Maanuka Plantations

Maanuka Plantations

Kua takoto te maanuka, kawea ake!

The Ministry for Primary Industries has clear interest in science and research-led programmes to support the potential of Maanuka honey as a ‘premium product’ and a ‘high-value export for New Zealand’. Along with leading crown entities, government agencies, and iwi, the current challenge is to meet national and international demands for maanuka honey. The local industry is limited in supply, and faces an array of issues. Manawanui Development Limited Partnership are building towards aligning research and business to the Ministry for Primary Industries call “to science-based farming of maanuka plantations, increasing the yield and reliability of supply of medical-grade maanuka honey”. Our approach is to further ensure that these new farming initiatives are founded and guided by our iwi aspirations and values first and foremost.

 

Research Placement

In 2017 Te Kotahi Research Institute and MDLP were successful in a Te Pūnaha Hihiko: Vision Mātauranga Capability Fund. Tammy Tauroa, Business Manager in Te Kotahi Research Institute is currently on a 12month placement programme within MDLP. The project plan sets out to engage a range of key environmental, science, and mātauranga experts through hui and wānanga to bring forth knowledge that will be shared within and across the research and development plans. The overall intent of the placement is to template whānau and iwi aspirations as a collaborative, co-designed approach and move to action a formal research and development plan. Specific emphasis has been placed on the taiao (environment) and the people (iwi and hapū) relationships with land and surrounding puna (waters).

Outcomes

  • The development of a Mānuka Honey and bi-product research agenda, with a list of key priorities for the iwi.
  • Increased capacity and capability for ongoing research and development
  • Feasibility mapping of specific sites for short term and long term development
  • Identification of a number of existing whānau enterprises in the region to model growth and sustainability
  • A strong alignment to the Ngāti Korokī-Kahukura strategy 2010-2020 with the intention to build a framework along side this plan for the growth of iwi socio-economic independence.
  • Establishing a iwi research and development group from both marae (Maungatautari and Pōhara) within Ngāti Korokī-Kahukura and provide a collective approach to progressing environmental matters, and enhancing the ability of the iwi to scope and address local environmental issues. The people, and the place unlock a range of opportunities for exploration.
  • Native nursery. Viability of obtaining seeds eco sourced from the ancestral mountain (Maungatautari) and sourcing through strategic plantings, to align with proposed rules for the Healthy Rivers Plan Change. Acquiring larger scale available hectares.
  • Carbon farming and mānuka honey. Planting of high UMF manuka (Unique Manukua Factor – a rating for antibacterial contour lands. This will support both carbon farming and mānuka honey initiatives, as well as land stabilisation
  • A set of geographical mapping and plotting of the current and potential positioning of Manuka on Māori owned Identifying Manuka percentages to land size and locations of Manuka on land blocks
  • Identifying land-use and industry connectedness and potential for change towards opportunities in Manuka
  • Producing sustainable economic, environmental, social, cultural and spiritual information models
  • Identifying potentials for engaging in Manuka as an industry opportunity and possible tourism venture