Whenua Magazine - Issue 17

STRATEGISING TO INCREASE CHOICES

PLAYING IT SAFE

& Hui-tang uru 20 16 issue

17

LEARNING ON THE LAND

COMMITTEE MEMBER CLAIRE NICHOLSON

OPEN LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS Ngā mihi o te tau hou ki a koutou o te whānau o Parininihi ki Waitotara.

As we enter into the New Year and look forward, I would like to thank those shareholders who have taken the time to contact PKW regarding the $0.50 per share dividend payment, approved by shareholders at the 2015 AGM. We greatly appreciate the engagement by shareholders who attended the AGM and gave their feedback on our performance for the year.

Some of you have subsequently taken the opportunity to give your views which have ranged from supportive understanding to anger and disappointment. Your Committee of Management appreciates knowing how you feel and acknowledges the disappointment at the lower dividend acheived last year.

PKW's distribution policy is to target a shareholder dividend payment of 20 per cent of Net Operating Profit After Tax. Our ability to pay a dividend is dependant on business performance which was negatively impacted during the year by the low dairy price payout dragging down group performance.

The Committee is unified in its desire to improve performance for shareholders while recognising that our exposure to dairy farming means that there will be good years and bad years.

The current environment remains challenging however your Committee of Management remains committed to making PKW the most efficient business it can be to acheive our mission of He Tangata, He Whenua, He Oranga - sustaining and growing our people through prosperity.

We look forward to updating you all on the current year's performance at the Half Yearly Meeting in April 2016.

Nāku noa, nā Hinerangi Raumati-Tu'ua Chair

EDITORIAL Ngā mihi nūnui ki a koutou, te whānau whānui o Parininihi ki Waitotara We head into 2016 with the opportunity to reflect on our previous year's achievements and acknowledge how we are working hard to minimise external factors that impact on our growth and development.

Our success can be reflected in many ways.

The ongoing confidence by shareholders in the committee of management is definitely a benchmark that is not taken for granted.

“Our success can be reflected in many ways.”

With the support of successful business people such as Claire Nicholson being part of the board; the organisational restructure that has created our He Whāriki team, the focus on ensuring our workforce is safe and that they will be available in the future, along with the capacity to create opportunities from constraints - all these factors ensure we remain innovative and dynamic.

We look forward to providing more stories on our developments as we progress.

Nō reira,

IMPORTANT NOTICES Tuwheratanga Opening PKW office Incorporation invites Parininihi ki Waitotara the to bless and celebrate shareholders to join us ce. opening of the PKW offi 2016 Date: Tuesday, 15 March m 0a Time: 6.0 mouth 35 Leach Street, New Ply catering purposes RSVP: 7 March 2016 for eption@pkw.co.nz Ph: 06 769 9373 E: rec located in the CBD with Parking: The office is parks, ilities. The PKW office user-pays parking fac and ers old reh sha spaces for which include parking ilable on this day. manuhiri, will not be ava

H Genealf Yearl ral M y eetin g 30 A pril 2 016 Venu et o in nebe confi xt iss rmed ue

2016 PKW-RAVENSDOWN SCHOLARSHIP

NOW OPEN In partnership with Ravensdown, the Parininihi ki Waitotara Trust invites undergraduate students studying agriculture, horticulture or science to apply for the 2016 PKWRavensdown Scholarship.

Valued at $5,000 per year for three years, the successful recipient will build a close relationship with both organisations.

Applications are now open and close 31 March 2016.

Go to the PKW website to submit your online application. www.pkw.co.nz/site/scholarships

Applications close 31 March 2016 PARININIHI KI WAITOTARA CHAIR APPOINTED TO AUCKLAND COUNCIL INVESTMENTS LTD Whenua congratulates PKW Chair Hinerangi RaumatiTu'ua on her appointment in September 2015 as Diretctor to the Auckland Council Investments Limited (ACIL).

ACIL is a Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO) of Auckland Council that manages their major equity investments, with current investments owned valued at over $2.3 billion.

ACIL owns and manages Auckland Council’s major investment assets: • Ports of Auckland Ltd (100 percent owned) • Auckland International Airport Ltd (22.4 percent owned) • Auckland Film Studios Ltd (100 percent owned).

The objective of ACIL is to bring a strong commercial focus to the ownership and governance of these investment assets, and provide an efficient structure for the ownership of the assets.

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CONTENTS HE TANGATA

04 15

18

THE YEAR IN REVIEW AGM continues to be highlight for business year

HE ORANGA

24

Bobby Luke fashion showcases his childhood memories

06

CLAIRE NICHOLSON COMMITTEE MEMBER Appointed in 2014, Whenua visits Claire at home in Tauranga

24

10

HE WHENUA

15

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Postal PO Box 8383, New Plymouth 4342 Physical 77B Devon Street East, New Plymouth 4310 Telephone +64 (6) 758 1863 Email info@istudios.co.nz www.istudios.co.nz

An innovative collaboration to enhance the future of Māori farming

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PARININIHI KI WAITOTARA TRUST AWARDS A total of 171 Tertiary Grants for Taranaki Students were allocated

PLAYING IT SAFE

STRATEGISING TO INCREASE CHOICES Three business approaches that benefit PKW Farms LP

PARININIHI KI WAITOTARA

ISTUDIOS MULTIMEDIA LTD

LEARNING ON THE LAND

Reducing health & safety incidents at PKW workplaces

WHENUA MAGAZINE

Postal PO Box 241, New Plymouth 4340 Physical Taranaki House, 109 Devon Street West, New Plymouth 4310 Telephone +64 (6) 769 9373 Fax +64 (6) 757 4206 Email office@pkw.co.nz www.pkw.co.nz

27

HE WHARIKI CORPORATE SERVICES Meet the team that weaves the organisation together

Editor Dion Tuuta Deputy Editor Amokura Panoho Creative Direction Sheree Anaru Photography Quentin Bedwell Graphic Design Dave Pope

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BESPOKE MEMORIES OF A PA KID

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FROM PARININIHI KI WAITOTARA TO FONTERRA, FROM FONTERRA TO THE WORLD The steps involved in processing milk

CONTRIBUTORS Roy Pilott Playing it Safe Growing Without Capital Lease Strategy Pays Dividends Water Conservation is Good for Business Bonita Bigham Learning on the Land

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THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Reporting to Shareholders at the 31 October 2015 Annual General Meeting continues to be a highlight for the business year of PKW. Hosted once again at Aotearoa Marae, Ōkaiawa, up to 150 shareholders attended.

Chairperson Hinerangi RaumatiTu’ua began the AGM presentation by revisiting PKW’s Mission, Vision and Strategic Priorities to remind shareholders of PKW's long-term aspirations.

Hinerangi noted that while the business was challenged with the current low milk price, the Incorporation has continued to make significant progress in a number of key areas, placing PKW in a positive position for the long-term future.

Shareholders were pleased to note continuity of the present Board with the 2015 election result returning Bev Gibson, David MacLeod and Hinerangi Raumati-Tu’ua to the Committee of Management.

The organisational realignment, appointment of a second independent director, emerging relationships with whānau landowners and post settlement iwi groups, submissions on Te Ture Whenua Māori Act and new investment Rockit Apples were among the strategic highlights Hinerangi spoke on at this year’s annual general meeting.

The Incorporation’s assets continue to include kōura, farming and 4 | HE TANGATA

other investments like forestry, commercial property and horticulture. At an operational level, PKW’s key activities included a 9% return on kōura, 11% more milk solids produced from the previous year, and a 10% increase to the total hectares now managed by PKW.

Despite the low milk price, the overall value of the Incorporation increased from $196m (2014) to $202m (2015).

The meeting noted the low milk price and its negative financial impact on the PKW Group had reduced PKW’s ability to pay a high dividend. While disappointed at the outcome those shareholders present understood the reasoning for the $0.50 dividend. Shareholders also communicated their expectation of improved performance in future years.

On a more positive note, the shareholders expressed their confidence in the Committee of Management due to their professionalism over the years and their transparency at communicating important issues.

The role of Whenua Magazine as a communication tool was also acknowledged and appreciated by shareholders.

The PKW Trust AGM immediately followed with Trust Chair Hinerangi Edwards talking about workforce development, relationships and maximising the Trust’s grants programme. These kaupapa align to the Trust’s core purpose of supporting the cultural and educational aspirations of Taranaki Māori.

The re-election of shareholder representative Darryn Ratana further reinforced shareholders’ confidence in the current leadership of the Trust. This was followed by quality presentations of undergraduate scholarship recipients, Natasha Bishop (Ngāruahine) and Roxanne McDonald (Te Atiawa), WITT students of the Bachelor of Nursing; and Ngā Putiputi Akapita (Ngāruahine, Ngāti Ruanui) who brought the wharenui to a complete standstill by singing her gratitude to the shareholders. All three recipients were acknowledged as a credit to their whānau and shareholders were proud to support their development.

AT A GLANCE

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

FINANCIAL POSITION

OPERATING PROFIT AFTER TAX AND BEFORE FAIR VALUE GAINS / (LOSSES) DOWN $7.7 M FROM 2014 TO:

EQUITY UP $6.1 M FROM 2014 TO:

$202.9 M

$2.75 M

Lobster return on assets were

Milk solids produced increased

PKW group has increased

June 2015.

improved utilisation from

the last year through both

9% for the financial year 30

11% on prior year due to

investments in infrastructure..

9%

total hectares by 10% in

lease opportunities and farm purchases.

11%

10%

GROUP ASSETS

BY BUSINESS

33%

1%

1%

5%

60%

PKW FISH

PKW WHENUA

$ PKW FARMS

PKW TRUST

PKW INVESTMENTS

HE TANGATA | 5

CLAIRE NICHOLSON COMMITTEE MEMBER

Claire (Ngﾄ》i Ruanui) enjoys the time she gets to spend at her home, given that she has been regularly travelling throughout the country to promote her new business, developing animal health products.

6 | HE TANGATA

Dr Claire Nicholson came to the attention of shareholders when she was appointed into the role of Associate Director with the PKW Committee of Management in 2010.

The success of this programme bore fruits when Claire was elected as a PKW director in 2014. Whenua reports on why this successful businesswoman has committed herself to supporting the incorporation.

Following her parents Barry and Diana O’Brien, who semi-retired to live in Tauranga, Claire has also established her family home there with husband Michael who runs his own electrical engineering company. With sons Joshua (20) a third-year medical student at Otago University, and Matthew (18) about to join him to study finance and economics, Claire is thankful her growing animal health business gives her an opportunity to regularly travel to the South Island.

It’s an exciting and challenging time for Claire who has 25 years of working in the animal health care sector behind her.

Those 25 years started from humble beginnings, with Claire recalling childhood memories of growing up in rural Manaia with her two brothers. Her father Barry is part of the Broughton whānau, and for a period he took his family to live in Ōtaki where he farmed as well.

“I have fond memories of living in rural communities, horse riding,

the Oeo Schoolhouse, getting the milk in a stainless billy-can to have with our porridge and visiting our grandparents farms. It was an idyllic childhood that set me up well for my future”.

After finishing school at Opunake High School, Claire headed to Massey University in Palmerston North and completed her Bachelor of Business Studies majoring in Agricultural Business and Marketing.

“I received a Tū Tangata scholarship that helped me go to Massey,” advises Claire. “But I always had an interest in animal health and I didn’t want to sit in an office all day long, so I ended up doing a BSc in Veterinary Science, graduated in 1990 and landed my first job at Morrinsville Animal Health.”

For the following 12 years, Claire remained in a clinical practice role, travelling to the United Kingdom to work in Wales and London, then returning to New Zealand after the birth of her first son, Joshua, to be closer to her family.

Back in New Zealand, Claire took on senior management roles as General Manager for Intervet New Zealand and then Business Development and Marketing Manager at Agrifeeds.

HE TANGATA | 7

With husband Michael helping to raise their two sons, Matthew (left) and Joshua (right), Claire acknowledges they have a great partnership.

8 | HE TANGATA

By 2011, Claire had established her own consultancy company and, through the support of her father, was looking to become more active in developments happening in Taranaki, hence her application for the Associate Director role to PKW.

sat around the table at that time inspired and excited me.”

“To be honest,” admits Claire, “I knew about the organisation mainly through listening to the frustration in the conversations amongst my dad’s family so it wasn’t always “I was actually in a hiatus with my complimentary. When I saw what career and I was looking around and was actually happening, I gained I read a Whenua article on the role a lot of confidence in the strategic and thought this would be a good decisions being made and acted on way to find out about governance. by the management team.”

I really valued the opportunity as I Claire tested the waters of getting came into the role at a really good elected onto the committee of time as there was positive change management at the end of her happening within the Incorporation associate directorship term and and the breadth of experience that

“...PKW don’t just adhere to minimum standards, they do what is right and this has led to them being recognised across the industry for the leadership they are providing.” though unsuccessful felt it was a great learning curve for her.

“I recognised it was better to have the board remain consistent and I only reconsidered when Toko Kapea retired. Even if I hadn’t been elected onto the Committee of Management, I want to acknowledge that two amazing opportunities emerged for me from my time as an Associate Director, as I got accepted onto the AgriWomens Development Trust Course and became an Associate Director representative on the Ag Research Board.”

“This engagement has led to incredible opportunities for me that encouraged me to be excited and passionate about what I do in my own business. I hope my own professional experience and background adds value to PKW.” Since returning to PKW, Claire is in awe of the growth and development that has occurred in the short time she had been away.

“It’s impressive and makes you feel very proud. What I love knowing is that PKW don’t just adhere to minimum standards, they do what is right and this has led to them being

recognised across the industry for the leadership they are providing.”

“There remain opportunities and challenges, and diversification to other areas of investment allows us to ensure we are not reliant on a volatile commodity that determines our profitability. Sticking to the core of what we are good at, gaining income from the land, bringing the whenua back to our control so we can create jobs. It is something I am passionate about and very proud to be a part of.”

HE TANGATA | 9

HE WHĀRIKI CORPORATE SERVICES Whāriki is a harakeke-flax mat and its splendour lies in the fibres woven together to create something beautiful and inspiring.

It is also a fitting name for the Parininihi ki Waitotara Corporate Services team.

He Whāriki services the entire Parininihi ki Waitotara Group including the Incorporation, PKW Farms LP, Te Oranga Livestock and the PKW Trust. He Whāriki is the weave that connects these entities together operationally and includes finance, human resources, information technology, administration and health and safety.

Shareholders and manuhiri who ring or come into the office they will be greeted by Aimee Morrell (Te Atiawa) who is a new team member. “From one day to the next I never know whether I will be talking to shareholders who have queries, farm staff requiring information from their managers or a student applying for a scholarship.

The variety makes this role highly interesting and in every instance the kaimahi are trying to do the best they can, and I’m proud to be part of this” says Aimee.

Finance plays a vital role within the PKW Incorporation group.

“Working with all of the managers to develop and manage their budget 10 | HE TANGATA

is a strategic planning process of implementing the annual plan approved by governance” says Sally Dean, Finance Manager.

“Throughout the year variances will occur. We’re interested in understanding the story behind any variation since this future business planning.” says Sally. Beside Sally sits an experienced team with Nicky Clement (Financial Accountant) and Bev Anaru (Financial Administrator) who have been with PKW for six and three years respectively and have seen PKW Group grow over the years.

Central to most business practices is health and safety. This sits within He Whāriki because the influence and service He Whāriki provides affects the entire PKW group.

While situated within He Whāriki, Health & Safety Manager, Bronwyn MacFarlane’s spends most of her time with the Ahuwhenua team supporting the farms staff and growing a healthy work culture.

Overall responsibility for the corporate services teams lies with Genera Manager Dion Maaka

(Ngāruahine). “He Whāriki provides office administration, recruitment, communication, health and safety, marketing, legal and IT (information technology) services to the PKW whānau. The breadth of service highlights the diverse skills that exist within this team.” Says Dion. “If you think about the marae, there are some of the whānau who contribute from the wharenui by taking care of the paepae. You could think of us as the ones in the wharekai taking care of the back.”

Dion started at PKW in 2009 at a time when there were six staff. “As PKW has grown He Whāriki has grown to keep pace as well and the goal is to now anticipate the future corporate services so we can stay ahead of the game.” One strategy Dion employs is the use of external expertise like Agripeople and Goggles On! Further in this issue Whenua profiles these organisations who are supporting PKW Farms LP with recruitment and people development.

“We are the whāriki that threads together the people, the business so

HE WHĀRIKI – CORPORATE SERVICES Main: Dion Maaka (General Manager Corporate Services) leads the He Whāriki Team that includes (left-right) Aimee Morrell, Bronwyn McFarlane, Nicky Clement, Bev Anaru and Marion Adams.

Inset: Sally Dean.

PKW leadership can make the best possible decisions for the ultimate benefit of our shareholders. It’s a perfect alignment of He tangata, he whenua, he oranga” says Dion.

Post Script

the last few years. Her presence will be missed. He mihi nūnui e hoa, nā Dion Maaka.

Recruitment and advertising for this position will take place in the New Year.

On behalf of He Whāriki, we say farewell to Bev Anaru, who finished with PKW at the end of 2015.

We would like to thank and acknowledge Bev who has been a valued member of our whānau over HE TANGATA | 11

Left & Right: Greg Kirk facilitates leadership training on PKW Farms LP Kaimahi Day at Whakaahurangi Marae, Stratford in 2015.

GOGGLES ON! Parininihi ki Waitotara Farms LP lives by the whakatauki ‘He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!’

In recognising that excellent business performance is only achieved through highly skilled and engaged employees, we developed a 10-year commitment to grow and support our kaimahi.

Our relationship with Goggles On! is part of this commitment.

12 | HE TANGATA

With guidance from Executive Coach, Greg Kirk and Co-Pilot, Kohe Ruwhiu, the leadership team has implemented a number of projects to feed into our vision of 'He tangata, he whenua, he oranga'.

is going well, areas of improvement and what has been learned allows kaimahi to develop in their mahi while achieving performance goals.

“Like every other organisation PKW Farms LP is busy producing, and We have gradually reviewed finding the time to stop and take and added to our HR policies, stock of where we’re at is highly undertaken an engagement survey undervalued,” says Dion Maaka. and heard suggestions from kaimahi to improve communication “Greg’s greatest contribution to us across the business, and piloted a as a busy organisation, is reminding programme to increase the number us that while our day-to-day of performance conversations business activities are important, between managers and their making sure that we’re taking care kaimahi. of each other’s wellbeing is a key Greg believes that reflecting on what part of the business as well.”

AGRIPEOPLE The aim of every recruitment process is to ensure that the person the job is offered to, is the right person whose values align with the organisation. AgriPeople helps Parininihi ki Waitotara Farms LP with this task.

GOGGLES ON

AgriPeople provides people management support for rural businesses, like PKW Farms LP, and is focused on creating lasting relationships. Based in Hāwera, Racquel returned home to set up her practice and values her relationship with PKW Farms LP. “PKW Farms LP are the largest dairy farmer in Taranaki, offering vast opportunities to Taranaki people.

I do my very best to determine the critical attributes required for each role because I want the business to succeed.” says Racquel.

PKW Farms LP lives by the whakatauki ‘He aha te mea nui o One of the differences between te Ao? He tangata! He tangata! recruiting for PKW Farms LP He tangata!’ In recognising that and other farming operations excellent business performance is the importance of Māori is only achieved through highly kaupapa. This is demonstrated in skilled and engaged employees, wethe organisation's advertising that developed a 10 year commitment tobegins with a mihi and outlines that grow and support our kaimahi. Our those wanting to join the partnership relationship with Goggles On! is partmust have a genuine commitment to of this commitment. supporting Māori aspirations. While

financial security is important to With guidance from Executive many people, PKW Farms LP wants Coach Greg Kirk and Co-Pilot Kohe people who want to be part of Ruwhiu, the leadership team has something bigger and its mission, implemented a number of projects ‘He tangata, he whenua, he oranga’, to feed into our vision of He tangata, offers this. It’s also a mission he whenua, he oranga. We have AgriPeople supports completely. gradually reviewed and added to our HR policies, undertaken an Racquel shares her insights for engagement survey and heard those searching for employment.

Greg Kirk and Racquel Cleaver. suggestions from kaimahi to improve“People undersell themselves all communication across the business,the time; they forget that while the HE TANGATA | 13

piloted a programme to “...experiences andand skills outside increase the number of performance conversations between managers of work can be relevant building and their kaimahi.

Greg believes that reflecting on what’s going well, blocks for the job.”areas of improvement and what

Racquel Cleaver.

14 | HE TANGATA

vacancy is for a specific job, their experiences and skills outside of work can be relevant building blocks for the job. Knowing your strengths, preparing examples of how you used those skills and can talk to during the interview all matter.” Racquel encourages people to apply for positions, even if they know they don’t have all of the skills because you can always propose at the interview how, with the employers support, you could

has been learned allows kaimahi to develop in their mahi while achieving performance goals. acquire that skill. “It’s a tough employment market so it’s important “Like every other organisation PKW to give the bigger picture of what Farms LP is busy producing, and the rolethe means finding timeto toyou, stopand andhow takethe organisations’ values fit with your stock of where we’re at is highly own” says Racquel. undervalued” says Dion Maaka.

“Greg’s greatest contribution to us Through AgriPeople and the support as a busy organisation, is reminding of Racquel, PKW Farms LP can us that while our day to day access professional recruitment business activities are important, services that are not available within making sure that we’re taking care the organisation. of each other’s wellbeing is part of the business as well.”

PLAYING IT SAFE Reducing health and safety incidents on our farms is a key driver for PKW Farms LP. Whenua reports on the progress being made.

HE WHENUA | 15

Bronwyn MacFarlane needs little prompting to list the top five farm hazards.

Dairy Farm Supervisor, Roger Landers, is also a committed supporter of health and safety.

“Farm vehicles, tractors, livestock, slips and trips and effluent ponds,” she says.

He also acknowledges that it’s not something everyone immediately buys into. Maybe it is because there is never an ‘end game’−it’s a matter of constant change and improvement.

Then come four top causes: poor housekeeping, rushing, making do and believing you are bulletproof.

“But we all have to be on the same road − we can’t veer off it. And we have to have one rule for all, health and safety is not something that you self-police.”

“And we do not want to set our benchmark as minimum standards.

We want best practice to ensure our people go home safely at the end of the day.’’

PKW Farms LP also involves in contractors in ensuring standards are met.

Roger likens some acceptance of health and safety to reaching a fork “My father would fix everything But there is another: it’s actually in the road. There is only one route with a number eight wire and drive convincing people that Health and to take but some are still standing at around in his David Brown, similar to Safety is worthy of more than a the fork. For some it takes longer to a Fergy 35.

In the main he could fi x nodding acknowledgement. accept that this is the correct way most things himself, but everything She quotes the `Swiss Cheese was slower and smaller then. There to go.

Model’ when discussing risk and is constant change, even when I failure. look over the last five years, there has been a lot of creep upwards, It works on the basis that at one whether it be through peer pressure, point all the holes in a stack of slices the media, neighbours – eventually of Swiss cheese will line up. If each everyone has to get dragged over hole is a failure in the system, then the line.” eventually when all those holes do line up, there will be a collective failure.

As long as each layer can be out of perfect alignment, all the other failings go unresolved or undetected.

One of those failings is that people are reluctant to report an incident because they believe accidents are a part of the job.

“But human error is not always the cause of accidents, it is usually system and process breakdowns,’’ she says.

As PKW Farms LP’s Health and Safety Manager since mid-2014, breaking down the resistance to common sense on safety, and getting her message across is a major challenge. It’s also one she first started coaching 20 years ago.

16 | HE WHENUA TANGATA

An example of the drive for change which has been evident since Bronwyn began, was the work on the Farm with Variable Order Manager Dallas McLean at Waverley, the first farm to be given the health and safety makeover.

The work there included identifying hazards and implementing solutions: a 20-year-old rotary milking system had new rails installed to prevent falls, walls to prevent staff being exposed to the elements and emergency stops upgraded, and fencing was put around effluent sumps and sand traps.

Dallas McLean received a Health and Safety award at the annual Farms conference in 2015 as an acknowledgment of his involvement in the work.

“...we do not want to set our benchmark as minimum standards. We want best practice to ensure our people go home safely at the end of the day.’’

Dairy Farm Supervisor, Roger Landers

“That system was deemed safe 20 years ago, but things have changed across the board, just as they have with animal welfare,’’ Roger said. “Even modern systems need attention.’’

PKW Farms LP is taking a proactive role in promoting its health and safety message – senior managers are rostered to visit the company’s 30 farms two or three times a year to do safety walks. It means every farm can expect regular calls.

“When the CEO and management team turns up to perform a safety check, it communicates that Health and Safety is important to PKW Farms LP’’ says Bronwyn.

She also says Health and Safety amounts to people and productivity.

The company’s record is a good one, but it is not perfect. ”In the first quarter of this year there were three incidents where our people required a minimum of treatment by a doctor and six where they required first aid. If the question is who are the next three?

The answer has to be ensure that we do our best so there aren’t any.

That requires a different mindset and a collective and supportive approach to health and safety.’’

Twenty people died on New Zealand farms in 2014 and 120 from 2008 to 2014. On average, 75 people die in a New Zealand workplace each year and one in 10 is harmed.

Bronwyn says she is often asked by people why they can’t be left to use their own common sense. Her answer is simple. “We all don’t have the same common sense and you cannot rely on it. You have got to have concrete management.’’

HE WHENUA | 17

Strategising to increase choices Whenua reports on how positioning the farming business to make strategic choices results in improved returns on investment, as well as improved savings across the board for PKW Farms LP.

GROWING WITHOUT CAPITAL Optimising resources to create new income streams A system of turning some of PKW Farms LP poorest producing animals into the equivalent of cash cows is now paying dividends.

Our strategy is to take poorer producers and older dairy stock, which might otherwise be culled, and get them in-calf with beef bulls.

The resulting calves are predominantly a mixture of Wagyu, Hereford and Angus calves which are held from birth to weaning at PKW’s calf rearing unit.

From there beef calves are transferred to a PKW Farm’s LP drystock block.

This ability to grow without significant capital investment, 18 | HE WHENUA

has not come by chance. It is a consequence of PKW Farms LP embarking on a strategy of growing its knowledge and skills (and equally importantly), its relationships with other areas of the farming sector.

It ensured a sound base existed by initially investing in building facilities then making optimum use of those facilities.

The process of turning milking cows into breeding stock, rather than culling them and putting an immediate end to their value, ensures they continue to help grow the business.

That contributes to the number of stock produced for PKW Farms LP and traded by Te Oranga Livestock onto the open market. This

contributes to the overall strategy of self-sufficiency.

This no, or low, money approach to growing the PKW Farms LP portfolio has also seen it join forces with Firstlight Foods, a Hawke’s Bay based commercial exporter of Wagyu beef.

Growing and supplying stock to PKW farms was original objective, however rearing this particular in-demand breed was within PKW Farms LP’s existing capability and skill set.

To keep pace with this growth, PKW Farms LP is leasing drystock properties adding two private lease blocks, totalling 300 hectares and situated Ratapiko, southeast of Inglewood, into its portfolio.

capacity to rear 1600 calves a year in a controlled environment. The rearing unit is now into its third year of operation and insulates PKW Farms LP by applying a specialised set of skills and expertise to grow its own stock.

The stock are closely monitored 24 hours a day and the facility is well placed to rear high quality breeds like Wagyu.

Some of the calves reared at the unit are for replacement into the dairy farms, while others are reared purely for pending sale for financial gain.

The oldest calves produced since the Wagyu enterprise was initiated are approximately 16 months old, and are likely to be culled as prime cattle from around 24 months.

Hereford and Angus calves are sold on the open market, but the Wagyu stock sales are handled through Firstlight Foods. Wagyu is the most stable beef in terms of sales because of its recognition as a premium product.

Drystock operations manager Andrew Gibson says PKW Farms LP and its stock trading company Te Oranga Livestock, can grow its portfolio and increase its footprint in beef farming, without investing significant capital up front in purchasing land.

way through a seven year Wagyu cattle primary growth partnership.

For PKW Farms LP the advantages reaped for the price of leasing land are significant. In the case of Wagyu stock, it then comes down to deciding how long to hold on to the stock before selling.

PKW Farms LP staff talk about `Optionality Farms’ when they The partnership’s programme discuss the leased land because manager, Matt Crowther, said there the operations are nimble enough was a surge of interest in 2015 as for decisions to be made as the farmers looked to increase the value stock market moves, with the beef of bobby calves in their herds. stock sold at any time after reaching Ninety percent of PKW’s agricultural 100kg – as happened when prices At present leasing is more were strong in the first year the Calf operations are dairy, which is economically sound given the land Rearing unit was operating. highly vulnerable to the volatility prices in Taranaki and the low pay of the Fonterra milk-price.

The out from Fonterra. introduction of beef breeds into the PKW Farms LP is certainly contributing to a looming increase Wagyu, a Japanese breed, is prized PKW Farms LP system provides a in Wagyu exports – mating numbers more predictable return, and one for it fat-marbled beef - to the point across the country rose from 11,000 that is potentially rising over time. that purebred Wagyu can fetch in 2014 to 26,000 last year. more than $450 a kilo on the British PKW Farms LP runs a modern market.

That's good news for shareholders 24 hectare calf-rearing facility knowing that their investment will at Matapu in South Taranaki.

Two Hawke's Bay companies, continue to pursue returns not Brownrigg Agriculture and Firstlight Managed by Irene and Derek Foods and the Government are half Cruickshank it gives the partnership previously available.

HE WHENUA | 19

This success was always on the cards

LEASE STRATEGY PAYS DIVIDENDS Kenny Rogers famously crooned about a gambler who told a young man about knowing when to hold 'em, and knowing when to fold 'em.

Faced with a low pay out PKW Farms

low market price at that time, which was the usual process, animals were held over until market conditions improved” he said.

able to hold on to stock when prices were flat, then sell them later at a premium.

Dairy Operations Manager Shane Miles explains that “when the market was low, instead of having to take the 20 | HE WHENUA

created more space to house these

animals, certainly a hold-em strategy.

“This approach exists thanks to the

As a consequence, PKW Farms LP

Drystock farms which are used to rear

to fetch $1100 in May, and sold

onto heifers who were milking with

LP had to look for new strategies. With held stock which were struggling careful planning PKW Farms LP was

of the acquisition of two leases that

them four months later for $1700, an excellent outcome. “We expected

around $1500 a head – but the grass started to grow and the milk-price payout started to lift”, says Shane.

The strategy succeeded because

beef stock”, says Shane. “Holding

new calves and those who would be in-calf next season meant we could maximise our options”. Fortunately the business had the systems and

staff who could assess the situation

and make these types of decisions at the right time.

WATER CONSERVATION IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS Efforts PKW Farms LP has been making for conservation Good conservation makes good economic sense, and our farming partnership has living proof of that on three of its Taranaki farms.

PKW Farms LP's Dairy Operations Manager Shane Miles says the system does more than save fresh water, it also saves money.

something in the region of the water

As part of a review of effluent processes launched in 2011, PKW Farms LP has upgraded three systems to separate effluent solids from liquids, and then uses those liquids to flush the dairy shed yards clean.

Two of the three farms are on the Waimate West Scheme and the water they take from it can cost up to $1 a cubic metre.

The new system is in operation

Waimate West, South Taranaki's largest supplier by volume, processes more than 17 million litres of water a day and serves hundreds of farms as well as Manaia and Kaponga townships.

money on water costs, the system

The “green water”, pumped from effluent storage tanks, cleans the yards, then drains back into the storage tanks.

The system was approved for New Zealand farms after a 2012 change to the New Zealand Code of Practice for the Design and Operation of Farm Dairies. It allows farmers to use green water for yard wash-down, so long as guidelines and criteria are followed.

“So why would we want to pay for chlorinated, clean drinking water then use it to flush away waste?'' asks Shane.

The flushing process on an average PKW Farms LP operation can use up to 50,000 litres of liquid a day − more than 15 million litres a season over a dairy lactation season, or

it would take to fill six and a bit Olympic-sized swimming pools. on farms in Skeet Rd, Kōkiri Rd (Manaia), and Meremere Rd (Hāwera). Aside from saving contributes towards conserving water and that becomes all the more relevant in the height of summer when water restrictions on town supplies are regularly imposed.

Shane Miles says it is likely that all farms will eventually be required to pay for the water they take, and those that now benefit from taking it without cost from a stream or a bore could potentially be required to make changes in the future.

HE WHENUA | 21

FROM PARININIHI KI WAITOTARA TO FONTERRA, FROM FONTERRA TO THE WORLD The cows have been milked and are grazing. It’s time for the high-quality milk stored in the on-farm milk silo to be collected for transport in a specialised milk tanker and taken to the milk factory.

PKW Farms LP milk goes to Fonterra’s Whareroa site, at Hawera, which collects up to 14 million litres of milk a day.

Samples of PKW Farms LP and all other milk are taken so that it can be tested for its quality in laboratories.

The tankers are cleaned at Whareroa in readiness for their next run… and the entire process starts again.

In the last two issues of Whenua, we have profiled the harvesting of milk from our dairy cows using a timeline. Now we step through the next stages as processing of the milk begins.

When the tanker reaches Whareroa, the milk it has brought is pumped into large storage vats, from where it will be processed into highquality dairy nutrition.

The milk is then processed − Whareroa boasts five milk powder plants, a butter plant and whey protein concentrate plant to produce a vast array of cheese, milk powder, cream and butter.

Every six hours, a train arrives at Whareroa to take away containers filled with dairy products. They are bound for markets around New Zealand and overseas.

BESPOKE MEMORIES OF A PĀ KID

Fashion Photography by James Yang 24 | HE ORANGA

He may be thought of as an Auckland University of Technology graduate rookie in the fashion world, impressing with his well-received collection during the 2015 New Zealand Fashion Week, but Bobby Luke will always be the creative kid of a close-knit extended family who valued the influence of the matriarchal women in his life.

Utilising the Foundation Course in Art & Design at AUT, Bobby Luke went on to complete his BA Art & Design, Fashion Major with Honours. As a recipient of PKW Tertiary grants in 2014 and 2015, Bobby is proud of his achievements, and even more proud of how his collection reflected the way in which he was brought up.

It’s memories of the past that inspires Bobby’s work, whether he is designing a clothing collection or working on art installations, or photography works.

Raised by his single mother Alison Luke, predominantly in South Auckland, he credits his early years living in Normanby and the times he travelled home to visit his whānau for nurturing his creativity.

“Looking back, my kuia Vena Wewe Rongonui, Miriam Campbell and Lucy Ngarue Pokau Ngeru probably helped me develop that innate intuitive aspect of my personality.

Kui Vena was a seamstress based in Eltham creating wedding dresses and ball gowns. A stickler for detail, she didn’t believe in doing anything half-pie, which, when I think about it, was what I also observed when watching my mother, aunties, nannies, the matriarchs at the marae,

how they looked after the marae and our manuhiri.”

The nostalgia for the past helped motivate Bobby to get involved in fashion, initially starting at 15 years of age, doing part-time summer jobs with fashion house Trelise Cooper for four years. He also worked behind the scenes at different events learning and observing what went into producing and showcasing collections, and joined the team at Miromoda, led by Ata Te Kanawa, where he is also the Production Assistant. With Miromoda established to promote Māori and Pacific designers in an incredibly competitive industry, Bobby got to see the importance of being really focused on the little details that helped designers stand out.

“I learnt the tailoring on the course and the design process as well, but really it was my experiences of observing my mum, what went on at the pā in the kitchen amongst the kaimahi and I suppose what they wore, and from that I started to conceptualize how I could reflect those memories in my collection.”

Bobby’s collection ‘Bespoke Memories of a Pa Kid’ is based on nostalgic work wear and the

notion of matriarchal societies within family and culture. As stated for his collection, “Memories of the past will always reflect your present and future, a representation of who you are as a form of identity politics and mātauranga; pathway to knowledge.

It is an interpretation of the beginnings of knowledge and a personal documentation of what life was and how it can inform what will be”.

When asked what this statement actually means, Bobby laughs and highlights the little things that linger in his memory of the tea towels, the socks, the aprons, the work wear being worn by the women in his whānau when at the pā.

“I kind of used the silhouette of those shapes and incorporated them into the shirts, the pants, the skirts.”

“Even the socks,” points out Bobby's sister, Hinehuia, who has joined Bobby for his interview with Whenua.

Hinehuia, who is a hairdresser at New Plymouth salon Be Ba Bo, also points out the work that goes into getting a collection onto the catwalk.

“He inspires me,” says Hinehuia. “I kind of came into the process thrown in at the deep end, but at the end of the day we feed off each other’s HE ORANGA | 25

creativity and I followed alongside, working with the ideas around hair and style for the models.”

“I’ll be ready the next time he shows,” adds Hinehuia with a proud smile.

With his label Campbell Luke garnering attention in fashion circles, Bobby acknowledges that there is a lot involved in being successful in the industry and is exploring a number of ideas to show his creative difference.

Shareholders may wonder what the link is between fashion and farming. Bobby explains: “I’m working on some concepts around farming gear. Presently it’s very masculine−ugly actually− and I think there’s an opportunity to design work wear for women that can allow them to remain feminine despite their workplace.”

Bobby’s most recent project is working on framing embroidered pillowcases.

“The ones I am working on have been created by Nanny Pat Malcolm. They speak to me of a time when our marae were the beneficiaries of that kind of craftwork, gracing our wharenui when the beds were laid out. I hope to remind our people of the skill, patience and creativity our wonderful kuia gifted us with.”

Behind the scenes Bobby fits an item from his show collection.

Model: Jennifer Tooley from 62 Models Above: Showcase of Bobby's collection.

Left: Hinehuia and Bobby enjoy being able to collaborate creatively.

Students moving stock at Te Rua o Te Moko farm in Normanby.

LEARNING ON THE LAND

Parininihi ki Waitotara offers shareholders and their whﾄ］au a chance to learn valuable farm skills on pkw farms

HE ORANGA | 27

An innovative collaboration between PKW Farms LP and local training providers is set to impact on the future of Māori farming in Taranaki.

by its own people is by having the right people trained with the right skills,” says Allie.

Rob started Land Based Training in 1996 in Whanganui and through his nearly decade-long association with Te Rua o Te Moko, was able to see the potential to do more with the land.

“This opportunity with Land Based Training and WITT is a definite way where Taranaki Māori can gain those The initiative, led by PKW Farms very skills to become tomorrow’s He worked with Anne-Marie LP in conjunction with the Western agricultural leaders.”

Broughton, who was then at Te Tumu Institute of Technology at Taranaki Paeroa (the Māori Trustee) to first (WITT) and specialist farming Allie says the relationship with Land assist with the block amalgamation educator Land Based Training, will for the first time enable shareholders Based Training and WITT is a natural and then start the training fit and the partnership reflects how programme at Te Rua o Te Moko and their whanau to learn about the each of the three organisations are three years ago. farming industry on PKW lands. working strategically to achieve their Rob says the investment the block PKW’s General Manager Shareholder respective goals. owners made in the farm business Engagement, Allie Hemara-Wahanui, Land Based Training, a competent and later in the future of their people who was the driving force behind deliverer of agricultural training, by sacrificing their dividends for the initiative, says it helps bring is already well established within a few years and establishing the PKW Farms LP’s vision of providing training operation is already paying ‘meaningful opportunities for its own’ South Taranaki, teaching at Te off. Since it started, 35 young people to life, literally at the grass roots level. Rua o Te Moko, the award-winning amalgamation of five Māori-owned have gone through the year-long blocks of land near Normanby.

As the largest dairy farming programme and the outcomes are operation in Taranaki, PKW Farms already extremely positive.

Taking away the Ahuwhenua award LP is looking to the future of its own for Māori Excellence in Farming in workforce and would like to place “Pretty much all of them have gone 2014, Te Rua o Te Moko, its owners its shareholders, their tamariki and into employment and finished their and trustees have worked with Land qualifications,” he says. mokopuna at the forefront of the Based Training’s managing director, employment market.

Rob Gollan for many years, first as a Rob understands Māori aspirations farm consultant and now as a training and the desire to reconnect with the “The only way PKW Farms LP will provider. achieve its vision of being operated whenua. He also works with another

“...a definite way where Taranaki Māori can gain those very skills to become tomorrow’s agricultural leaders.”

28 | HE ORANGA

Barbara George, chief executive at Māori organisation in Whanganui, with Ātihau Whanganui Incorporation, WITT, says working with PKW and to provide training there.

Land Based Training is part of the institute’s kaupapa.

His vast experience in the farming and agriculture sectors means he “We value partnerships and can see opportunities and potential collaborations,” says Barbara. for even more people to learn and “The opportunities for Māori, and work on their own whenua, not just indeed all students, is important in locally but nationally. our Te Rautaki Māori Strategy and we are very optimistic for 2016.”

“I believe there’s still a heap of underutilised Māori land throughout WITT also partners with Taranaki New Zealand,” says Rob. “This is Futures, a collective of education, also identified in Ministry of Primary industry and community Industries reports as having massive organisations which aims to better potential economically”. connect students with employment.

Also working to close the gap between potential and opportunity within the agricultural sector in Taranaki is WITT, a long-time supporter of the industry that has provided ongoing training opportunities for Taranaki students.

This collaboration sees WITT contracting Land Based Training to deliver some of its farming and agriculture courses around Taranaki, so arrangements like this enable WITT to further extend its training provision to benefit the whole region, including Māori.

This also reinforces WITT’s vision of being “the leading facilitator of excellent quality tertiary education outcomes in Taranaki.”

This year Taranaki Futures started delivering Māori and Pasifika Trades Training (MPTT) through WITT, a government initiative providing feefree training in the trades for young Māori and Pasifika people aged 16-40 years who will form the bulk of New Zealand’s workforce in the decades to come.

Taranaki Futures General Manager, Warwick Foy, says Taranaki Māori already have a strong understanding of the trades training model so the chance to secure an MPTT scholarship and gain skills that benefit the student, his or her whānau and the wider aspirations of PKW and its shareholders can’t be understated.

“The inclusion of farming in the current training options makes total sense,” says Warwick.

“We totally support PKW Farms LP, Land Based Training and WITT in this initiative and look forward to working with them to offer scholarships for this and other fee-free training opportunities through Māori and Pasifika Trades Training,” says Warwick.

To learn more about the training options available, contact: Māori and Pasifika Trades Training scholarship applications are now being accepted for 2016. For more information contact Bonita Bigham, phone 0800 WITT WORKS (0800 948 896) extension 8733, cellphone 021 192 6355, email mpttcoord@ taranakifutures.co.nz or go to www.taranakifutures.org.nz.

To talk to someone about the course contact Land Based Training on 0508 TRAIN ME (0508 872 466), phone 06 349 0077 or go to www.landbasedtraining.co.nz.

WITT on 0800 WITT WORKS (0800 948 896), 06 757 3100, go to www.witt.ac.nz, call into the registry office on Bell Street, New Plymouth or the Hāwera campus, Union Street, Hāwera.

HE ORANGA | 29

PARININIHI KI WAITOTARA TRUST AWARDS A TOTAL OF 171 TERTIARY GRANTS FOR TARANAKI STUDENTS. Established in 1983 to support the education and cultural aspirations of Taranaki Māori, 30 years on, the trust continues to support tertiary students who make up the largest group of recipients into careers that could also see them return to Taranaki and work for PKW Farms LP and other local organisations in the future.

The raft of grants awarded in 2015 included four postgraduate, five undergraduate level scholarships for three years, and a further 162 annual tertiary grants.

The new postgraduate scholars are Bernie O’Donnell (Te Atiawa, Ngāti Mutunga) who featured in the previous issue of Whenua; Joeliee Seed-Pihama (Taranaki, Te Atiawa);

Dion Tuuta and Allie Hemara-Wahanui with Alana Mako and Mike Davey (Regional Manager - Western North Island, Ravensdown)

Brad Tatere (Te Atiawa) and Nadine Parata (Ngāti Ruanui). They each receive scholarships of $5,000 to $7,500 per year.

For the second year in a row, one of the five undergraduate scholarships was awarded to a WITT nursing student. Roxanne McDonald (Te Atiawa) spoke at this year’s annual general meeting expressing her gratitude and commitment to Māori health. “The undergraduate recipients and their whānau should feel proud of their success because of the level of competition is so high ,” said Allie Hemara-Wahanui, General Manager Shareholder Engagement. The other four undergraduate recipients are Ngā Putiputi Akapita (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā

Ruahine), Te Aka Hamilton-Katene (Ngā Rauru, Ngāti Ruanui), Courtney Hook (Ngāti Tama) and Jay Short (Taranaki). These scholarships are valued at $2,000 per year.

Together, PKW and Ravensdown awarded a three-year undergraduate scholarship to Stratford’s Alana Mako (Ngā Ruahine) who is studying towards a Bachelor of Resource and Environmental Planning. The scholarship is valued at $5,000 per year and undergraduate degree and another is available in 2016.

The 2016 tertiary round is now open and closes 31 March 2016.

Applicants can apply online through the PKW Website.

The full recipients list is: POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS

Bernie O’Donnell, Postgraduate Diploma in Business Studies

Joeliee Seed Pihama, Doctor of Philosophy

Nadine Parata, Masters on Business Administration Brad Tatere, Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme

ANNUAL TERTIARY GRANTS Anaru Adams, Bachelor of Social Sciences and Bachelor of Laws Tom Alesana, Bachelor of Teaching Paula Anderson, Bachelor of Education Preeti Aryal, Bachelor of Physical Education Renee Atua, Master of Science

UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS

PKW RAVNESDOWN SCHOLARSHIP

Nga Putiputi Akapita,

Alana Mako, Bachelor of Resource and Environmental Planning

Te Aka Hamilton, Bachelor of Science and Arts Courtney Hook, Bachelor of Commerce Roxanne McDonald, Bachelor of Nursing Jay Short, Bachelor of Architectural Studies

Jasmine Davey, National Certificate in Diamond Henderson, Bachelor of Nursing Business Administration Jonny Dittmer, Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy) Lilly Donnelly, Bachelor of Science

Maarama Himiona, National Certificate in Animal Care

Temple Rose Eiffe, Diploma in Art and Design

Conner Hobbs, Bachelor of Engineering

Rose Eru, Bachelor of Nursing

Charmaine Hoeta, Bachelor of Education Studies

Wendy Eynon, National Diploma in Reuben Aubrey, Bachelor of Medicine Career Practice and Bachelor of Surgery Daniel Fake, Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy) Abbie Bailey Nowell, Bachelor of Business Studies Sheridan Farley, Certificate in Cynda Baker, Postgraduate Diploma in Health Pani Baker Taumata, Diploma in Enrolled Nursing Julie Anne Barney Katene, Bachelor of Applied Social Science Gabriel Baron, Bachelor of Broadcasting Communications Fiona Barriball, Bachelor of Midwifery Therese Bourne, Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Practice Alison Brooks, Bachelor of Laws Ruka Broughton, Bachelor of Business Analysis Nico Buckrell, Bachelor of Commerce Natasha Bukholt, Master of Science Karen Butler, Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) Courtney Chadwick Akapita, Bachelor of Applied Social Science Liam Chamberlain, Bachelor of Tourism Management

Shonnitta Herewini, Bachelor of Laws

Photography

Michael Fitzpatrick, Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Science Daniel Fitzpatrick, Bachelor of Arts

Oriwia Hohaia, Bachelor of Laws Tayla Hook, Bachelor of Design Talia Horo, Diploma in Management and Exercise Prescription Natalia Hunt, Bachelor of Pharmacy Natasha Hutchieson, Certificate in Adult Tertiary Education

Kiri Fortune, Doctor of Philosophy

Rochelle Jakeman, Bachelor of Nursing

Wade Gadsby, Bachelor of Business Studies

Louse Jansen, Bachelor of Applied Science

Daniel Garland, Bachelor of Design

Catherine Kakkar, Certificate in Mental Health and Addictions

Tania Gilbert-Kenney, Bachelor of Social Services

Jazz Kane, Bachelor of Laws

Campbell Gin, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws

Rehupo Kara, Diploma in Management

Karamea Graham-Ratana, Bachelor of Health Sciences

Tane Karipa, Diploma in Applied Sport and Exercise Leadership

Nga Peita Hamilton-Katene, Bachelor Tama Karipa, Bachelor of Health Science (Oral Health) of Arts and Bachelor of Laws Rangiora Harrison, Bachelor of Applied Social Work

Kimi Katene, Certificate in Tertiary Teaching

Tessa Harrison, Diploma in Social and Community Work

Theresa Katene-Nuku, Diploma in Professional Cookery

Jeda Harrison, Diploma in International Cookery

Summer Kendall, Certificate in Health Sciences

Brook Chamberlain, Bachelor of Music Kenny Hau, Bachelor of Medicine, and Bachelor of Surgery Bryda Chamberlain, Bachelor of Commerce Wairingiringi Hemara-Wahanui, Andrea Clarke, Diploma in Te Reo

Bachelor of Science

Rosina Cowen, Bachelor of Teaching

Kalais Hemi, Bachelor of Arts

Ripeka Kennedy, Certificate in Mental Health and Addictions Briana Kingi, Bachelor of Commerce Jarden Lacey-Brooks, Bachelor of Dental Surgery HE ORANGA | 31

BreeAnna Langton, Diploma in Health Science

Timuoterangi Niwa, Doctor of Education

Rachel Lindsay, Bachelor of Dental Surgery

Renee Nyman, Teaching/Bachelor of Leisure Studies

Nicol Loper, Bachelor of Health Sciences

Hinemarangai O’Carroll, Certificate in Creative Graphics

Christopher Lousich, Bachelor of Nursing

Wiremu O’Carroll, Diploma in Professional Cookery

Atalya Loveridge, Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts Bobby Luke, Postgraduate Diploma in Visual Arts Hoani MacFater, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Kahlaton Manaia, Heke Awa Raukawa and Toarangatiratanga Rebekah Manu Miller, Certificate in University Preparation Dillon Manuirirangi, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Jasmaine MartinPope, Bachelor of Social Work

Hana Paranihi, Bachelor of Information Technology Delaney Parker, Bachelor of Arts and Media Teri-Anne Peneha, Bachelor of Nursing Mattison Peri, Bachelor of Science Nirvana Piki, National Certificate in Carpentry Keanu Piki, Certificate in Health Sciences Tania Pirikahu, Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts

Nga Roma Poa, Bachelor of Design Janine Maruera, Master of Indigenous with Honours Studies Te Wainuiarua Poa, Certificate in Jayden Matchitt, Bachelor of Science Māori Studies Helen McConnell, Master of Education Te Haumihiata Poa, Bachelor of Alana McDonald, Bachelor of Media Business Studies Arts Okawa Priest, Master of Teaching Jacob McGregor, Bachelor of Arts Pera Ratana, Bachelor of Science/ Arihia McGregor, Bachelor of Social Bachelor of Social Sciences and Community Work Gloria Rei, Heke Whakaakoranga Tama McLeod, Bachelor of Māori Jeremy Rei, Bachelor of Physical Studies Education Rangi McLeod, Diploma in Te Mathew Robinson, Bachelor of Matauranga Māori Business Studies Alice Miles, Bachelor of Education Sarika Rona, Master of Educational (Teaching) Psychology Cory Miles, Bachelor of Sport and Billie Jo Ropiha, Master of Business Leisure Studies Administration Rachel Miles, Bachelor of Music Emmarena Ruakere Norris, Bachelor Simon Miles, Bachelor of Engineering of Science John Miller, Certified Plumber and Joel Rudolph, Bachelor of Arts and Media Gas fitting Harina Rupapera, Te Aho Tatairangi Tracey Moore, Certificate in Mental Katie Scorringe, Bachelor of Health and Addictions Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Kieran Morris, Bachelor of Arts Alayna Sharma, Bachelor of Nursing Kulwinder Nagra, Bachelor of Arts Peta Skerrett, Bachelor of Media Arts Arana Ngaia, Certificate in Advanced – Honours Information Technology Brian Smith, Master of Education Hataterehia Ngaia, Certificate in Joshua Solomon, Bachelor of Science Tertiary Studies Te Ingo Ngaia, Postgraduate Diploma in Te Reo Māori

Ashley Stern, Diploma in Iwi Marine and Freshwater Studies

Mihikeita Ngata, Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences

Gemma Swain, Bachelor of Social Work

32 | HE ORANGA

Nita Takiari, Bachelor of Education Jazmine Tamaiparea, Bachelor of Design Innovation Paora Tamati, Bachelor of Social Work Tanielle Tamati, Diploma in Professional Cookery Moerangi Tamati, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Christophe Tane, Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science (Honours) Neihana Tapiki, Bachelor of Physical Education Nikki Taumata, National Certificate in Hairdressing Hine Taylor, National Certificate in Marae Catering Tatiana Tioko-Wiwarena, Bachelor of Science Jaemyn Toa, Bachelor of Design Innovation Robert Tua, Applied Additions Counselling Kellyanne Tupaea, Bachelor of Applied Social Sciences Riria Vella, Bachelor of Health Sciences Davina Wainohu, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Gerry Waiwiri, Certificate in Trade Skills Te Aata Walden, Bachelor of Social Sciences Sarah Waller, Bachelor of Media Arts Kerena Wano, Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching Roxanna Watts, National Certificate in Hairdressing Renee Wharepapa, Certificate in Tertiary Studies Lian Wharepouri, Bachelor of Nursing Emma-Marie Wharepouri, Bachelor of Arts Anneke Wijnschenk, Certificate in Health Care Assistants Sarina Williams, Poutuarongo Te Rangakura – Kaiwhakaako Merryn Wilson-van Duin, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Vallance Wrathall, Diploma in Creative Technologies Te Wehi o Mahuru Wright, Bachelor of Arts (Māori) Brook Wynyard, Bachelor of Science

Photo: Rob Tucker

Innovation at Taranaki’s heart Venture Taranaki recently connected six local science projects to almost $115,000 in funding under the government’s Participatory Science Platform pilot, and our communities will benefit as a result.

The funding will enable the Waitara District Kaimoana Survey Titiro tui muri, haere whakamua to measure kaimoana stocks along the Waitara coastline. Led by Otaraua Hapu in partnership with Waitara Alive, the project will also capture stories of the coast from local kaumatua.

Te Moeone – Growing for the Future will explore the nutritional value of heirloom vegetables. Led by Ngati Tawhirikura hapu the project will involve marae gardeners from Tarereare, Muru Raupatu, Parihaka and Tahuri Whenua, and Taranaki Seedsavers.

Scientists from Massey University will support the project.

Taranaki Conservationists, three local schools, Forest & Bird, and the Mangorei and Maude Tracks Trapping Group to track kiwi, with science and technology assistance from DoC and TRC. Project Hotspot: Protecting Coastal Threatened Species will see five local schools survey sightings of orca, reef heron, little blue penguin, and fur seal along the Taranaki coast. Led by Nga Motu Marine Reserve Society, the project has support from TRC, MAIN Trust, NatureWatch NZ, DoC and MetOcean Solutions.

“We were really impressed with the quality of applications that the Taranaki community put forward,” says Venture Taranaki’s Lucy Graydon, the pilot’s regional manager.

“It was clear that people are passionate about their region, and the successful projects are united in their goal of measuring and preserving Taranaki’s natural and historical taonga.”

Project Ultra – Pekapeka in Purangi will measure long-tailed bat populations in East Taranaki. Led by East Taranaki Environment Trust, Kaimata School students will determine where bats live and trial traditional and modified bat homes, with support from ecologist Sian Potier, Marshall Day Acoustics, and the Department of Conservation(DoC).

“The Platform aims to bring together communities, educators and scientists to work on projects that matter to local communities.”

South Taranaki’s coastal reefs will be surveyed to find out what makes them unique. Led by the South Taranaki Diving Club with the Patea and District Fishing Club, Hawera High School, Nga Rauru, and Te Runanga o Ngaati Ruanui Trust, the project will work with Taranaki Regional Council (TRC) experts to answer the question.

The Participatory Science Platform is part of the government’s Curious Minds initiative to encourage public engagement with science, and is being piloted in Taranaki, Otago and South Auckland. Curious Minds is coordinated by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor.

Mount Taranaki’s kiwi population will be surveyed to determine the success of the Egmont National Park Kiwi Conservation Programme. Led by Taranaki Kiwi Trust, the project will involve

If you’ve got a community-focused idea that could benefit from access to scientific expertise, talk to Lucy at Venture Taranaki now on 06 757 6054.

Taranaki’s Regional Development Agency 9 Robe Street, New Plymouth, 06 759 5150, info@venture.org.nz www.taranaki.info

“The projects show the potential of the Participatory Science Platform to meaningfully engage New Zealanders in science and encourage innovative thinking.”

Venture

TARANAKI Te Puna Umanga

109 Devon Street West | New Plymouth 4310 Taranaki | New Zealand

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