Government scheme aims to bring sustainability to māori landowners

A project to help Māori landowners embrace a sustainable approach to farming and land management is going from strength to strength in the region.

The Taranaki Whenua Ora project aims to provide the knowledge and support organisations and individuals need to introduce regenerative agriculture into their farming systems.

Funded by the Ministry of Primary Industries, the scheme brings Māori landowners together to share knowledge and ideas about regenerative agriculture.

Regenerative agriculture is defined by the MPI Technical Advisory Group as revitalising Papatūānuku through a ‘set of principles and practices that, in isolation or collectively, result in improved outcomes for our productive land, freshwater and marine environment, our climate, our animals, and for the people that grow and consume our food and fibre products’.

Puna Wano-Bryant, General Manager Shareholder Engagement, says the project represents a real commitment from the government to the Te Tai Hauāuru region’s farming community.

“The announcement of the creation of new roles to provide practical support to those who wish to adopt regenerative agriculture either partially or in totality is great news for the region,” she says.

“As an organisation, we embrace innovation and new ideas, and so we are very happy to be part of the conversation and look at potential areas where the concepts of this approach could be incorporated into the farming systems we already have.

“Regenerative Agriculture is fascinating in that it provides both a scientific and factual approach to environmental sustainability, but also fully demonstrates the value of mātauranga Māori. It shows that they are not two different concepts, but the same, just with different language.”

Dr John Roche, Kaitohutohu Mātanga Pūtaiao Matua for MPI, gave a fascinating and comprehensive presentation at the workshop explaining the challenges the farming sector are facing.

He told the hui that farmers need to produce almost as much food in the next 30 years as has been done in the last two thousand to keep up with global demand – but on the same amount of land. An added consideration is the growing global awareness of the importance of environmental sustainability and the value consumers place on how their food is produced.

The MPI is committed to supporting the development and uptake of modern regenerative production practices alongside innovative science and technology and wishes to demonstrate and promote practices that deliver benefits to farmers, the environment and the wider community, he said. Senior advisor Glen Katu of the Māori Agribusiness department of MPI was pleased with the progress the project has made over the last six months.

“The kōrero with the group has been overwhelmingly positive, with all members wishing to learn more about how this system could help them with their kaitiakitanga kaupapa,” he says. “The process of appointing a full-time facilitator and part-time co-ordinator has begun and, once the roles have been filled, the project will really take off with tangible change taking place on whenua all over the region.”

“PKW’s commitment to support other land trusts who wish to implement regenerative agriculture, either partially or in totality, on their land is an excellent example of the extensive collaboration and co-operation we have seen from our members.”

The group includes nine land trusts - Kahurangi Trust Dairy Farm, Araukuku B Trust, Mangapapa B2 Inc, Kauika-Stevens Whanau Trust, Ngāti Tanewai, Ngāti Hamua, Ngāti Maru, Paetawa Station and PKW.