Cathy Tait-Jamieson is a Director of BioFarm which markets natural organic yoghurt. KOHA spoke with Cathy about her family business and the values guiding BioFarms unique approach to organic dairy farming.

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“Biofarm, which is located overlooking the Manawatu River, specialises in producing natural foods with considerable nutritional benefits, while satisfying its rapidly expanding customer base, and caring for the environment and the animals in its care.”

“Certified organic since 1986, Biofarm is the second oldest commercial organic farm still operating and unique in the fact that it is still run by its original owners. Biofarm is also unique in that it produces both the raw material (milk) and the finished product on the one farm.”

“Directors Jamie and Cathy Tait-Jamieson first adopted biodynamic methods on the farm in 1980. The first yoghurt marketed under the Biofarm label was produced in 1986.”

“In 1997, Cathy won the Overall Excellence in Business Award in the Maori Women’s Business Awards. This award reflects the professionalism with which Biofarm Products Limited is run and the care and attention given to their customers. Biofarm Products Limited was also a finalist in the Manawatu Business Awards in 2001.”

>Visit BioFarms website.

It is clear with the world recession that many New Zealanders are becoming, albeit slowly, more aware of China and the importance it will play over the coming decades. Notably, China’s economy is still growing. They have cash and mega financial reserves, whereas England, the USA and much of Europe are re-gearing their economies. In short, the supposed develop nations are now borrowing to buy their way out of recession.

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“FOMANA Capital is working with over 20 Maori businesses that are in the export arena. They are export focused businesses that realise the world does not owe New Zealand an income and that the living we create for ourselves has always depended vitally on trade. The path may be tough to Asian markets and beyond, but export-led growth will remain New Zealand’s best option – indeed, our only viable one – for sustaining and lifting living standards here. Like most countries, our domestic market is too small and too under-capitalised to generate satisfactory wealth by ourselves.”

“We need entrepreneurship. At FOMANA Capital we worship entrepreneurs, innovators and creators. That is why we are starting a programme to assist entrepreneurs get into and through the commercialisation eco-system. This programme is going to be called YGB: young gifted and brown. Brown is the new black.”

Boosting the growth of the Maori economy through increased trade with Asian nations is set to herald new opportunities for primary sector innovation. With an increasingly dominant market presence in Singapore and Malaysia, Te Awanui Huka Pak Ltd (Huka Pak) is one of the few Maori companies who command a significant market position in Asia. With a new strategy that includes a unique focus on indigenous branding, CEO Hemi Rolleston says he is confident the Tauranga based kiwifruit packhouse will realise even greater opportunities in the Asian region.

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“We have a collaborative agreement with Zespri to go into particular emerging markets. It allows us to form direct relationships with buyers,” says Rolleston.

“But while Huka Pak recognises the benefits of having a strong and healthy relationship with Zespri, he believes the company could add more value to their kiwifruit by placing increased emphasis on being a distinct cultural brand. After two years of looking at how to blend local culture and history into their brand story, Huka Pak have joined forces with FOMANA Capital Ltd as part of the Tekau Plus10+ initiative to focus on indigenous branding research in Malaysia and Singapore.”

Dr Brian Ward is driven by a passion to make a positive impact on people’s health care. He is the founder of soft tissue reconstruction company Mesynthes. The young, gifted and brown (YGB) entrepreneur has developed a technology called Endoform extra cellular matrix (ECM), a protein framework which provides an environment for cells to grow in. Over time the matrix is broken down by the cells and is turned into the patient’s own tissue.

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“As diabetics and cardiovascular sufferers get older they develop wounds which the body finds difficult to heal. Dr Ward says it’s a major problem throughout the world. In the United States alone there are 21 million diabetics. Of these, around 15% develop Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU’s). Up to 30% percent of these wounds do not heal satisfactorily with traditional treatment and become chronic. “The technology provides a way of healing very large wounds and tissues that have been severely damaged,” says Dr Ward.”

“Mesynthes has established a manufacturing facility which includes processing and clean room areas with a capacity to meet early market demand. Mesynthes raised initial capital for the company in late 2007 from angel investors Movac, Sparkbox and the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund. The company was subsequently awarded a significant technology development grant by the Foundation for Research Science and Technology. These funds have been applied to technology development and gaining US registration of its lead wound care product. Dr Ward is confident the work Mesynthes has done in pre clinical testing trials will show how the ECM platform is more effective and has more positive effects than the current leading product in the US.”

It’s home to New Zealand’s deep-sea fishing industry and the largest fishing port in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s also home to an awakening taniwha that is quickly captivating the imagination of New Zealand’s marine industry. With an exciting new enterprise in the pipeline, Nelson is on the crest of a breaking wave set to entice aquaculture gurus and scientists alike. All that stands in the way of global market dominance is a capital investment of $33.5 million and a little faith that New Zealand has the skills and expertise to become a leader in aquaculture research and commercial development.

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“The Horoirangi Centre for Seafood and Aquaculture Innovation is the brain child of Wakatu Incorporation, a collectively owned Maori business based in Nelson. Wakatu is currently investigating the viability of developing a world-class aquaculture research institute with facilities that will include laboratories, commercial hatcheries, nurseries, aquatic land-based research ponds and educational facilities. “We’re going to build a centre for commercial and scientific collaboration for aquaculture innovation. Then we’re going to translate that intellectual capital to demand premium prices for NZ seafood products,” says Chief Executive, Keith Palmer.”

“While aquaculture is the fastest growing sector world-wide and is expanding its production at a rate of 15% a year, world seafood consumption is estimated to rise to 35% by 2015. With a concomitant decline in wild fisheries there are simply not enough fish in the sea to meet demand so future needs will have to be met from farming. Through Horoirangi, Wakatu aims to strengthen its partnerships with regional stakeholders, foster a climate to maximise innovation and promote ecologically sustainability methods to expand NZ’s aquaculture exports. “It’s about being smarter and being ahead of global competition so we can demand top prices in high value markets,” says Palmer.”

Hot on the heels of the Government declaring the Cook Islands as a recession free oasis, I was here to investigate potential opportunities for Maori to invest in local businesses and form partnerships with our Cook Island Maori cousins. It’s an idea that’s quickly gaining momentum as more and more Maori look to form meaningful business relationships in the Pacific. For many, the motivation to do so begins at Nga Tangiia, which is less than a kilometre from Muri beach. It was here that the waka of Takitimu, Tokomaru, Kurahaupo, Aotea, Tainui, Te Arawa and Mataatua departed to make the 3302km voyage to Aotearoa hundreds of years ago.

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“But I was here to look at the potential to promote a new way of doing business called Native to Native trade. It’s a model that’s been gaining momentum in the indigenous world and provides a framework for fair trade based on indigenous values such as respect and reciprocity. As a country that prides itself on promoting an economy that isn’t driven by government but by the private sector, I soon found the Cook Islands have developed a business, trade and investment model that provides an ideal climate to promote Native to Native trade. Three essential factors make it so.”

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“Farmers say warmer temperatures and unusual cold snaps during the growing season are affecting the mainstay of local subsistence: the potato.
Quechuan agronomist, Alejandro Argumedo, says climate change not only threatens farmers but Peru’s whole native culture. “Potato is not just a food. Potato is also spirituality; it’s culture.”

“Along the frigid spine of the Andes, farmers have cultivated potatoes and other tuber plants for at least 8000 years and the area is considered as “the centre of origin” of the potato. Over 1200 varieties of the world’s 4000 known varieties of potato or “papa” are still grown by indigenous Aymara and Quechua villagers. Respect for these gifts of Pacamama (Mother Earth) is so profound that there are songs, dances and ceremonies celebrating the crop. But rising temperatures are opening the door to disease and farmers are being forced to abandon traditional family plots to move to higher altitudes where it is colder.”

“Argumedo is equally optimistic about the potential for Maori and Peruvian potato growers to come together. The long time campaigner for indigenous peoples’ rights is also actively involved in protecting indigenous knowledge and genetic resources. This is an area he says in which he hopes to work with Maori.
“As indigenous peoples, by protecting our foods and traditional knowledge we are preserving our way of life,” says Argumedo.

“Although the communities of Parque de la Papa oppose the patenting of indigenous knowledge, traditional potatoes with medicinal properties are being produced by the co-operative for local sale and benefit sharing. Nutraceuticals is an area that Alejandro believes Maori and Peruvian potato growers could consider together. But it’s the Andean potato heritage that could really offer Maori the greatest value.”

“Since we first began to repatriate our potatoes, our culture has come back. All the elders were happy about that and their life became enriched again,” says Argumedo.
With the prospect of climate change set to change the face of agriculture world-wide, these millennia old knowledge systems could also provide a key to ensuring food security for millions of people around the world. Developed by the distant ancestors of the Aymara and Quechua, Alejandro says it is time for more knowledge sharing to occur between indigenous peoples.
“I think there will be a strong need for unity to face these challenges and I hope we come back together through things we know like the kumara and potato.”

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How is water ownership viewed by Maori?
Water is a taonga for Maori, the authority over it was determined by Maori customary lore. Traditionally, hapu did not claim to own water because it was viewed as a gift from the heavens. But they did exercise authority over it or a governance and management right which is similar to a Pakeha notion of a property right. They effectively controlled access to those resources which equates with ownership under English law. The critical issue was which hapu had control over a particular portion of the water system.

Have Maori ceded their customary rights to water?
No. There are strongly held beliefs that customary title of water still exists. It’s a complex legal issue that remains unresolved because the Crown says no one owns water. There’s a cultural divergence in that the current law is not aligned to Maori lore and kaitiaki principles. Under the current local authority system water allocation is based on a first come, first served basis. It does not recognise Maori treaty rights or Maori entitlement as tangata whenua. We’d take the view that there should be a preferential access to preserve our customary interests and ensure the allocation of water to Maori land owners.

The unresolved issue of ownership rights over water has been a contentious issue between Maori and the Crown for many years. For members of the Federation of Maori Authorities (FoMA) who represent the country’s largest network of guardians of the Maori estate, it is a burning question that could either result in disaster or opportunity for hapu and other land owners. Chief Executive Rino Tirikatene told Te Arawa delegates at a recent economic symposium: “Maori need to become aware of how they can best protect their water interests and be included in how allocation and use decisions are made by local Government.” The organisation wants to see the establishment of a more equitable system of water management and one that will meet the future needs of the Maori estate.

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“While Maori continue to be presented as a burden to the economy, there is increasing recognition that this is in fact far from the truth. With a total asset base of $16.5 billion, research indicates that up to $2.4 billion is transferred annually from the Maori estate to Government tax coffers. This amount exceeds current Government spending on Maori and dwarfs the one billion dollar fiscal cap placed on treaty settlements. While there is increasing pressure being placed on Iwi to fast track the settlement of their Waitangi claims, there is little talk of increasing Maori spending. And yet as settlement assets are transferred to tribes the tax contribution from the Maori estate will increase even more. FoMA want a much more equitable investment back into the Maori estate. It sees the reforms as an opportunity for government to do just that by providing incentives for Maori to develop water infrastructure projects.”

“The fact is the Maori estate is more profitable than the general NZ economy and has a higher savings rate which is why it is exceeding the rest of the country. Investing in Maori businesses is wise economically and ensures our strategic assets aren’t sold offshore,” said Tirikatene.

Author: Mere Takoko

In the face of fatigued ‘warrior gene’ theories that offer little more to a poor man than a sinker at the bottom of a fish pond comes a new tell-all book by Canadian Aboriginal author, Calvin Helin, of the Tsimshian Nation. Dances with Dependency, yet to be released in Aotearoa, examines First Nation dependency on the federal government in both the U.S. and Canada. Painting a picture of the fall of indigenous peoples from self-reliant and profoundly spiritual societies to nations at the mercy of federal transfer payments, Helin argues that without self-generated wealth they will continue to have little control over their destiny.

Some US$18 billion in federal payments are transferred to First Nations in Canada annually. At a time when millions of baby boomers are set to retire and where U.S. and Canadian foreign debt is spiraling out of control, Helin shows how it’s only a matter of time before both countries’ finances are exhausted. Add to that the rapidly growing legions of poor people relying on expensive government ‘entitlement crumbs’ and Helin says you have a formula for a fiscal ‘demographic tsunami’ on a scale never before seen. With serious concerns about Ottawa and Washington D.C.’s ability to sustain its spending on indigenous communities the question posed by Dances with Dependency is: will indigenous reserve communities sink even further down the totem pole or recognise an unprecedented opportunity to achieve meaningful self-government?

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“Dances with Dependency is a book that is set to accelerate a discourse among indigenous peoples that is not about assigning blame on the government but about moving communities forward. And, as Helin shows, there are other potential economic models that communities in North America could consider including Maori. In fact, he dedicates almost a chapter to showing how the value of the Maori economy has almost trebled since the 1980s. After looking at government reforms such as devolution and privatization, he says Maori were forced to move further ahead in the ‘development/economic integration curve.’ Add to that a conscious focus on education, traditional culture, language and identity, and Maori just may provide a potential map to build on.”

“The good news is that indigenous peoples in North America are in the best position ever to build their economies and take advantage of their very substantial resource base. With over 600,000 square kilometres of land and some US$20 billion yet to be paid in treaty settlements, they will soon have access to tremendous wealth. In order to utilize these assets as well as the US$18 billion in annual transfer payments, the only thing First Nations have to lose is “the dependency mindset, the colonial grip of a patronising bureaucracy, and the plague of social and political pathologies,” says Helin. “This is the major challenge facing Indian country today. It also is the key to solving the seemingly intractable problem of reservation poverty. Tribal leaders must use the power they have to build viable nations before the opportunity slips away.”