Te tino rangatiratanga o a tātou whenua, o a tātou moana, awa me o tātou tāonga katoa.
We are active partners and kaitiaki (stewards) of our natural resources.

Dairy Farming

Dairy farming is one of our core business activities and our current dairy operation located on the Waioweka flats has an effective milking platform of 285 hectares. 

In 2011, we built a new feed pad to accommodate 700 cows as well as built a new effluent pond to manage any effluent off the dairy unit. 

In 2012, we built a brand new 60 bale rotary shed to improve efficiency as well as increase our milk production targets for the future. 

​We have made a conscious effort to manage our farm within our environmental aspirations, and were approved a 20 year consent by Environment BOP this year, 2014.

We currently milk 700 cows and have set a target of 298kg milk solids for the 2019/2020 year. We will continue to improve our pasture management, as well as manage our feed regime and have purchased a 40ha feed block to support our dairy unit.

Dairy Support

The Board is in partnership with the Trustees of Whakapaupākihi 6 & 7 and leases this 395ha block at Mōtuhora Road, Mōtu.  This block is used for grazing of our young dairy stock, heifers, calves, carryover cows, fattening our beef stock.

We employ a local farmer to manage the property and have invested a considerable amount of time and funds into improving the pastures, fencing and water systems.  We have a long term lease arrangement and vested interest in ensuring this property serves us well into the futur

Kiwifruit

The Trust Board has three kiwifruit orchards on Apanui Road, Te Tōtara and Tarata and has recently included Te Maara orchard into a joint venture arrangement with Ōpōtiki Packing & Coolstore (OPAC).  These orchards total 11.19ha and is seen as a strategic investment for the Trust Board.

OPAC have engaged TOA Contracting as its new manager and we are pleased with their results to date. A significant amount of work has been done to improve our kiwifruit blocks and a majority of the work has focused around the development of G3, G9 and Hay Wood varieties.  

Forestry

The Waiteata No 2 Forest Partnership consists of 25 partners of which the Trust Board is one.This forest block is situated 76 kilometres by road North of Gisborne on the Tauwhareparae Road and comprises 462 ha of freehold land of which 390 ha is planted in pinus radiate.  We are currently harvesting the block which will see this occur over the next 2 years. 

Pirirākau

Kāinga Maha, in partnership with Whakatōhea and the Ōpōtiki District Council, are investing in the future of Ōpōtiki, providing a 46-home development in the heart of the community. Pirirākau - a name gifted by Whakatōhea - symbolises our shared vision to build a strong community, standing close together and looking after one another, as whanau. Just as a carver will create something new and significant from a tree, Pirirākau will help families in our community find new homes where they can grow and flourish. To build for their future in the Bay of Plenty.