Māori trust farm shares success with neighbors
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Near Taumaranui, New Zealand, the Pukepoto Farm Trust has consistently earned a profit for its over 1,000 shareholders, descendants of Ngāti Maniapoto, for the last 16 years.
The trust, established by the Māori Land Court in 1978, prioritizes returning benefits to its community through dividends, education grants, and support for elders. Trustee Weo Maag emphasizes careful planning and data-driven decisions as key to their consistent success, allowing them to maximize production despite fluctuating market prices.
The trust measures its performance through benchmarking, comparing results to previous seasons and using tools like irrometers to track soil moisture. This practice helps manage shareholder expectations and identify areas for improvement. In October 2025, Pukepoto joined Beef and Lamb’s Hub Farm Programme, which studies farm businesses over time to demonstrate the impact of changes.
Maag believes the programme will provide even more accurate data on grass growth and offer valuable information for future trustees who may have less direct farming experience. A recent field day attracted around 80 farmers and professionals eager to learn from Pukepoto’s methods, including improved genetics, land use, and technology like virtual fencing collars. Trust chairperson Aloma Shearer hopes sharing their knowledge will benefit the wider agricultural industry.
