He Rau Ake Ake is Whāngārā Farms’ bold 100-year vision for the whenua. Co-created with whānau, subject matter experts and partners, and the Ministry for Primary Industries, it is the first intergenerational whenua optimisation plan of its kind in Aotearoa.
In partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries and funded through the Māori Agribusiness Climate Programme, the plan outlined how the business, shareholders and whānau want current and future generations to thrive and prosper across more than 8,000 hectares of partnership blocks.
Thanks to a project team of eminent experts in biodiversity, land-use optimisation, livestock management, afforestation, project evaluation and decision-making frameworks, the masterplan, He Rau Ake Ake, established a holistic, multi-generational vision centred in Ttaiao, ensuring the best possible returns for business in harmony with whānau aspirations to live prosperously and remain deeply connected to their whenua.
Growing sustainable regions and enabling communities to reach their economic, environmental and social potential was central to the goals of MPI, who played an important role as funder and partner of the initiative.
The masterplan was future-focused. Its overarching aim was to grow the business sustainably while supporting shareholders and hapū to live in alignment with their values, creating intergenerational opportunities for all.
“The desire was that the 100-year Whenua Optimisation Masterplan set both a national and international standard for futureproofing whenua Māori and Māori incorporations,” said Anthony Creswell.
Whāngārā Farms worked alongside leaders across multiple disciplines:
It was rare to gather this level of expertise around one kaupapa. Each specialist contributed to a collaborative strategy where business aspirations and whānau values were optimised together.
Taiao sat at the heart of the masterplan process. Whāngārā Farms engaged with business leaders, community advocates, shareholders, whānau and local residents to understand their priorities and concerns. These insights shaped the roadmap that would guide the farms over the next century.
He Rau Ake Ake set long-range goals and policies that shaped future land use, reflected community aspirations, and addressed the challenges of climate change and global market shifts. It built on the success of projects such as Whāngārā Farms wetlands, tree planting, and native nursery feasibility. Alongside these, the masterplan explored new economic opportunities, from harakeke production to vertically integrated businesses that championed local solutions and strengthened whānau as kaitiaki of their whenua and Taiao.
“This was not just the creation of a dynamic masterplan, but the development of a methodology that could be shared with other likeminded organisations to enable regional growth and climate resilience,” said Whāngārā Farms Business Manager, Ray Leach.
A centrepiece of the planning process was the cultural mapping of significant sites across the farms. Led by the Whāngārā Farms Taiao Advisory Group members, Matire Kupenga-Wanoa and Ana Kingi-Taumaunu, this work brought to light pūrākau, practices, relationships and meaningful places. These taonga were safeguarded for future generations by adapting farm practices then and into the future.
He Rau Ake Ake provides a roadmap to implement these decisions and ensured the prosperity of the whenua, whānau and wider community for the next 100 years.
Intergenerational stewardship: A 100-year plan grounded in tikanga Māori and responsibility to tūpuna, mokopuna, and whenua.
Science and mātauranga together: Bringing western science and mātauranga Māori into one kete to optimise land use and safeguard ecosystems.
Whānau-centred outcomes: Building prosperity, wellbeing, and opportunity for whānau and the wider Tairāwhiti community.
Climate and biodiversity leadership: A commitment to carbon sequestration, biodiversity restoration, and climate resilience.
National significance: A first for Māori agribusiness, providing a model of long-term planning and systems leadership for the whole motu.
To read the full report, click here.
