Te Tai Tokerau Trust and Māori Trustee collab creates opportunities on whenua Māori
More than 10 years in the making for the Ōmāpere Taraire E & Rangihāmama X3A Ahu Whenua Trust, who celebrated a significant milestone in their history.
In October, the Māori Trustee and the Kaikohe-based Trust ended their joint venture, with Rangihāmama Dairy Limited Partnership bought out from Te Tumu Paeroa, bringing the RDF1 block back into Māori ownership.
Kaitiaki Māori, Dr Charlotte Severne, highlights that the partnership made joint investment possible, with repayments drawn from the farm's own income.
She emphasises, “All up, this partnership made it easier for whenua Māori owners to make the most of their land, creating jobs for Māori, and give back to the iwi and hapū.”
The agreement, setup as a Limited Partnership, was signed in 2014 between then Māori Trustee Jamie Tuuta and the Ōmāpere Taraire E & Rangihāmama X3A Ahu Whenua Trust (Ōmāpere Rangihāmama Trust) with the intention of converting part of their whenua in the Far North into a dairy farm.
Both parties jointly owned the land, with the Limited Partnership leasing and managing the farm, while the Ōmāpere Rangihāmama Trust developed key infrastructure. The Partnership owned the livestock and shares, funded by Te Tumu Paeroa and a loan, with repayments coming from farm profits.
Ultimately, full ownership would transfer to the Ōmāpere Rangihāmama Trust once the investment was repaid.
For Trustee Arama Tahere, the partnership goes deeper than an agreement that sees whenua Māori at the heart.
"For a lot of people, this is home. This is a place where our tupuna belong. We all have a connection to this whenua in different ways than others.”
One of the wishes of the Trust was to have more of its people who whakapapa to the whenua working on the farm. Clint Mokaraka is connected to the whenua as a member of their iwi, and hapū and manages the farm. His passion for this line of work evident in the success it has brought.
“They say that contract milking gives you skin in the game. The Trust itself is very supportive, and I absolutely love what I do.”
Clint, a Rugby League coach who contributes to his local community, hopes to see more Māori involved in the industry and working at Rangihāmama Farm. He is especially keen on encouraging the next generation of rangatahi to gain experience in a profession that has treated him well.
“I'm in a position where if my passion can encourage other Māori into our industry. I'll be proud.”
“Māori, we're very good with our hands because of our connection to our whenua."