Kua takoto te mānuka: Investigating the commercial potential of Mānuka on Ngāti Korokī-Kahukura lands
'Kua takoto te mānuka' is the investigation into a comprehensive mānuka profitability strategy that will establish priorities, build capacity and capability.
Kua takoto te mānuka will also identify a number of staggered opportunities and innovations that will contribute to economic growth and overall wellbeing of the iwi, Ngāti Koroki-Kahukura. Wrap around commercial business aspirations for Hydro works, watercress plantation, tuna restoration, tourism and beekeeping, as existing baseline initiatives within the iwi strategy will be incorporated as overall mini case studies to form a broader approach to unlocking the potential to diversify land for effective mānuka utilisation and productivity.
The Ministry for Primary Industries has clear interest in science and research-led programmes to support the potential of Mānuka honey as a 'premium product' and a 'high-value export for New Zealand'. Along with leading crown entities, government agencies, and iwi, the current challenge is to meet national and international demands for mānuka honey. The local industry is limited in supply, and faces an array of issues. This placement will build towards aligning research and business to the Ministry for Primary Industries call "to science-based farming of mānuka plantations, increasing the yield and reliability of supply of medical-grade mānuka honey" and ensure that these initiatives are founded and guided by iwi aspirations first and foremost.
The project plan sets out to engage a range of key environmental, science, and mātauranga experts through hui and wānanga to bring forth knowledge that will be shared within and across the research and development plans. The overall intent of the placement is to template whānau and iwi aspirations as a collaborative, co-designed approach and move to action a formal research and development plan.
This is an MBIE Punaha Hihiko Vision Mātauranga Capability Fund from Te Kotahi Research Institute, The University of Waikato to work alongside and mentor Business Manager, and iwi researcher Tammy Tauroa to be placed within Manawanui Development Limited Partnership (MDLP) and Taumatawiwi Trust (TWT) of Ngāti Korokī-Kahukura iwi.
