Whenua Māori in primary production
Whenua Māori is a central component of Te Ōhanga Māori and the wider economy. Across Aotearoa New Zealand, there are over one million hectares of Māori freehold land and 360,000 hectares of land held by Post-Settlement Governance Entities (PSGEs) in primary production, largely concentrated in forestry, store livestock, and stock finishing. In total, this represents over 1.4 million hectares of whenua Māori in primary production.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) commissioned Business and Economic Research Limited (BERL) to undertake an extensive analysis of whenua Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand to understand its current and potential use and economic contribution. This report builds and expands on previous completed research, contributing to a growing understanding and evidence base about whenua Māori.
Key findings:
Approximately 462,000 hectares of Māori freehold land and 134,000 hectares of land held by PSGEs in primary production are currently performing at 90 percent or above the regional benchmark for the land’s use
Approximately 604,000 hectares of Māori freehold land and 229,000 hectares of land held by PSGEs in primary production are performing below 90 percent of the regional benchmark for the land’s use
In 2023, whenua Māori in primary production was estimated to generate approximately $5.3 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) and to support employment of around 33,700 full-time equivalents (FTEs).
Whilst primary production is already a significant contributor to Te Ōhanga Māori, there is scope to further improve, expand, and diversify primary production on whenua Māori. Doing so requires considering key constraints that affect the future development of whenua Māori. The constraints include:
Nearly three quarters of primary Māori freehold land faces physical limitations that impact land use options and sustained production
A large proportion of Māori freehold land is vulnerable to climate change, particularly in the upper North Island
An estimated 21 percent of primary Māori freehold land is landlocked with no direct road access within 100 metres. The absence of direct road access constrains the economic potential of otherwise productive pieces of land
Many blocks of Māori freehold land have no governance in place.
Policy, investment, and targeted support are the key levers that will enable this opportunity to be realised for future generations. There are also valuable research and analysis opportunities to build on the expanding evidence base about whenua Māori to improve and advance our understanding.
You can find the full report on MPIs website here.