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Photo taken by Kerry Worsnop
Ngati Porou Mānuka Update
We were honoured to welcome Takamichi Sugaya and Andrew Ballantyne from Kokugai Yoho Co Ltd back to New Zealand! As stockists of our Ngati Porou Mānuka Honey in 13 stores across Japan, they usually visit annually but haven’t been able to since COVID. It was a pleasure to reconnect and take them on our Maunga Hikurangi tour – an unforgettable experience!
April Farm Updates
The Roar! State Highway 35 seems to go a bit crazy this time of year. Every second vehicle is a hilux and towing a quad or MUV, heading into the bush and the back blocks to hunt for a trophy stag. The population of deer has reached a level where they are damaging our native bush, threatening biodiversity and competing for pastures on farmland so the hunters play a valuable role in controlling these numbers. On our farms, the farm staff and their families love hunting and take this opportunity to get amongst it after work and on the weekends. Playing a part in keeping the deer numbers under control is definitely one of the most popular parts of being kaitiaki on the coast.
Tupping time Our rams have joined the ewes out on the hills and will spend the next few weeks being very popular and servicing between 80 and 100 ewes each. The Rams on Pakihiroa are mostly a Romney breed valued for fertility, good foraging and mothering ability and for producing quality meat and wool. The rams will lose quite a lot of weight by the time they have done their job, so it is important they are in good condition to begin with. After mating, the rams get a long holiday till autumn next year. Fun fact: Rams develop a really strong smell the closer it gets to mating time, and their skin 'pink's' up - taking on a flushed colour in preparation for mating time.
This month also sees the horse sports season wrap up, and our very own Rore Aupouri competing in the Gamber, a premier event of our best riders from around the coast and around the country. Horse sports and skilled horsemanship have been a proud legacy of Ngati Porou for many years. It is awesome to see this legacy thriving and the mana of our people and their Nati horses amongst the best in Aotearoa.
Forestry Isn't Just About Trees!
It's About a World of Opportunity!
Our Health, Safety & Environmental Manager, Jess Bourke, recently joined the Wood is Good day at Ngata Memorial College in Ruatoria. She shared insights with students about the many career paths forestry has to offer—from tree fellers and planters to machine operators, truck drivers, scientists, engineers, and environmental managers.
It’s awesome to see the next generation getting inspired by what’s possible in this dynamic industry! Who knows? Some of these rangatahi might be the future leaders of forestry. 🌟
Backing Our Ngati Porou Rugby League and Touch Teams
More than just sport — our rangatahi strengthen their identity, culture, and whānau connections on and off the field.
We’re proud to be backing our Ngati Porou Rugby League and Touch teams as they represent our iwi at four tournaments this year!
First up — our Kōtiro U15 and U17 squads went to Rotorua for the National Aotearoa Māori Rugby League tournament, going head-to-head with teams from across the motu.
Mātāmua ko tō tātou Ngāti Poroutanga, mātāmuri ko te hākinakina!
First and foremost is our Ngati Porou identity, sport comes second!
This tournament is about more than wins on the field- it’s about cultural, spiritual and holistic growth for our rangatahi. Before each tournament, our teams, whānau and supporters come together for wānanga — a powerful time to connect and draw strength from whakapapa, waiata, haka and tikanga.
April Giveaways
Be in to Win!
This month, we’re giving away a Kitset Tukutuku panel by Moana of Tuitui Designs — a perfect gift for Mother’s Day or a fun activity for the whole whānau to enjoy together. Existing subscribers are automatically entered each month.
Congratulations to our March winners:
· Elizabeth – winner of our Easter pack and
· Alison – winner of our whanau movie night @200 voucher.
Don’t miss out on more amazing prizes! Stay tuned for upcoming winner announcements and thank you for being part of our wonderful community!
That’s not all! Wondering what to get Mum or that special person in your life for Mother’s Day? We’ve got you covered! We’re giving away TWO $100 Farmers vouchers — just in time for the big day!