One of the most powerful success stories in Māori agribusiness has been recognised on the national stage, with Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective taking out the 2026 Ahuwhenua Trophy for excellence in Māori horticulture.
The award, regarded as the most prestigious accolade in Māori farming and horticulture, celebrates outstanding achievement, innovation and leadership among Māori landowners and growers. This year’s winner reflects not only commercial success but also the strength of collective action, long-term vision and intergenerational stewardship.
For Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective Chair Charles Russell, the achievement is a recognition of years of collaboration between multiple iwi working together under a shared kaupapa.
Established in 2018, the collective has grown rapidly into one of the country’s most significant Māori horticultural enterprises. In less than a decade, it has expanded to more than $130 million in assets while building a reputation as a leading force within New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry.
At the heart of that growth has been a simple philosophy focused on developing opportunities one orchard at a time.
Rather than pursuing rapid expansion at any cost, the collective has concentrated on building sustainable growth, strengthening relationships between iwi partners and ensuring that each investment contributes to long-term prosperity for future generations.
The model has proven highly successful.
Today, Mātai Pacific is the largest Māori shareholder in Zespri, New Zealand’s globally recognised kiwifruit exporter. The collective’s growing influence within the horticultural sector is increasingly being viewed as a blueprint for Māori economic development grounded in collective ownership and shared aspirations.
Industry observers say the achievement demonstrates the growing strength of Māori participation in New Zealand’s primary industries.
Across Aotearoa, Māori entities now control billions of dollars in assets spanning agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fisheries and tourism. Many of these enterprises are built around values that extend beyond profit alone, placing equal importance on cultural identity, environmental stewardship and whānau wellbeing.
For Mātai Pacific, balancing commercial performance with mana motuhake remains central to its approach.
The collective’s governance model reflects a commitment to ensuring whenua remains productive while preserving the long-term interests of iwi shareholders. Leaders say the focus is not simply on generating returns today but creating opportunities that will endure for generations to come.
That emphasis on intergenerational thinking has become an increasingly important feature of Māori agribusiness, particularly as iwi seek to leverage settlement assets and collectively owned whenua to build economic resilience.
The collective’s success also highlights the power of kotahitanga.
Bringing together multiple iwi with diverse perspectives, aspirations and histories is no small task. Yet Mātai Pacific has demonstrated how collaboration can unlock opportunities that may be difficult for individual entities to achieve alone.
The Ahuwhenua judges praised the collective’s ability to combine strong governance, strategic growth and a commitment to Māori values while maintaining high-performing commercial operations.
Many within the sector believe the lessons from Mātai Pacific’s journey could help inform the future of Māori horticulture nationwide.
As pressures continue to mount around land use, climate adaptation, export markets and workforce development, the need for collaborative approaches is becoming increasingly important. Mātai Pacific’s model suggests that collective ownership, shared leadership and long-term planning can deliver both economic and cultural success.
The win also comes at a time when Māori involvement in horticulture is expanding rapidly, with growing interest in kiwifruit, avocado, berry and indigenous food production ventures across the country.
For Māori growers and landowners looking to diversify and strengthen their economic base, the success of Mātai Pacific offers a powerful example of what can be achieved through vision, patience and unity.
As the newest recipient of the Ahuwhenua Trophy, Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective now joins a distinguished list of Māori farming and horticultural leaders who have helped shape the future of the sector.
For the collective and the iwi it represents, the award is more than recognition of business success. It is a celebration of whakapapa, whenua, whānau and the enduring power of kotahitanga.
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