Ngāi Tukairangi Trust was built on kotahitanga. Our tīpuna shared the desire to live and work on the land. Establishing Ngāi Tukairangi Trust in the late 1980’s under the Māori
Affairs Act 1953.
Based in Matapihi, Tauranga, Ngāi Tukairangi Trust was formed through the amalgamation of a number of Māori owned land blocks:
In 1980 the land was developed with the assistance of the Department of Māori Affairs, who had a range of crops; maize, corn, melons and squash. Ngāi Tukairangi sought something new. In December 1981 a nursery of Chinese gooseberries was planted, now commonly known as kiwifruit.
The Department of Māori Affairs, and later Iwi Transition Agency managed the orchard up until 1992. In April of that year the management of the trust was returned to shareholders. Since that time the Trust has employed Trustees and a management team to manage its investments.
The Trust began with approximately 200 shareholders, growing to over 1700 in recent years.
Today, Ngāi Tukairangi Trust owns two large kiwifruit operations in Hawkes Bay and the Bay of Plenty and has investments in commercial property and other businesses.