March 26, 2021
Treaty settlement farm shows the way in Hauraki
The chair of the Ahuwhenua Trophy committee says one of this year’s finalists is showing the way for dairy farmers on the Hauraki plains.
About 150 people turned out for yesterday’s field day at Pouerua Farms, a group of farms which was bought as a done payment on the Hauraki treaty settlement.
The 2200 hectare farm carries 5000 cows.
Kingi Smiler says iwi leaders including Paul Majurey and John McInteer brought on independent directors John Luxton and Rick Braddock, who have a wealth of farming experience.
The board set out to develop best practice for the region’s fragile peat soils.
"Planting the waterways and they have restructured the programme in terms of their footprint on the land and how they manage the cows and how they manage the feed systems so they have done a fantastic job to miminise the impact on the waterways and on the soils they are using. They are really showing the lead for farmers in that district," Mr Smiler says.
Next Thursday’s field day is with Tātaiwhetu Trust in Rūātoki.
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