To market, to market

Tu Tangata, Issue 10, 1 March 1983, Page 9

To market, to market

WHENUA/Land

Although they owned all the land from Levin to Pukerua Bay, the Muaupoko people lost most of it to Te Rauparaha when he all but annihilated the tribe.

Now the descendents of the Muaupoko have re-established the Horowhenua block with nearly two thousand five hundred hectares which includes Lake Horowhenua. And their plans are for kiwifruit export and mar-ket-gardening for the nearby domitory townships around the Wellington area. It hasn’t been any easy row to hoe, with large costs for investigation of titles and organisational problems associated with re-establishing the economic viability of the land.

The Muaupoko people over a year a g o asked the Department of Maori Affairs for assistance with better use of t h e land, assistance with the return of the control of Lake Horowhenua, the formation of a Kokori Skills Centre and

a management committee. From this early start came the beginnings of a partnership between the locals and various resource agencies, which have included the N.Z. Forest Service, the Maori Land Advisory Committee, the Agriculture and Fisheries Advisory Service, the Horticulture Research Institute, and Turners and Growers Marketing and Exporting.

The formation of a steering committee meant that there was co-ordination between these agencies and feedback to the Muaupoko people who decided what they wanted done with their land.

The Horitculture Research Institute gave advice on research material and facilities available, the establishing of a horticulture trainee scheme and the potential for horticulture development.

Early on it was realised that the Horowhenua block had several advantages. It was close to the Wellington market, with vegetables grown in this area being able to be marketed a month before those grown in Hawkes Bay which is the main supplier. Also kiwifruit produced in the area had the highest sugar content of any berries produced in New Zealand, an added plus to the export potential. And the land was undulating/flat land to sand dune country in the east which allowed for diversified land use.

Prior to the commencement of the project, the land was used for pastoral farming and some market-gardening.

And now over a year later the 250-300 Muaupoko people involved in the development can look back to a firm foundation having being laid. In preparation for the planting of kiwifruit, shelter belts have been planted on the perimeter of two of the blocks.

A meeting of the trustees of the blocks of land in the development is planned for this month to review progress. Already the optimism generated by the Muaupoko development has meant it being suggested as a model for other districts to adopt.