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A joint venture, led by the investment arm of Ngāpuhi, partnering with Northland grower Maungatapere Berries and Far North District Council, will develop a sustainability-focused, high-tech hydroponics berryfruit operation on a 28-hectare site.
Ngāpuhi Asset Holding Company has announced this month, that it would be opening a hydroponic berry farm near Kaikohe as a partner in Kaikohe Berryfruit LP.
“The berryfruit venture is forecast to increase local business activity by $34m a year, and will become one of the largest employers in the region, expecting to provide work for 120-160 people, of which 60-70 would be fulltime” said Partner Te Aopare Dewes.
Ngāpuhi Asset Holding Company Chief Executive Paul Knight said the enterprise was a highly strategic regional partnership, developing one of the largest soft berryfruit growing operations in the country.
“This is an important venture for Ngāpuhi as well as for the wider Northland community. We appreciate the technical expertise and dedication of the Chapman Tripp team on this complex and bespoke joint venture” said Knight.
Kaikohe Berryfruit LP is a cornerstone occupant in Stage One of the Ngāwhā Innovation and Enterprise Park, a commercial estate based outside of Kaikohe and backed by $19.5m of Provincial Growth Fund funding.
Developed by the commercial arm of Far North District Council, the park aims to generate employment opportunities in the Kaikohe region, to boost the productivity and GDP of the district and the region, to encourage and enable the use of Māori land for the benefit of iwi and hapū, and to protect land and water resources.
The Chapman Tripp team was led by Partner Te Aopare Dewes, with assistance from Senior Associate Greer Fredricson and Solicitor Liam Stoneley.
Te Waka Ture, Chapman Tripp’s Māori legal service, has more than a decade of experience working with iwi, hapū, Māori landowners and Māori businesses to help them achieve their aspirations for whānau. We regularly assist clients with structuring for joint ventures and collectives and Iwi corporate governance.
