Te Rūnanga o NgāiTakoto has begun planting a 20ha avocado orchard, Rakau Ora, on the Aupōuri Peninsula.
The project is the result of four years of extensive planning, in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries and key businesses in the horticulture sector.
"The orchard is a means to achieve our aspiration of using our Treaty settlement assets to build a strong economic base for our people," NgāiTakoto CEO Rangitane Marsden said.
"It will enable greater productive use of the iwi's land and create new employment opportunities.
"This is a platform to begin the realisation of our vision, 'If we live as we ought, we shall know things as they are, and if we see things as they are, we shall live as we ought.' It's a tribute to our kaumātua and kuia who paved the way to settlement."