KMR teams up with Ngāti Māhia Farm Investments – a commitment to working together nurturing the whenua

A significant environmental effort in the upper reaches of Mangakahia Valley will pay dividends for Kaipara Moana in years to come.

In just five months, 25 hectares of waterways on Ngāti Māhia Farm Investments 1500-ha sheep and beef farm at Awarua has been fenced off (15km in total) across three dedicated projects.

And under the guidance of Kaipara Moana Remediations’s Field Advisers, a substantial planting plan has been drawn up, with whānau involved in the Ngāti Māhia project taking the lead on making that happen.

Mahi is firmly underway to plant tens of thousands of trees on Ngāti Māhia to protect waterways and wetlands, to reduce sedimentation flowing into the Awarua River (and other local tributaries), down to Mangakahia River, Wairua River and on to Kaipara Moana. Plantation areas are in addition to the established 600-hectare native block on the property.

For KMR this project is part of a significant programme to try to arrest sedimentation at the very top of the Kaipara catchment just above the renowned Mangakahia Twin Bridges where the Awarua Awa confluences with the Mangakahia Awa.

The planting model encompasses ten-metre setbacks with the eight-metre strip leading to waterways planted in natives and the other two metres near fencelines planted in exotics (poplars and eucalypts).

Awarua A25 Ahuwhenua Trustees is led by Wiremu Gardiner – Chair, in conjunction with Dr Te Tuhi Robust as Chair of Ngāti Māhia Farm Investments, the operational arm of the Trust.

They agree the exceptional progress with fencing and planting is testimony to the quality and thoroughness of the KMR kaupapa and the willingness of all involved in the farming operation to make a positive difference to the whenua for future generations of tamariki and rangitahi.

Te Tuhi is sharing the development of the shared strategic vision with fellow directors – Ashton Tairua and Blair Jamieson to ensure strong business acumen is at the table.

“While we see this as an ongoing project, the initial outcome has been fantastic. We wanted to get locals into the mahi and with the support of contractors we have achieved that,” says Te Tuhi.

“All of the areas required significant activity with KMR input helping us to protect water quality, arrest erosion in parts and control stock access and movement throughout the regular farming operational activity for reasons of efficiency and practicality,” says Farm Manager Gavin Brown.

This farming operation is running around 5.8 stock units per hectare – carrying 300 beef and 500 sheep – with an aim to grow to 8.2 SU/ha, moving from the current 70:30 sheep to cattle ratio to a 60:40 ratio.

Gavin says they are gradually building up an Angus breeding cow herd (by purchasing some of the best genetics around) and working closely with PGG Wrightson on sourcing and selling cattle, while also liaising with Beef + Lamb New Zealand around farm advisory activity.

During the summer of 2025/2026, 700 wrapped round bales were cropped to provide plenty of supplementary feed if required in winter 2026.

“Kaipara Moana Remediation is a project that must be considered as an exemplar for future generations of Ngāti Māhia and others. The process and results are evidence of good planning and commitment of funds and like-minded synergies,” says Te Tuhi.

“The connection with the mahi we are doing and the Kaipara Moana is cloaked in a spiritual connection between the people, land and water. Such are essential elements of whakapapa that are included in the histories of all iwi connections to the Kaipara. Overall, it is very humbling to be part of the bigger intention of the KMR project.”

Te Tuhi sums up the criticality to collaborating and problem-solving to restore the health and mauri of the Kaipara Moana:

“He kōrero ara me mahi tahi. The discussion and commitment to working together.”

For the farm business, the KMR fencing programme has enabled key strategic management decisions to be made around animal husbandry and grazing protocols, while also enabling management at Trust level to start considering diversification, says Te Tuhi.

“Kia mataara! Be aware that the KMR funding also requires a commitment from the whānau in kind – contracting, fencing and planting – and planning together is the key.

“The overall goal for us is to seek remediation of lands that required this type of intervention. Integral to this is the need to restore waterways to foster the growth and more importantly rejuvenation of flora and fauna along with water quality therefore noting a better nurturing environment for watercress, kōura/kēwai and tuna. Such elements can be seen as ‘real’ measures of success for the KMR project by Ngāti Māhia.”

Photo Caption – from left to right: Gavin Brown – Farm Manager, Ashton Tairua – Trustee (Awarua A25 Ahuwhenua Trust)/ Director Ngāti Māhia Farm Investments, Maui Tairua – Beneficiary/ Fencing Contractor, Dr Te Tuhi Robust – Director Ngāti Māhia Farm Investments – (Chair), Harold Lowry – Fencing Contractor/Community Member.