PKW CONSIDERS HORTICULTURE TO ENHANCE BUSINESS DIVERSITY With diversification a key emphasis of the Parininihi ki Waitotara (PKW) long-term strategy, the organisation’s governance and senior management teams recently visited Wakatū Incorporation to investigate potential future opportunities for business growth.
Based in Nelson and one of the
commonality in the challenge and
and develop as Māori businesses,
largest private landowners in Te Tau
opportunity of perpetual leases, the
both domestically and offshore.”
Ihu region, Wakatū has a diverse
need to diversify and the desire to
portfolio with its main interests in
protect and grow assets for the benefit
horticulture including apples, berries,
of future generations.
kiwifruit, pears and hops grown over
Diversification into horticulture meets
224 hectares. It markets its produce and other consumables under the Kono brand name.
PKW core strategic imperatives by creating employment opportunities as well as building a sustainable,
Warwick adds, “We are exploring the opportunities horticulture offers us by considering the best path to follow. We want to work in partnership with those already experienced in the sector to gain the technical acumen we need and understand the marketplace — in
“This trip was an excellent opportunity
balanced portfolio of investments.
to catch up with our Te Tau Ihu
“We wanted to kōrero with our Wakatū
apprenticeship.”
whānau because the horticulture
“There are, of course, challenges
whānau with whom we share a great deal of whakapapa due to the migration of many Ngāti Tama and Te Atiawa people down to Te Tau Ihu during the 1800s,” says CEO Warwick Tauwhare-George. While Wakatū and PKW have different
sector offers the potential to deliver strong returns for our shareholders, taking into consideration our environmental, cultural and social drivers. Plus, collaboration is essential to enabling success.”
essence to complete our horticulture
with any new venture. A new start-up operation would require considerable investment in both capital and people resources, plus the risk profile attached to new ventures is usually elevated. Inversely, we could
core businesses of dairy farming
“Sharing opportunities and sharing
purchase an established operation
and horticulture, the two share a
experiences enables us all to grow
which would more than likely have a
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