December 11, 2017
Grant to help kanuka safe harvest
Ruatoria-based Hikurangi Bioactives is set to receive up to $240,000 from the Ministry for Primary Industries to find ways to harvest kanuka without triggering erosion.
The community-owned charitable company has been researching techniques and markets for extracting bioactive compounds from kanuka for use in health and beauty products.
MPI deputy director general Ben Dalton says if successful, the whole East Coast region will benefit from a new, high value industry that creates jobs.
However, kanuka has significant environmental and erosion control benefits and keeping it in the ground will help retain existing land cover, particularly on steep and erosion prone land.
Hikurangi Bioactives director Manu Caddie says the company will work with plant scientists and landowners to research optimal planting and growing conditions and locations, best harvest times and techniques and ways to promote plant health and good regrowth.
Over the past 25 years to Erosion Control Funding Programme has spent $49 million on erosion control in Tairawhiti covering 42 000 hectares of land.
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