Land Use Feasibility Study for Ngāti Tahu Ngāti Whaoa

• site visits to understand specific needs

• desktop investigations (environmental and regulatory)

• multi-criteria analysis to determine suitable land use options

• mapping attributes of the blocks

• and identifying where alternative options may be established

We outlined clear-cut recommendations for each land block. Irrigation was recommended for some blocks to improve the productivity of the existing pastoral land use, as well as retiring some marginal areas into exotic or native forest. Some areas used for cow dairy were suggested to transition to high value sheep dairy.

Other areas were identified as suitable to transition to horticultural operations such as potatoes, taewa, and  hazelnuts. Other areas were more suitable for supporting infrastructure-based enterprises such as aquaculture, greenhouse crops, or mushroom production facilities.  These were suggested on the basis of linking with existing geothermal power plants and a proposed solar farming operation.

The next steps for this project will require decisions by Ngāti Tahu Ngāti Whaoa around which land uses to explore in greater depth for each block. This will require a more detailed investigation of the viability of the selected short-listed options, including: more detailed soils, microclimate, and hydrological analyses; economic analyses and an investigation of potential markets; identifying specific resource consent requirements; and determining the governance structure and potential partnerships for the business operations.