There is a gold rush in Te Kaha – “kiwifruit” gold that is.

Six Māori land trusts in Te Kaha are involved in a joint venture with an investor and their business, Kiwifruit Orchard Collective, turns over more than a million dollars annually.

The joint venture stems from humble beginnings, with approximately eight hectares of Māori land planted with gold kiwifruit in 2000 producing 14,000 trays. Now in 2007 they are industry leaders with more than 20 hectares of Māori land planted in gold kiwifruit producing more than 89,000 trays.

Complementing the work of the Māori Trustee, Te Puni Kōkiri is working with the trusts as a collective to strengthen leadership, foster further development and create sustainable opportunities for the trusts’ collective future economic growth.

The assistance from Te Puni Kōkiri has been vital in rejuvenating our trusts and building our confidence to participate effectively in business, says Akura Brown, a trustee of one of the six trusts.

“The joint venture arrangement has allowed us to have a successful kiwifruit operation in which we share, with investors, in the fruit of our labours.

“In the beginning we had the asset (the land) and they had the investment (the money). The orchard has provided and continues to provide opportunities to our local people, our ultimate goal being full-self management,” says Akura.

The success of the current orchards leaves the trusts well placed to realise their potential and goals of self-management.

“The trusts look forward to another golden year,” says Akura.