Northland kiwifruit karakia for New Zealand’s $5 billion harvest start

Leaders from Māori business, the kiwifruit industry, councils and the Government attended the ceremony for NHFT, one of New Zealand’s biggest Māori trust kiwifruit growers.

Ngāti Rehia kaumātua Kipa Munroe offered the pre‑harvest karakia in the kiwifruit orchard.

He said its purpose was to acknowledge and bless the environment and Papatūānuku for providing this year’s harvest.

“It’s thanking Papatūānuku for allowing all of this to happen on the whenua here.”

Ngāti Hine kuia Te Miringa (Millie) Nicholson buried eight kiwifruit in the ground as part of the ceremony.

Each of the trust’s six orchards contributed a kiwifruit to be buried, with two others representing other Kerikeri and Waipapa Seeka‑managed orchards. Munroe said this part of the ceremony was planting the seed for future harvests.

Zespri head of Māori alliances Nigel Grey said the company was looking to further embed a karakia into the start of each year’s national harvest.

“It’s important to hold on to tikanga. It’s all part of who we are and what we do.

“We can’t lose these things. It’s so important to make sure our kawa [customary practices] still exist.”

NHFT chair Pita Tipene (centre) with the trust’s kiwifruit team supervisor Rob Manuel (left), a finalist in the 2026 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower Award, and management cadet Taoho Cooper. Photo / Susan Botting

NHFT is one of New Zealand’s biggest non-corporate growers, running Northland’s largest Māori-owned kiwifruit operation.

The trust has 32.17 canopy hectares of gold kiwifruit and expects to produce about 480,000 trays this season.

Geoff Crawford, chairman of Tai Tokerau’s regional economic development trust, said the operation was important for Northland’s economy and a key part of the North’s expected $80m kiwifruit harvest this season.

Northland’s strong Māori economy and leadership would play a critical role in shaping the region’s future.

“Collaboration with iwi and hapū will help unlock land development, cultural enterprises and sustainable resource management that benefits everyone.”

Far North Mayor Moko Tepania (left) with Zespri head of Māori alliances Nigel Grey at Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust’s Pukerau orchard at Waipapa to mark the start of the kiwifruit harvest. Photo / Susan Botting

Seeka Northland regional orchard manager Dave Potts said the karakia was also a blessing for the people involved in the harvest.

The company is working with NHFT to develop staff orchard management skills towards its kiwifruit enterprise becoming self-sustaining.

NHFT is one of three national finalists in Māori farming’s prestigious 2026 Ahuwhenua Trophy – Excellence in Māori Horticulture.

It is the first kiwifruit orchardist in the award’s 93-year history to make these finals from outside the Bay of Plenty.

The trust’s kiwifruit team supervisor, Rob Manuel, is also a finalist in the 2026 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower Award.

NHFT reinvests earnings from its kiwifruit operation, rather than paying dividends to shareholders, in a bid to grow the asset base for descendants.

Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust trustee Waihoroi Shortland tells more than 100 people at the trust’s Pukerau kiwifruit orchard that the trust’s horticultural operation on six blocks around Kerikeri and Waipapa provided self-determination for his people. Photo / Susan Botting

Trustee Waihoroi Shortland said this brought economic sovereignty, honouring the call of Ngāti Hine rangatira Te Ruki Kāwiti.

Tipene said the karakia ceremony built on traditions from the past.

Kāwiti had taught his people to think beyond their own generation.

The trust’s gaze was constantly on the future. “We keep building, always together and optimistic.”

Far North Mayor Moko Tepania said the trust’s approach towards sovereignty was a template for Northland Māori.

■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.