Source: Radio New Zealand
Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust chairman Pita Tipene (left) inspects vines at Pukerau Orchard, near Kerikeri, after the iwi started expanding into kiwifruit in 2018. Peter de Graaf
A pre-harvest karakia at a Kerikeri kiwifruit orchard reflects growing recognition of tikanga Māori in the country’s horticulture industry, a Northland iwi leader says.
About 100 people – including workers, shareholders and business leaders – are expected at Friday’s blessing at Pukerau Orchard, which has been owned by Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust since 2018.
Trust chairman Pita Tipene said the karakia was a way of giving thanks for the coming harvest.
“I observed it when I was a child. I would see my father take the first fruits of each season and bury some at the foot of the trees, and then utter some words. It’s like Thanksgiving. We stop and we show our gratitude for all of these blessings and the fruits of the harvest.”
Tipene said many people were involved in growing kiwifruit – from pruners to pickers, managers to scientists – but they rarely met.
“Not often do we come across each other. We all go into the orchards at different times, and we don’t really know each other. But we’re all human beings. It’s important that we connect and enjoy each other’s company in the first instance, but also learn about how we can do better.”
The karakia would also help ensure the safety of workers and a good harvest.
Tipene said he had been in contact with the chairman of Zespri, the national kiwifruit marketing body, who was keen to embrace the tradition for all orchards around the country.
Tai Tokerau (Northland) was well placed to kickstart a national harvest karakia, because its crop was the first to be ready for picking.
In future, however, the karakia could be held in the Bay of Plenty or any other kiwifruit-growing region.
Tipene said business leaders who planned to speak at the event included the chair of regional development organisation Northland Inc, Suzanne Duncan, and the head of Northland’s Joint Regional Economic Committee, Geoff Crawford.
Tipene said the gathering would also be a chance to celebrate Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust making the finals of the coveted Ahuwhenua Trophy, awarded each year for the nation’s best Māori farming and horticulture business.
The trust had been diversifying away from pine and now had six orchards in the Kerikeri area, totalling 34 canopy hectares and producing 13-14,000 trays of gold kiwifruit per hectare.
Horticulture firm Seeka was contracted to manage and pick the crop, while Zespri was responsible for marketing and sales.
The trust had also bought two dairy farms in the Maromaku area.
The Ahuwhenua Trophy was established in 1933 by Sir Apirana Ngata and Lord and Lady Bledisloe.
Last year’s winner was Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust, which runs a bull-fattening farm near Whangaruru, north of Whangārei.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
