope with changes in temperature, wind speed and rainfall.” Reflecting too on the most difficult of weather events, in the form of Cyclone Gabrielle, Norm says he knows Hineora Orchard got off lightly compared to other parts of the East Coast in particular, Ngati Porou from Hicks Bay to Gisborne, Hineora 15B Orchard is one of six Maori-owned and operated blocks in the area, known as Te Kaha Group (T.K.G.) and collectively, block managers and the various Trust’s, have been working on ways to future-proof the business from severe weather events. They have installed regularly monitored weather stations on each block. Since 2019 the Trust has been working hard to initiate a water scheme which will not only assist existing blocks in the hot dry spells but will also open up the potential for new blocks to be established. “We have a scheme that could potentially irrigate another 200 ha of Maori land. That’s been our major push but with COVID price-hikes its been challenging. We’ve almost completed the feasibility stage and its cost close to $800,000 of grant funding, to get to this stage.” Norm describes the project as far-reaching and a huge undertaking. Two out of the required three consents have been approved and working with different councils isn’t always easy. The Trust have been in discussions with the old Provincial Growth Fund organisation. “For the scheme itself we will have to borrow money from Government. To irrigate the full 200 ha comes with a price tag of $6million. We are in negotiations currently with Te Rûnanga o Te Whanau – looking at that organisation to take over the building of the scheme.” The first consent was to gain approval to skim off the top 2-5 - cm of water in the Kereu River in the middle of Te Kaha. This was granted in May 2020. Once removed from the river the water is stored in a man-made holding pen before being pumped up to a reservoir from where it is gravity fed to various blocks. And the Trust is also looking beyond its current situation of growing kiwifruit given the licensing costs paid to Zespri, as Norm explains. “Zespri have put a huge amount of cost on growers through the requirement to hold a license to grow their Gold G3 kiwifruit variety. It’s upwards of $- $600 - $800k and this makes it uneconomical for Maori land owners, because of the debt level and time it takes to repay. We don’t want to tie up our land for 20 years or more.” Norm feels the RMA is well due for a huge overhaul, given the huge costs incurred that come with the granting of Resource Consents, as one has to satisfy both the Regional and the Local Authority for the development of any land. Citing that it can cost upward of $150k to put a bore down to obtain water on each individual block a water scheme makes the most practical sense. He’s buoyed by the fact that there is common ground and a collective will by all parties involved, to see the irrigation scheme come to fruition. “Imagine what a boost it would give the economy to have another 200ha turned into productive land.” The Trust has also been in negotiations with Bio Protection Aotearoa, based at Lincoln University in Canterbury, and with Plant & Food, based in Auckland and Kerikeri , who are testing the whenua to ensure it is healthy. Norm says though that all the developed blocks within TKG, came into the testing regime. “We have scientists coming down all the time and assessing our land, looking at our eco systems. This was the result of us winning the Ahuwhenua Trophy for Horticulture. It gave us that recognition, so its been incredibly valuable to us. Through the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF), Te Kaha Group also established a new 4.5 ha Nursery in Te Kaha, primarily to serve the Kiwifruit Industry but not solely.” The nursey grows green, red and gold varieties of seedlings of Kiwifruit but are reliant on customers placing orders. Seeka has placed many orders with us but there is still plenty of untapped capacity with 5 large tunnel houses providing temperature controlled cover. “We are also growing different varieties of Manuka plants both for honey and extracts, and are looking for the placement of orders for native plants that will assist to repatriate our damaged land on the East Coast and further afield. We are looking to growing strawberries as a future cash- flow crop along with coffee, dragon-fruit and papaya showing some good potential.” To dicuss all matters nursery, and if you are keen to explore the growing of seedlings that will assist the growth of your business, contact our Nursery manager as follows: Proud to Support Hineora Orchard. 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. Te Kaha Nursery Ltd 297 Copenhagen Road, Te Kaha RD3 Opotiki 3199 | M 027 405 8805 Call Rob on: 021 370 504 | See our website www.totalfert.co.nz We create a fertiliser tailor made for your farm or orchard. - Norm Carter, Chairman of Te Kaha 15B Ahu Whenua Trust. “Managing and enhancing soil health is a key part of our environmental sustainability approach. Having healthy soil is essential for not only orchard productivity but also environmental sustainability and demonstrating excellent social license to the consumer Total Fert has been a key partner towards our goals, delivering the correct mix of essential minerals and fertiliser to ensure organic growth production.” Arrow takes the headache out of accounting 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. 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
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