The history of Māori Investments Limited began in 1963 with a concept proposed by Tasman Pulp and Paper Company Limited to establish its own forest, called the Tarawera Forest Scheme, in order to meet its wood requirements for its mill.
At the time of the discussions, the Crown owned 7,564 hectares and Tasman 7,830 hectares in the area. In between and surrounding these areas were 44 blocks of Māori Land of various sizes totalling 15,416 hectares.
The areas and titles involved are illustrated by Map 1.
Partnerships Established
In order to make the arrangement commercially viable, an agreement was sought to form a tri-partite forestry scheme whereby Tasman, the Crown and individual Māori landowners vested land in return for shares in the company, Tarawera Forests Limited. This was the first and only scheme of its type involving Māori land.
A series of meetings took place with the Māori landowners in 1965 regarding the Tarawera Forest scheme.
1965 Hui at Kokohinau Marae
After a series of smaller owner meetings, a more substantial hui was convened by the Maori Land Court at Kokohinau Marae in December 1965 to discuss the tri-partite proposition.
Despite a considerable number of dissenting voices and Māori owners not sufficiently understanding or consenting to the tri-partite joint venture, the Court confirmed that a sufficient number of owners approved the transaction. This lack of clarity and understanding by the Māori landowners would later form the basis of the Wai 411 claim to the Waitangi Tribunal.
Bringing together the land under one title
The 44 blocks would be valued, and the land amalgamated into one title, Tarawera No1 pursuant to an order under section 438(1) of the Maori Affairs Act 1958. Map 2 illustrates the area covered by this amalgamated block.
Tarawera No 1 was also amalgamated with the land owned by the Crown and Tasman Pulp and Paper Co Ltd. This was then transferred to Tarawera Forests Ltd which had three shareholders: Māori Investments Limited, the Crown and Tasman Pulp & Paper Co Ltd.
Tasman met all the development costs and would be compensated for their expenditure by increasing their proportion of ownership in Tarawera Forests Ltd at the expense of the other two shareholders.
It is for this reason that although the Crown provided 25% of the land for the project and Māori Investments Ltd 50%, the final shareholding in Tarawera Forests Ltd was 6.6975% and 10.8075% respectively.
Distributing dividends
Tasman was also responsible for maintaining the accounting and share register for Māori Investments Limited until Tarawera Forests Ltd could distribute dividends.
The first dividend was not distributed until 1989.
In 2004, Māori Investments Limited bought out the remaining partners and now the company is 100% Māori owned.
Timeline
1965
A formal meeting of owners at Kokohinau Marae took place in December 1965 to hear the joint venture afforestation proposal. Despite opposition by a large number of Māori land owners, the Crown confirmed and approved of the scheme and the amalgamation of titles.
1966
The Maori Land Court amalgamated the titles of the 40 Māori blocks and vesting of the new title, Tarawera 1 in the Māori Trustee. Unbeknown to many, the vesting into Tarawera 1 also included the contentious transfer of the underlying title of Maunga Putauaki
1967
2 October 1967 Tarawera Forests Limited was duly incorporated. 24 November 1967 the “Tarawera Forest Act 1967” was passed.
1968
24 October 1968, Māori Investments Limited was incorporated. The first meeting of Directors was held17 December 1986. (Pictured is the Inaugural Board, Chaired by Mrs Monica Lanham)
1970
The first Annual General Meeting for the Company was held on 18 April 1970, where the Directors submitted their first report for the period from the date of incorporation to 30 October 1969.
1982
The Directors of Māori Investments Limited unanimously approve the setting up of a sub-committee of the Board, calling it the Guardian of Putauaki. Tasman Pulp and Paper Company Ltd become a major partner in the new Fletcher Challenge consortium.
1984
A tree planting ceremony marked the final establishment of the Tarawera Forest.
1989
MIL Shareholders receive their first dividend of $2.20 per share plus interest on debenture sticks of 0.38 per debenture.
1993
MIL opens its first office in the Kawerau Enterprise Agencey (KEA) building, located in Kawerau
September 1993
WAI 411 filed with the Waitangi Tribunal.
1994
WAI 411 registered with the Waitangi Tribunal.
1997
20 June 1997, Māori Investments Limited was re-registered under the Companies Act 1993
2003
WAI 411 Report Published
2004
2004 Tarawera Forest was purchased by Tarawera Land Company (a subsidiary of Māori Investments Limited) from Tarawera Forests Limited
2005
Trustees sign off on the Trust Deed for Mt. Putauaki Charitable Trust which is now known as Ngā Maunga Kaitiaki Trust.
2006
MIL offices relocate to the old Forestry Headquarters building and renamed it Māori Investments Limited House.
2009
Tūhourangi Memorial is a prominent feature in the Tarawera Valley which marks the birthplace of Tūhourangi. In 2009 MIL and TLC filed an application to create a Māori reservation containing the historical toka where the birth of Tūhourangi took place.
2010
Tūhourangi memorial is transferred to a Māori reservation, with guardianship now held with MIL. A dawn ceremony was held to commemorate this occasion and was attended by shareholders and descendants of Tūhourangi as well as MIL shareholders and local Iwi.
2012
30 June 2012, cancellation of 9,764 shares belonging to 539 shareholders 1 December 2012,constitutional changes accepted by the shareholders
2014
Following the harvest operations, Ngā Maunga Kaitiaki Trust held a community Planting Day, where the Trust invited local schools, Kawerau District Council, management of Pūtauaki Trust and Tūwharetoa (BOP) Settlement Trust to participate in the event where approximately 4,000 native seedlings were planted.
2016
A hearing in the High Court took place for the removal of the towers on the summit of Pūtauaki. As Kordia was protected under the Telecommunications Act, Kordia had a statutory right to access their facilities. Kordia and the Trust settled on an agreement to reduce their tower by two thirds with the remaining third to be painted a recessive colour to blend in with its surroundings and the environment.
2017
MIL aquired its first orchard, originally a nashi orchard converted to kiwifruit now known as Whiritoa Organic covering (5.2 hectares). Situated adjacent is Whiritoa Gold, covering (6.9 hectares). Both orchards fall under MIL Agribusiness Limited Partnership.
2018
MIL purchased Blueberry Corner (located on Thornton Road) which operates a retail store to purchase the produce grown in our fields. This entity was registered with the Companies Office as MIL Blueberries Limited Partnership.
2019
Rauotehuia was purchased in 2019 and is named in honour of our former Director Rauotehuia Chapman-de Vos who passed during that year. It is a conventional gold orchard located on Western Drain Road, Whakatāne. This orchard is approximately 12.87 canopy hectares.
2022
MIL opens its first Tertiary Grants for shareholders and their descendants' undertaking studies at University's across Aotearoa. The Board had the pleasure of meeting 3 of the 18 recipients this year.
August 2022
In 2022 Whiritoa Orchards was awarded the following from the Ballance Farm Environmental Awards: BOP 2022 Bayley's People in Primary Sector Award, BOP 2022 Norwood Agri-Business Management Award, BOP 2022 Zespri Kiwifruit Orchard Award, BOP 2022 Regional Supreme Winner.
May 2023
MIL purchased its 4th Kiwifruit orchard located on Galatea Road (in close proximity to Whiritoa). Staff and Directors held a karakia prior to commencing operations. As suggested by Rihi Vercoe the orchard was renamed Tuahiwi in reference to the historical name of the area. This orchard falls under the MIL Agribusiness structure.
June 2023
Whiritoa Orchards entered into the Ahuwhenua Awards, placing a top three finalist.
August 2023
8 August 2023 marked a significant point in the history of MIL as the Board and staff planted our first trees which will be owned by MIL. This milestone is the start of an inter-generational investment into forestry with a clear goal of planting 2000ha of our own land with our own trees by 2034.
Former Boards
