Our Story
The Fruits of Our Love and Labour
True abundance is not only what we harvest from the land but also the collective benefits we reap from living in harmony with it, for ourselves and for future generations.
In the Māori language, the word ‘hua’ carries a profound duality, meaning both the fruit we take from trees and vines, as well as benefits to a person or community. Just as a ripe kiwifruit represents the tangible yield of the land, ‘hua’ also speaks to the intangible rewards that come from fostering community and embracing whakapapa (our genealogy and histories). It serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness between the bounty of nature and the richness of human experience.
The Māori Kiwifruit Growers’ story began with a karanga, a call, in 2016 to establish a national body to represent all Māori kiwifruit growers, an entity created by Māori, for Māori. Where Kiwifruit growers and key industry players come together to support Māori development within Aotearoa’s acclaimed horticultural industry.
As we look ki tua o te pae, beyond the horizon, the potential of our collective shines brightly. With each season, we are not only nourishing bodies but also creating intergenerational opportunity. Our orchards are living legacies, a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of our people.
Like the pātaka our ancestors once used to store food safely for the benefit of the whole community, our stores of knowledge are held in trust for future generations toflourish and prosper.
Mana Motuhake
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Hononga
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Raraunga me te rangahau
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Mahi tahi
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Rangatiratanga
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Our News
2024 Regional Representative Elections
The nominations for Māori Kiwifruit Growers Inc Regional Representatives have now closed for 2024. The Regional Representative elections will be held at the Māori Kiwifruit Growers Inc AGM on the Thursday, 7th November at Maungatapu marae.
2024 Electoral Roll
The 2024 Māori Growers Electoral Roll for Te Puke, Te Matau-a-Māui, and Te Tai Rawhiti regions are now released. Te Tai Tokerau has been included as the previous representative has resigned leving this as a vacancy. All eligible voters will receive more information...
2024 Regional Representatives
Are you a Māori grower in Te Puke, Te Matau-a-Māui, or Te Tai Rawhiti? Don’t miss the opportunity to nominate a regional representative to the Māori Kiwifruit Growers Forum Incorporated Executive Committee! The Executive Committee consists of up to 11 regional...
Māori Kiwifruit Growers launch export venture in first Zespri – Māori offshore Collaboration
Maori Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated chair Anaru Timutimu at the Otama Marere Trust orchard in the Bay of Plenty. Photo / Andrew Warner The country’s biggest group of Māori kiwifruit growers is to start exporting fruit to Hawaii this year with Taiwan next in its...
Our Brand TOHU
This brand tohu has been strongly inspired by the taratara-a-Kai pattern and shown in a more traditional form as a takarangi, an intersecting double spiral. In this context, the takarangi represents the past knowledge held within the whakapapa of Māori Kiwifruit Growers and the future innovation it continues to drive as the spirals continue growing outwards without end. The more intense use of notches symbolises the abundance of kai supplied of opportunities provided by Māori Kiwifruit Growers.
While this interpretation is more traditional, the design is still simple and modern to appeal to a broader audience. The colour of this tohu is a clay red earth colour or kurawaka, the traditional colour of whenua in te ao Māori.
Collaborative Marketing
MKGI were successful with their application to Kiwifruit New Zealand and have secured export into Hawaii for the next three years. In 2023, MKGI exported 3 containers into Hawaii and 2024 will see MKGI export up to 17 containers into the Hawaiian market, a significant achievement for our entity. To date, there are 4 containers on their way to Hawaii, ready to arrive in time for the Festival of the Pacific Arts.
To enhance our market presence, MKGI collaborated with the creative agency Run Limited to develop a comprehensive brand and in-market campaign, launching in the first week of June. We are honoured to have the Māori King, Kingi Tuheitia, host our launch event on Thursday, 6th June in Hawaii. This is a significant achievement, and this level of support is greatly appreciated.
2024 Hawaii Campaign
THE FLIGHT OF THE AMOKURA
Known to Māori as the Amokura and Kanaka Māoli as the Koa’e ‘ula, the tail feather of the red-tailed tropicbird was prized by both Māori and Hawaiian peoples as a symbol of safety, navigation, and chiefly qualities.
To bring the voyaging story to life, the Amokura bird has been utilised throughout our in-market campaign in Hawaii to showcase the connection from Aotearoa/New Zealand to Hawaii. To ensure that quality kiwifruit is carried “from our islands to yours.”
This unique seabird ties all nations of the Pacific together and has now come to symbolise the language and whakapapa ties between our islands. Like the legendary Amokura bird, a navigator between the Pacific islands, MKGI serves as a bridge connecting cultures and markets abroad. Together, we navigate the vast expanse of the Hawaiian market, guided by shared values of sustainability, cultural richness, and community prosperity. This collaboration isn’t just about selling fruit; it’s about honouring and fostering meaningful connections, celebrating indigenous heritage, and cultivating a brighter future for all involved.
Māori Kiwifruit Growers
Building and growing the Māori Kiwifruit business for current and future generations
Stay Connected
© 2017 Māori Kiwifruit Growers Inc.
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CONTACT US
Chairman: Anaru Timutimu - anaru.timutimu@gmail.com
General Manager: Amy Tocker - amy@taua.nz
General Enquiries:
info@maorikiwifruitgrowers.com