Increased utilization of Māori land for commercial fruit and vegetable farming is observed, as detailed in a report by HortNZ. The "Snapshot of Māori in Horticulture 2024" research highlights that Māori horticulture's gross output reached $305 million in 2024, a rise from $220.5 million in 2019.
Currently, horticulture accounts for slightly over one percent of Māori farmland, with 5,715 hectares involved—a figure showing a steady upward trend. Since 2017, Māori land designated for horticulture has expanded by 50.4%, now constituting approximately 7% of New Zealand's total fruit and vegetable farmland.
Kate Scott, chief executive of Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ), notes, "One of the key priorities in the Aotearoa Horticulture Action Plan is increasing Māori-owned land in high-value horticulture, so it is heartening to see the data trending in this direction." Although a small fraction of Māori land is used for horticulture, Māori participation in the sector is broadening, spanning Māori individuals, businesses, and iwi commercial ventures.
Source: RuralNews