Forest owners put plans into action

Maori forest owners in Tai Tokerau, such as above, have developed a new strategy to maximise returns. Photo / Supplied

Meeting of Tai Tokerau Maori has one vision

Now is the time for Maori forestry owners to maximise the returns on their assets, a meeting of more than 100 Maori forest owners and others associated with the forestry industry were told at a meeting in Moerewa.

A big crowd of over 100 Maori owners and others from throughout Tai Tokerau attended the meeting in Moerewa earlier this month to explore ways to increase earnings.

Pita Tipene of the Forestry Steering Group said that the outcomes that the meeting had set for itself had been achieved: to gain support for a high level draft Maori forestry strategy and to identify and agree on the membership of a Steering Group to further refine the strategy and begin driving it forward.

The meeting endorsed the following group, including Mr Tipene, Rawson Wright, Rangitane Marsden, Edward Beattie, Hiraina Mitai-Harris, Rod Parkinson (Westpac Bank), Shane Horan (Waipapa Sawmill) and Paul Rupapera (Rosvall Sawmill).

The group would also look to co-opt people such as Solomon Dalton of BDO, who could provide financial advice and also draw on the support of the Ministry of Primary Industries and Ministry for Maori Development.

The attendees also approved a high level strategy, which included a vision statement, mission, core values and key goals.

Louisa Cooper of the Ngati Hine Forestry Trust and Solomon Dalton of BDO were among attendees at the recent Maori forest owners hui at Moerewa.

These goals included making sure that a greater share of any value is returned to the Maori land owners, to build scale and certainty of supply and to implement value-added manufacturing.

However, it was the 'by Maori - for Maori' sentiment that came through most strongly, said Mr Tipene, where attendees had reinforced an approach that would emphasise a Maori world view. While commercial success was prominent, it was the tikanga Maori that would set the strategy apart from any other plans and resonate with Maori in Tai Tokerau and beyond, he said.

"Moreover, a unique indigenous approach would probably provide a competitive advantage in a cluttered market place."

The Steering Group would now refine and complete the Maori Forestry strategy by December 15, which would also include a Taitokerau Maori Landowner data base.

Furthermore, the group would also begin securing resources from private and public sources as well as to build strategic relationships with key stakeholders who could help provide the impetus for the strategy and, ultimately, success.

"The talking is largely over," said Mr Tipene, it was now time for action.