Māori engagement in New Zealand's horticultural sector has expanded by over a third over the past eight years, despite a 9% reduction in the total horticultural land area over the past two decades. According to a report by Horticulture New Zealand, Māori-owned horticultural land increased from approximately 4,000 hectares in 2002 to 5,100 hectares in 2024.
The most substantial growth occurred in the last three years, with kiwifruit occupying 2,023 hectares, representing 12% of New Zealand's total kiwifruit area. Onions follow with 477 hectares, accounting for 10% of the national total. Other horticultural activities, including berries and nuts, cover 2,255 hectares, or 9% of the total area.
Māori land dedicated to horticulture remains a minor fraction of the total Māori land used in primary production. Out of 536,000 hectares of Māori land in primary production, two-thirds are used for grass, with forestry and horticulture comprising the remainder. Hort NZ's CEO, Kate Scott, emphasizes the sector's goal to increase Māori land in high-value horticulture.
"While horticulture comprises a small proportion of Māori-owned land, involvement in horticulture is diverse and expanding, from Māori individuals and businesses to iwi and their commercial arms," she stated.
The sector yields approximately a third of a billion dollars in crop value, with kiwifruit contributing $230 million in 2024. Onions generate around $15 million, while other crops account for $43 million. Māori employment in the sector numbers around 4,000, although 70% occupy low-skilled positions compared to 49% of non-Māori.
Future projects, supported by the Provincial Growth Fund, involve 750 hectares in various stages of completion, aimed at transforming pastoral land into horticulture.
Source: Farmers Weekly