A farming operation on the shores of the Kaipara harbour is showing how treaty settlements can help Maori development.
Te Uri o Hau set up Hanerua Farms after the Ngati Whatua hapu received its historic treaty settlement in 2002.
The 176-hectare operation is now in the top 2% of dairy farms for financial performance and is a finalist in this year's Ahuwhenua Trophy for Maori farming excellence.
Trustee Earle Wright says Hanerau Farms leases under-performing small units and pays the Maori owners a dividend, to the benefit of both.
Mr Wright says it's a struggle for Maori owners to make a profit from small parcels of land.
The aim is to develop the Maori owners' land, he says, while Hanerua Farms avoids the need to put in capital to purchase properties.
The first Ahuwhenua field day is on Thursday at Waipapa 9 Trust, west of Taupo. The Hanerau Farms field day is being held next week.
