Matariki Partnership Wins Eastern Regional Award

Media Release

2 April 2007

Matariki Partnership Wins Eastern Regional Maori Excellence in Farming Award

The Matariki Partnership, which runs two adjoining properties in the Waiomatatini valley north of Ruatoria has won the Eastern regional competition in the Bank of New Zealand Maori Excellence in Farming Award for Sheep and Beef. The three regional finalists will compete for the prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy.

A distinctive medal and a prize valued at over $15,000 comprising farm goods and services and cash donated by sponsors will be presented jointly to Chairman Wi Mackey and Farm Manager Len Chaffey at a field day to be held on the Station property on 24 May 2007.

Established in July 2003 the Matariki Partnership , combines the skills and experience of two long established East Coast Maori farming entities. They are Ahikouka A6B, established 80 years ago by Sir Apirana Ngata who also established the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition, and the Waiomatatini C Trust established when the Department of Maori Affairs returned the land to its owners in 1963.

Together they run sheep and beef on a total of 2480 hectares, 1390 of which is in pasture. Exotic pine takes up 150 hectares, 80 hectares is native bush reserve, with the remaining 860 hectares in unusable, gorse and manuka-covered hillsides.

Last year they wintered 4780 ewes with 1960 replacements, 427 breeding cows with 284 heifers, 300 steers and 220 finishing bulls. Seventy-five hectares was planted in sweet corn for the first time in 2007 with very promising results.

Backed by 2000 Waiomatatini and 300 Ahikouka shareholders, Farm Manager, Len Chaffey, and his full time staff of five have consistently increased lamb and cattle breeding percentages taking them above North Island averages.

Matariki Partnership Chairman, and Waiomatatini shareholder, Wi Macky says the owners are right behind a good crew of trustees, allowing them to think creatively and try new things. "The fact that we were able to get together and achieve this award confirms that we're on the right track," he said.

Matariki Partnership secretary Chris Torrie believes good planning, good governance and great staff are behind their success.

"Winning the Eastern Regional Maori Excellence in Farming Award shows that combining skills and experience is a way to go. Many East Coast Maori freehold farms are in small trusts and incorporations. Our success offers them one model for expansion." he said.

Bob Cottrell, Chairman of the Competition Executive Committee said the four-man judging panel was pleased with the high quality of entries and noted a significant improvement in the performance of properties that had been entrants in previous years. All entrants had performed well under the difficult farming conditions existing in the region," he said. The margin between the winner and runner up was particularly close.

Runner up in the competition was Wi Pere Trust, chaired by Alan Haronga. The Trust entered the Otara and Tangihanga Stations located in the Gisborne area. They comprise 5,450 effective hectares which collectively are utilised to run a breeding and finishing operation. Between them these properties run 32,000 sheep including 23,000 breeding ewes and 5,600 cattle including 1385 breeding cows.

Meat & Wool New Zealand resurrected the competition for the Ahuwhenua Trophy in 2003 following discussion with Maori on how to enhance the delivery of services to them.

The competition, provides for participation from Maori farming businesses throughout New Zealand with the country being divided into three regions and the winner of each region going on to compete for the prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy and prizes valued at more than $40,000.

A successful competition for dairy farmers was held last year and it is intended that the two events will alternate in future years.

To assist in transferring information more widely, a field day will be held at Matariki Station, Waiomatatini Road, Ruatoria starting at 9.30am on 24 May. The focus will be on the systems management and governance, which have resulted in the station being selected as the regional winner.

"Our three aims for the competition are to recognise excellence in Maori farming, to utilise the competition to highlight successful approaches to the wider Maori farming community and to highlight the contribution of Maori farming to the New Zealand economy." Mr Cotterall said.

The national winner for 2007 will be announced at a dinner to be held in the Rotorua Convention Centre on Friday 15th June 2007. Tickets are now available from Phyllis Mangin, Meat & Wool New Zealand 0800 647 000 or phyllis.mangin@meatandwoolnz.com

The Bank of New Zealand Maori Excellence in Farming Award is sponsored by: The Bank of New Zealand (platinum sponsor), Te Puni Kokiri, Meat & Wool New Zealand, AgResearch (gold sponsors); Ballance Agri-Nutrients and PGG Wrightson (silver sponsors) and AgITO and Suzuki as bronze sponsors. In addition a number of other sponsors have offered generous support including AgriQuality, PPCS, AFFCO Group, Landcorp, Poutama Business Trust and DB Breweries.

Notes for editor

The regional boundaries and field day dates are as follows: Region 1: North Central - including Auckland, Northland, Manukau, Coromandel, Thames, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, King Country Field day, Thursday 10 May

Region 2: Eastern - including East Coast, Poverty Bay, Field day, Thursday 24 May

Region 3: Southern - including King Country, Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Horowhenua, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, South Island, Chatham Islands Field day, Thursday 3 May.

ENDS

Backgrounder

Matariki Partnership Demonstrates Gains from Incorporation

2 April, 2007

Just four years after it was established to combine the skills and experience of two long established East Coast Maori farming entities the Matariki Partnership is reaping the benefits and winning awards.

The Matariki Partnership is the Eastern regional winner in the Bank of New Zealand Maori Excellence in Farming Award for Sheep and Beef.

A distinctive medal and a prize valued at over $15,000 comprising farm goods and services and cash donated by sponsors will be presented to Farm Manager Len Chaffey and Chairman Wi Mackey at a field day to be held on the Station property on 24th May 2007

The Matariki Partnership will compete with two other regional finalists for the prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy, an award with particular significance for owners of one half of the partnership, the Ahikouka A6B block.

Competition for the trophy was introduced in 1932 by the then Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe and eminent Ngati Porou statesman Sir Apirana Ngata. Sir Apirana was also instrumental in in consolidating individual holdings, establishing the Ahikouka A6B block in 1927.

The other partner, the Waiomatatini C Trust, was established when the Department of Maori Affairs returned the land to its owners in 1963.

"Ahikouka A6B and the adjoining Waiomatatini C property look like they were meant to be together," said Matariki Partnership Chairman, and Waiomatatini shareholder, Wi Mackey, describing how one fits snug as a jigsaw piece alongside its neighbour.

"It was a natural fit. We've certainly made great efficiencies and increased production in a short time," he said.

The Matariki Partnership runs sheep and beef on a total of 2661 hectares, 1406 of which is in pasture. Exotic pine takes up 150 hectares, 80 hectares is native bush reserve, with the remaining 945 hectares in unusable, gorse and manuka-covered hillsides.

Last year they wintered 4780 ewes with 1960 replacements, 427 breeding cows with 284 heifers, 300 steers and 220 finishing bulls.

Seventy-five hectares was planted in sweet corn for the first time in 2007 with very promising results.

In 2004, the first year of partnership, lamb breeding percentage was115 percent and rose further to 132 percent in 2006. Cattle breeding percentage rose to 86 percent in 2006, well over the national North Island average of 70 percent. Dead and missing rates for all stock have plummeted.

Matariki Partnership secretary Chris Torrie highlights the importance of good planning, good governance and great staff.

An accountant by profession, he believes the Matariki Partnership could provide a blueprint for maximising agricultural production on the East Coast where there is very little general title land. Most is Maori freehold land in small trusts.

"We think its one of the best partnership joint ventures on the East Coast but no matter what structure is used incorporation is the way to go, Chris Torrie said.

The combined properties are run by Farm Manager, Len Chaffey, and his full time staff of five. They are backed by 2000, Waiomatatini and 300 Ahikouka shareholders, and what Wi Mackey calls 'a good crew of trustees' who are allowed to think creatively and try new things.

The fact that we were able to get together and achieve this award confirms that we're on the right track," he said.

In the end though, Wi Mackey says its horses for courses

"Others are welcome to attend our field day on 24th May and see for themselves. It might suit their situation or it might not."

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