Te Kāhu farm merge reclaims ancestral land

“During the Te Kāhu acquisition and amalgamation, a key consideration was the return of ancestral land to active Māori control, including bringing on the journey our whānau who whakapapa to this land.”

PKW General Manager Ahuwhenua, Shane Miles, said the purchase first and foremost fulfills a long-held aspiration to reclaim ancestral land.

“Bringing that piece of whenua back into the active land management portfolio is a milestone,” he says. “As well as regaining ancestral land, PKW is determined to optimise our operations, in order to increase opportunity and advance prosperity for our shareholders. The new farm milked around 300 cows historically, and this long-awaited amalgamation with our neighbouring Te Kāhu farm is expected to deliver good financial returns.”

The former leaseholders of the whenua, Janine and Barney Wright, are now contract milker Farming Partners with PKW on Te Kāhu.

“The Wrights have extensive knowledge and experience of this whenua, having farmed the land for a good 20 years, and we are extremely pleased that they will remain at Te Kāhu as contract milkers for PKW.” says Shane.

Two additional workers will join the Wrights on the expanded farm, , one of whom is PKW kaimahi and shareholder whanau member, Ron Patene (Taranaki, Te Ātiawa, Ngāpuhi).

PKW was pleased to have the Wrights at the acknowledgement ceremony along with Meremere Marae representatives, Shane said.

Above: Te Poihi Campbell plants a Tōtara with Barney Wright at the new entrance for Te Kāhu.

“During the Te Kāhu acquisition and amalgamation, a key consideration was the return of ancestral land to active

Māori control, including bringing on the journey our whānau who whakapapa to this land.

“It is rewarding to work toward realising that vision.”

Meremere Marae representative Te Poihi Campbell said hau kāinga appreciated PKW’s determination over the past two years to work alongside iwi, hapū and marae on land management operations and activity.

“The initial amalgamation and subsequent naming extension ceremonies were important occasions for the whanau, Te Poihi said.

During the acknowledgement ceremony, a tōtara tree was planted at a new main entrance established for the expanded farm.

“We were also priviledged to be supported by our Kuia (Whaea Mahuri) and the haukainga who extended the gift of their farm name ‘Te Kahu’ to the extended whenua, says Shane.

Above: Janine and Barney Wright, former leaseholders and new contract milker Farming Partners.

Top right: PKW staff and board members get a tour of the Te Kāhu facilities.