78 | nzdairy Sustainable dairy farming journey During a 14-year journey, an environmental focus, sustainable dairy farming practices, and strong people relationships have forged the farming philosophy of Maori owned Te Raparahi lands Trust, enabling meaningful value to be returned to the many Trust owners. Located in Waotu, between Putaruru and Tokoroa towards the Waikato River, Te Raparahi Lands Trust has established a portfolio of four dairy units and four support blocks. Currently home to 1070 cows across all four farms, the total milking platform encompasses 405 hectares with a target production of 400kgMS/per cow. Trust Chairperson Phillip Samuels, his whanau and team have been developing the Te Raparahi portfolio since 1997 from what was originally two small family farms. “In those early days we were going hard out with chemical fertiliser, pushing urea on. Fourteen years ago I noticed our animal health was starting to play a huge part of our farm cost structure. We did trials with fertiliser companies, looked at the bigger picture and reduced our stocking rate. There was a paradigm shift from pushing for production to looking more at the efficiency side of dairy farming and saw sustainability as our future.” At the same time as the Trust was going through a paradigm shift in how it farmed its land, it also went through a paradigm in how it returned profits to the hundreds of individual Trust owners. “Rather than paying small dividends to each owner, we looked at how else we could provide a return to the owners and it was agreed that the best way was through providing education grants. Through those grants over the last decade or so, children of the owners have become specialist doctors, specialist eye surgeons, environmental planners, quantity surveyors. One young lady is in Auckland in her seventh year as a specialist surgeon. These people come to our AGM’s and talk to us about what they have achieved in their lives, so that the owners can see the results of that investment.” Phillip acknowledges that the investment in education will also have a flow-on benefit to the Trust by way of succession. “I’ve been driving this bus for a long time now and while I still have some miles to go, at some stage I will want to step down and it is important that there are people who have gained business acumen and success, who can take over and keep driving the bus in the right direction.” The other way that the Trust gives back to its owners is by supporting marae activity through grants. “For a lot of Maori, if anything happens in their lives, like a wedding or a funeral, they return to their marae. Unfortunately, many marae’s don’t have a passive income for maintenance or new work, so we provide grants for the maintenance of existing buildings or perhaps a new building, typically matching the application dollar for dollar. We might also supply a couple of cattle beasts a year for the various events. The Trust owners go to the marae a lot, and they can see investment in their land being returned to them via the marae.” Richard Loader Murray, Tracey Simpson and Phil Samuels. Te Raparahi Lands Trust has established a portfolio of four dairy units and four support blocks. DAIRY PEOPLE » Te Raparahi Lands Trust Email l accounts@putaruruelectrical.co.nz “We are proud to be associated with Te Raparahi Lands Trust” Matamata - 11 Tui St | Ph: 07 888 7604 | e: matamata@philsmotorcycles.co.nz Morrinsville - 29 Thames St | Ph: 07 889 7686 | e: morrinsville@philsmotorcycles.co.nz Putaruru - 9 Tirau St | Ph: 07 883 7602 | e: putaruru@philsmotorcycles.co.nz • NEW BIKES • USED BIKES • PARTS • SERVICE
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