Te Awanui Huka Pak is an indigenous Maori company based in Tauranga, New Zealand owned by 16 Maori businesses the company’s shareholders are mainly kiwifruit growers predominantly supplying grower and post-harvest company Seeka. The company is also involved in growing avocados.
“We provide a significant portion of the early kiwifruit for Seeka, our largest shareholder would have around 148 hectares of kiwifruit with several others having around 10-50 hectares each. We are owners of Seeka, and provide them with kiwifruit and avocados. Seeka also grow and export fruit to Australia, due to the marketing regulations most of the kiwifruit goes to Zespri but Seeka has a collaborative marketing program into Malaysia so we have a multi-level and close relationship with Seeka,” explains Te Horipo Karaitiana Chief Executive of Te Awanui.
Moerangi Vercoe – Orea Trust, Scott Wikohika – Mangatawa Papamoa Blocks in Corperation, Te Horipo Karaitiana – Te Awanui Huka Pak at Asia Fruit Logistica
“One of the highlights of this relationship is that we have been able to develop our young people through the Seeka ecosystem, so some of our people are now orchard or regional managers which was one of our intentions to be involved at every level.”
“In addition to kiwifruit we supply a relatively small volume of avocados, they can be quite tough to grow, we have 29 ha up in the far north of New Zealand, but due to climatic challenges and a depressed market we have low export pack-out at the moment. We will be struggling to make money on avocados this year, but it is the same for everyone.”
Te Horipo said that they want to be good guardians of their land and one of those obligations is to try to use waste products in an effective way. “We take processing grade or non-export grade kiwifruit, and we make frozen purees which we export around the world with South Korea being our largest market and the US our largest emerging market, we export to 10 countries in total. Another way we use our waste products is to refine kiwifruit seeds which are used for pharmaceutical purposes.”
Te Horipo was at the recent Asia Fruit Logistica trade show, he said they were are excited to be there to build awareness in the global fresh produce markets. “We are also here to build relationships and over time to strengthen those relations which is fundamental to our culture and caring for our land while providing quality food to the world.”
For more information:
Te Horipo Karaitiana
Te Awanui Huka Pak
Tel: +64 7572 5955
Email: tehoripo@teawanui.co.nz
teawanui.co.nz