50 | Inter-generational treasure recognised Alex Shortcliffe (Te Matai Orchards and Coachman Orchard Manager - EHC Management Limited), Tom Heeney (Pacific Gold Orchard Manager, GM Operations and Owner EHC Management Limited), Fee Edwards (Owner EHC Management Limited). Hugh de Lacy A Māori kiwifruit business that was launched only eight years ago, Mātai Pacific, has leapt to prominence as a finalist in the Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards for 2026. And just to confirm the honour was no fluke, Mātai Pacific is also a finalist in the 2026 Ahuwhenua Trophy Awards for Excellence in Māori Horticulture. The Ballance Awards nomination recognised Mātai Pacific’s leadership as a high-performing Māori horticultural collective, established in 2018, with a 158ha kiwifruit orchard complex near Te Puke, a second of 38ha at Pukehina, and the 28ha Coachman Orchard at Pongakawa. The orchards have a productive canopy of more than 101ha, producing a mix of gold and green kiwifruit, and are jointly owned by Te Arawa Group Holdings, Ngati Awa Group Holdings and the Rotoma No. 1 Incorporation. For the owners, the land represents more than just a financial investment: it’s a matter of stewardship – kaitiakitanga – and sustainability, environmental no less than commercial, for a future as an intergenerational treasure – taonga tuku iho. “As well as sustainability, toitūtanga, we’re deeply committed to integrity and accountability in our daily operations, as expressed in the phrase kia pono, kia tika,” says Mātai Pacific’s CEO Charles Russell. Ballance Farm Environment Awards » Matai Pacific Iwi Collective Proud to supply Independent Orchard Management and Machinery Contracting Services for all Matai Pacific Iwi Collective orchards ehc.co.nz
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