Iwi joins land programme

Dannevirke's Hayden Hape, of Ngati Kahungunu. Photo / Christine McKay

A unique mix of culture, education and science is taking place on an East Coast hill country station involving local Maori, farming educators and Ravensdown.

Tautane Station was Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc's first time purchasing land and they've recently joined Ravensdown's Pioneering to Precision Primary Growth Partnership programme, which aims to improve fertiliser practice on hill country farms.

Tautane Station, east of Dannevirke, owned by Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc. Photo / Supplied

"We've been on the back foot for the past 40 to 60 years trying to defend our land and language and love of our culture but now we have to get out of that mode and get into development mode and back to being leaders. So PGP, yeah we're right in," says Dannevirke's Hayden Hape of Ngati Kahungunu.

Hayden works with Claire and Matt Smith, farm managers from Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, who he says are doing a fantastic job teaching the students life skills as well as farming skills.

"Marrying the science, education and culture together is what we want for our future generations." Ngati Kahungunu leader Ngahiwi Toamona says ancestor Kahungunu was an innovator and forward thinker.

"And so that's where we want to be - to be sustainable and trade with sustainable practices. We're for progress and Ravensdown's PGP programme is putting Maori back into the forefront of farming and innovation."