Celebrating Progress and Partnerships – Pānui #2 Summary
As 2023 drew to a close, Tāngata Huawhenua took time to reflect on the people, progress, and partnerships shaping the future of Māori horticulture. This second pānui provides a snapshot of the momentum building across advocacy, innovation, and global collaboration.
People Leading Change
Manu Caddie – Innovation with Impact
From co-founding Rua Bioscience to developing pharmaceutical products from native species, Manu continues to lead pioneering ventures grounded in Māori values. His work spans indigenous biotech, vertical farming, and global advocacy — all focused on returning value to whenua Māori and transforming local economies.
Dr. Andrew West – Global Insights from APEC
Returning from the APEC Multistakeholder Forum in San Francisco, Dr. West highlighted the vital role of Indigenous peoples in leading climate action and biodiversity protection. His reflections challenge economic orthodoxies and call for Indigenous knowledge to be central in navigating a just transition.
TeHoripo Karaitiana – Te Awanui’s Global Growth
Te Awanui Huka Pak marked a milestone with the return of its kiwifruit programme ‘home’ from Malaysia, while also expanding into value-added exports like purees and seed products. The initiative showcases Māori leadership in global markets and collaboration across the food and technology sectors.
Māori Hort-Tech Project – Insights from the Sector
The Māori Hort-Tech Project, supported by Callaghan Innovation, gathered feedback from across the Māori horticultural landscape. Key findings include:
- Māori enterprises use a diverse range of technologies, with adoption shaped by size, capability, and investment culture.
- Intellectual property rights and ownership of breeding programs are a key focus for Māori in horticulture.
- Conservative investment patterns and limited R&D funding access remain barriers to innovation.
- Collaboration is a key enabler — particularly for smaller producers seeking access to information and tools.
- Cultural values strongly influence tech adoption, particularly when it comes to impacts on whānau employment and environmental outcomes.
The project highlights both the ambition and constraints faced by Māori horticultural enterprises and offers a pathway for scaling innovation through collective action and kaupapa-driven investment.
Join Tāngata Huawhenua
Tāngata Huawhenua is open to Māori collectives and Māori-majority-owned businesses involved in horticulture, research, and related value chains. There are no joining fees — just fill out our contact form HERE
📥 Download the Full Pānui #2 (PDF)
Ngā mihi nui,
Rātahi Cross
Chairman, Tāngata Huawhenua
