TAKE/Business

Tu Tangata, Issue 2, 1 October 1981, Page 29

TAKE/Business

Huarahi Development Ltd Seven Bay of Plenty Maori Trusts and Incorporations have joined a New Zealand exporting company to form a new enterprise to service Maori landowners in the area. The aim of the new company, called Huarahi Development Ltd, is to create income and employment for landowners wishing to work their own lands. It is a servicing company, offering horticultural and cash cropping advice, supervision for landowners, training of growers and most importantly, processing and marketing of the produce. Huarahi has a nursery at Maketu, employing a horticultural advisor and two trainees, which would mean members receiving certified trees and plants supplied from the nursery. The company will guarantee certified seeds plants and trees and the grower will be assured a nett price for his crop. Company secretary, Mr Waaka Vercoe, said Huarahi intended to open up marketing outlets in several overseas countries, particularly Japan. There is a six member board, chaired by Sir Norman Perry, from Opotiki. The directors are: Mr S. Newton, chairman, Arawa Maori Trust Board; Mr C. Edwards, chairman, Whakatohea Maori Trust Board; Mr T. Te Kani, chairman, Mangatawa-Papa-moa Incorporation; Mr G. Butler,

manager director TNL Group Ltd; Mr D. Taylor, general manager TNL Export Ltd. New lending vote The Department of Maori Affairs rural lending vote has risen by 47 per cent, from $7,285,000 to $10,093,000 with $2 million going to horticulture development. The new horticulture allocation aims to increase the amount of land being developed for that purpose at present 720 hectares. The extra money is also intended to boost such ventures as rock oyster, mussel and eel farming. Finance is being made available to buy land to establish “tribal trusts” where land is owned jointly. In the total vote of $59,700,000 ($53,114,000) about $13.5 million has been set aside for administration. The Maori Land Court and Maori Trust Office gets more than $2.5 million and social services (vocational training and community services) have been allocated nearly $lO million. The Maori housing vote has been marginally lowered to just over s2l million but Maori land development and rural lending has been boosted to more than sl2 million in line with policy. Salaries account for $19.5 million,. The department had also allocated $500,000 to encourage Maori people to enter owner-operated businesses, after training seminars had stimulated demand for such finance.