B+LNZ continues to build its support for Whenua Māori, having established its very first Kāhui (Māori agribusiness advisory group) to represent the needs of Whenua Māori entities.
The Kāhui acts as a sounding board for B+LNZ extension work and policy positions by providing advice and insights into Māori sheep, beef and dairy farmers’ perspectives, needs and concerns. The group supports the B+LNZ Māori agribusiness team with a Regional Delivery Plan (RDP), that would commonly align with the current B+LNZ Farmer Council RDPs.
Charles Taituha, Pouhere Rautaki Ahuwhenua Māori (Māori Agribusiness Strategy Lead), says B+LNZ’s work to strengthen relationships and support reflects the significant contribution Māori make to New Zealand’s red meat sector and the different needs of Māori farming entities.
Māori are a large and growing part of the sector making up nearly 40 percent of the meat processing workforce and more than 15 percent of sheep and beef exports come from Māori farming interests.
Charles adds, “There are roughly 1,900 Whenua Māori entities that farm sheep, beef or dairy support on their land, with the vast majority being sheep and beef entities that fall under Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993.
“Whenua Māori entities on average are larger in size, have a higher proportion of indigenous woody vegetation and more than 75% Te Ture Whenua Māori estate (1mil ha) is Land Use Classification 5 or above. This poses a number of risks and opportunities, so looking closely at how to farm holistically with all those attributes is a key theme when working with Māori agribusiness.”
The Kāhui had its first in person meeting in Wellington recently, which coincided with the announcement of the Ahuwhenua Trophy Māori Excellence in Farming Award finalists for sheep and beef, held at parliament.
Hayden Swann is our first Kāhui Chair. Swann has extensive governance experience with various trusts, boards and is the Principal of Makaraka School. Learn more about Swann as well as other members below.
About the B+LNZ Kāhui members
Kāhui members are representatives from some of the largest Māori owned farms in New Zealand. The group is made up of two members from Tairāwhiti which includes representation from Tairāwhiti Whenua Group, two members Waikato/Maniapoto/Waiariki which also includes representation from Awhina Group, two from Aotea which also includes a representative from Tūwharetoa Whenua Collective, one from Northland and one member who supports across the group in different capacities.
Hazel Cairns-Willemsen is a Kāhui member but has stepped down for 12 months as she is currently serving as an Associate Director to B+LNZ board.
Hayden Swann
B+LNZ Kāhui Chair and representative on B+LNZ’s People & Capability advisory group
Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Konohi, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tai
Hayden is the Principal of Makaraka School in Gisborne. He is passionate about education and enabling our rangatahi (younger generation) to grow and be successful leaders in the future. Hayden believes this will build our governance and management capacity amongst our businesses, ensuring succession and growth. His Directorate roles include GHL (Gisborne Holdings Limited), Director of Ngāti Porou Forest Limited, Ngāti Porou Land Trust & Tūranga Ngahere LP. He also has extensive governance roles some of which include chairing the Mangaotane Farm Trust; Chairman of Whāngārā Farms Board; Deputy Chair of Pakarae Incorporation; Executive of the Poverty Bay A & P Association (Agricultural and Pastoral Association); and Federation of Māori Authorities (FOMA) Executive Member - Tairāwhiti Representative. Hayden holds several degrees.
Bella Hawkins
Kāhui member and on B+LNZ’s Environment reference Group (ERG)
Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Ngai Tamanuhiri, Ngāti Pahauwera
Bella is an experienced governor of whenua Māori with a focus on enhancing production uplift within Agribusiness enhancing cross agency inputs. She’s an iwi project manager within Taiao encouraging improved water quality and enhancement across significant cultural and historical sites in Tairāwhiti and has worked to protect and advance Māori rights and interests as a Treaty Implementation Ranger for the Department of Conservation and local government.
Weo Maag
Kāhui member and on B+LNZ’s ERG
Ngāti Maniapoto me Tainui ngā iwi. Nō Te Kuiti taku kainga
Over the last 20 plus years, Wea has been involved in several Māori Land Trusts within the rohe (area) of Maniapoto (King Country) either as a shareholder, governor or management. He is also proud to represent Pukepoto Farm Trust on the B+LNZ Kāhui.
He is particularly interested is to provide strategic direction and work with Māori farming entities to help lift productivity and therefore resulting in stronger on-farm profitability.
Mihi Harris
Kāhui member
Ngāpuhi me Te Rarawa ngā iwi. Ko Te Māhurehure, Te Uri Mahoe me Kohatutaka ngā hapu
Mihi is the Co-Chair of Waima Topu B Ahuwhenua Trust and Chair of its 100% owned subsidiary, Waima Topu Beef. She is based in Tai Tokerau (Northland) but raised in Te Raki Paewhenua (the North Shore) and has a background in libraries, research, and project management with a focus on Iwi Māori development. Mihi holds several degrees, is a Kellogg Rural leadership alumni (2021) and holds several governance positions. At the heart of her purpose is deep aroha for her whānau (family) and ngā taonga tuku iho (treasures handed down through the generations) ensuring ngā whenua tuku iho (inherited lands) is left better for future generations.
Desiree Bowsher
Kāhui member and representative on the Farmer Research Advisory Group (FRAG)
Ngāti Tūwharetoa toku iwi, Ngāti Te Whiti toku hapu. Ko Chase raua ko Rowland ngā whānau
Desiree has been a drystock shepherd for over 30 years, raising her two sons on farm in Tāupo. She is passionate about farming livestock within her own morals and values, identifying the most challenging has been people and stock welfare, the most satisfying is handling stock.
She is currently studying and practicing animal bone therapy.
Clinton Hemana
Kāhui member and is in the review team for the Eliminating Facial Eczema Impacts project
Ngāti Pikiao, Te Arawa me Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki
Clinton is a Kaiarahi Ahuwhenua Māori (Māori leader) at DairyNZ – the national manager of extension and engagement for the Māori dairying sector. He also works as a private agribusiness consultant to farms and agribusinesses throughout the North Island, he is the Managing Director of Ag-NOSIS Limited, an agribusiness consultancy company, and Managing Director of Hemana Consulting Limited, a governance and strategic management consultancy. He is a member of the Institute of Primary Industry Management and the New Zealand Institute of Directors. Clinton holds several governance roles in various companies, Māori Authorities and Ahu Whenua Māori Trusts – including Director of Awhina Group Limited and Awhina Management Limited – a Māori agribusiness collective of 1m drystock units and 40,000 dairy cows throughout the central North Island. Clinton’s passions lie in the sustainable utilisation of the natural advantage of Aotearoa to help grow the national economy.
Maui Te Pou
Kāhui member and supporter of building B+LNZ’s understanding of tikanga (Māori customs/principles)
Tūhoe (Te Urewera)
Maui is a Cultural Advisor Trainer at Ngā Whenua Rāhui Unit Department of Conservation New Zealand.
Learn more
Learn more about B+LNZ’s work in Māori Agribusiness.