Australasia's home for timber news and information

New sawmill and benefits result from NZ harvest

Trees planted by Ngati Porou Forests in New Zealand will be ready for harvest in two years and could prompt the building of affordable housing or establishment of the iwi’s own sawmill. Source: Gisborne Herald

According to Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou chairman Apirana Mahuika, a sawmill and a company to build low-cost housing are part of a vision for the iwi.

Dr Mahuika said it has him dreaming of a bright future that sees economic development for the iwi while retaining cultural identity, their assets and resources.

The runanganui was also reviewing health services provided by Te Hau Ora Ngati Porou, he said.

The key to this was the creation of a proposed Ngati Porou Development Trust that would take a holistic approach to the social and cultural needs of the iwi.

The first stage of the post-settlement restructuring already carried out was the change of name to Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou and the establishment of the Ngati Porou Holding Company as its commercial arm.

Their job was to invest money to create opportunities for the people as well as grow its wealth. The next stage was the establishment of the Ngati Porou Development Trust.

This was more complex, involving housing, education, health and all the social and cultural issues of the iwi. This needed time to complete to ensure it was sustainable.

The Ngati Porou Development Trust was work in progress.

Affordable housing and safe communities would be congenial to the future of Ngati Porou, Dr Mahuika said.

One outcome was the provision of a good education environment for children who would be able to do their homework in security and live in safer communities.

“We have a team looking at housing and this will consider many options in housing, even relationships with Housing NZ if advantages were in the offering.”

This could involve setting up their own building firm using locally grown materials. This was a work in progress. They had their own resources and the likely raw materials needed through their forestry company for building.

A lot of trees planted by Ngati Porou Forests would be ready for harvest in two years. The iwi could also continue to look at establishing its own sawmill, using those trees, which would complete a cycle of development.

Ngati Porou had an excellent relationship with the Eastland Institute of Technology and had seven young people training at level four in carpentry at Ruatoria at the moment and another group this year.

“We are also reviewing Ngati Porou Hauora to see how we can provide better health services for our people,” he said. This would take towards the end of the year and would include development and training of Ngati Porou health professionals.

The proposed trust would also look at how it would be possible to obtain charitable status for taxation purposes, he said. A

team of legal experts was looking at having the trust fit within the auspices of the Charities Commission.

Sport would be another aspect to be looked at as a way for young Ngati Porou to develop.

At the same time the holding company would look to develop and grow the iwi’s farming, forestry and fishing investments. All these things would “link in a holistic way”.