networking
Networking – kanohi ki te kanohi - is integral to Maori and FoMA philosophy as indicated in the ‘Me Uru Kahikatea’ ethos.
- PNF Crayfish Factory, Wellington (picture)
That success is derived from collective effort is a well-established principle in Maori society, expressed in the whakatauki ‘Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, he toa takitini taku toa – my strength is not of one but of many’. Likewise collective enterprise among FoMA members is a touchstone of FoMA activity.
We have various networking initiatives among the more developed entities ranging from Wool, Forestry and Dairy to Aquaculture and Viticulture. These also work in conjunction with our Governance training programme, which is designed to build the capabilities of our emerging members both current and prospective. Thus enabling them to participate in a more meaningful way in future networking initiatives. Such is the thrust of the Me Uru Kahikatea ethos and strategy.
The Annual General Meeting and Conference is an important opportunity on the calendar for financial members and others in the wider FoMA network alike. Members meet to discuss issues of the day, workshop, make decisions, and strategise. Also, each year regional conferences or industry hui are organised. The dates and other information can be found on Calender of Events, if you have information in regard to an industry conference or hui run it by us .
The development of this portal envisages that same quality and accessibility of communication will be available to members ongoing throughout the year.
FoMA Current Networking Initiatives
FoMA has both a ‘soft’ informal wool growers network in the FoMA Wool Group and a hard business network –Wools of Aotearoa - in it ranks.
The hard FoMA business network Wools of Aotearoa is testament to what is possible when, as Mavis Mullins would say, ‘we get our egos and put them under the table so that collective activity can happen more readily’. WoA encompasses five sizeable land-based Maori incorporations with interests in sheep and beef farming.
Mavis had this to say about WoA, “Collectively we have been able to attract other large wool growers, both Maori & non-Maori, into direct marketing our wool product. Along with a strategic partner, we currently handle more that 10,000 bales into local sales and direct to the United States carpet mill…This is awesome stuff”
With a turnover now of $5.8 million, who can argue with that?
- Aohanga Inc
- Puketapu Blocks
- Atihau Inc
- Whangara B5
- Ngati Whakaue
- Puketapu Blocks
A number of FoMA members are involved in a Dairy initiative in Western Australia, their focus is on:
- Dairy Industry reforms
- Dairy industry research
- On farm developments
- PKW
- Wairarapa Moana
- Ngati Whakaue
- Mawhera Inc
Maori entities are significant sheep, beef and dear producers. They represent 75% of New Zealand's large farming operations.
Pipfruit Industry
HEA
FoMA members are large kiwifruit, pipfruit and other horticultural product producers.
- Te Awanui Huka Pak
- Poripori Trust
- Maheatakataka Cool Pak
- Wakatu Inc
- Ngati Rarua Atiawa Iwi Trust
- Tuarapaki
- Ngati Hine Trust
- Nga Tukairangi
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Port Nicholson Fisheries (PNF)- Wakatu Inc/PKW Inc.
PNF is a jointly owned by FoMA members Wakatu Incorporation, Parininihi Ki Waitotara Incorporation together with George Stavrinos. This company processes crayfish in Wellington and Napier for export to Asia and the USA.
Each partner owns approximately 40 tonnes of NZ crayfish quota.
The company has also recently invested in the Western Australian crayfish fishery by purchasing around 100 crayfish pots (Cray pots are the Australian equivalent to the NZ quota system). The Western Australian crayfish fishery is the third largest fishery for crayfish in the world.
This investment is a stepping-stone to investment in fish processing/export in Western Australia. Port Nicholson Fisheries continues to investigate opportunities for the export of live fish.
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Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing areas of the New Zealand seafood industry, making up around 20% of the total fisheries value. It is predicted that in the next 20 years, up to 50% of seafood production worldwide will be in aquaculture.
Many FoMA members are grape growers, producing finest wine's of Aotearoa.
Together Ngati Rarua Atiawa Iwi Trust, Wakatu Incorporation and Wi Pere Trust have formed Tohu Wines.
Tohu Wines philosophy is based on producing and marketing high quality indigenous wines for export markets.
Currently the range includes Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Resling, Marlborough Pinot Noir, Gisborne Chardonnay and Reserve Chardonnay. Recent land purchases will increase the future supply of quality grapes from the Awatere and Wairau Valley.
KONO wines are a premium New Zealand range owned by Wakatu Incorporation (Ngati Rarua, Ngati Tama, Ngati Koata, Te Atiawa) in the top of the South Island of Aotearoa.
Grapes are grown on the ancestral lands in the Awatere and Waihopai Valley and also the Wairau Valley in Marlborough. New plantings at vineyard Whenua Matua in the Upper Moutere, will extend their portfolio in the future.
Many of FoMA members are extensively involved with property:
- Rest homes
- retail
- bulk retail
- commercial office
- industrial and residential section development.
There are many Maori tourism businesses, most of these businesses are 100% owned by Maori and any non-Maori investment in Maori businesses is usually passive. Marae based cultural tourism ventures are also increasing.
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Shotover Jet - In mid 1999 Ngai Tahu Holdings became a major shareholder in the Shotover Jet company and currently own 88% of the shares in Shotover Jet Ltd.
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Kaikoura Whale Watch - Whale Watch is a multiple award winning nature tourism company owned and operated by the indigenous Kati Kuri people of Kaikoura, a Maori sub-tribe of the South Island's larger Ngai Tahu Tribe.
- Kaikai - innovating Maori cuisine. The philosophy at Kaikai is to rekindle the indigenous food of our ancestors and develop a distinctive range of Maori food products for all to share.
