April 04, 2014
Sweet deal for Maori land trusts
A conference in Rotorua yesterday and today has strengthened ties between Maori land trusts and manuka honey producers, as well as discuss more innovative ways of using Maori land.
Tom Walters from the Maori Research Institute, which is hosting the hui, says central North Island Maori land trusts are keen to plant and grow more manuka.
He says a new partnership between trust owners and Bay of Plenty honey producer, Comvita, will allow landowners to become more involved in the production of manuka honey and manuka oil for export.
Comvita has a retail and distribution network in markets overseas that the Maori producers and take advantage of.
The conference is also hearing from experts in land development, water quality, goat farming, biological farming and seaweed products.
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