About

Committee of Management

The Committee of Management share responsibility as guardians who are committed to protecting, nurturing and developing Pourau Incorporation lands and investments to ensure this taonga will continue to be productive for our family of shareholders.

  • Derrick Hope (Secretary/Treasurer)
  • Steve Brooking
  • Philip Hope (Chairperson)
  • Kylee Potae
  • Anita Kake
  • Iwiata Williams (Tikanga Advisor)
  • Leesa Haimoana (3 Year Rangatahi position from 18th October 2024)
  • Eleanor Faofua (3 Year Rangatahi position from 18th October 2024)

A look back at Pourau Station

Pourau Station – view farm

  • 1132 Hectare property incl adjacent 66 Hectares of leased land, mainly pastoral with Woolshed, stock yards, and homestead included segregated off forestry plantations per following. Some cropping potential on the Te karaka block area..
  • Total area less agreed forestry land leased to McNeil Farms Ltd consisting Burne and Tracey McNeil; Tennant and Leigh McNeil (who have purchased the adjacent Pauariki Station and Tironui Station on Mata Road from Bill and Meg Busby in 2022) for 2 years from July 2022 to June 2024 and with a further 10 year lease signed to June 2034 .
  • Forestry development embarked on uneconomical/difficult areas. An 80 year Forestry Right has been established to enable unrestricted Incorporation access to carryout forestry maintenance and harvesting on:-
    • Ngaras Face, ~6 Hectares of Pinus Radiata planted in 1999 and due for harvesting;
    • Wallaces, ~16 Hectares of Lusitanica planted in 2002

General issues

  • Capital Development/Improvement program included in the current lease agreement (scrub cutting, fencing replacement including boundary fences, yard work, dams, drainage, water reticulation, weed control, erosion pole planting) to be undertaken by Lessee ).
  • Cost sharing regime agreed to on fencing replacement and erosion pole planting.
  • Tokomaru G3D consisting of 14.2 Hectares, which was solely owned by the Ratapu family was purchased by Pourau Incorporation in 2009.
  • Tokomaru Pt H consisting of 19.44 Hectares, 50/50 share ownership between Pourau Incorporation and Ratapu family. The Ratapu family 50% share was also purchased by Pourau Incorporation in 2009. Derelict buildings on Tokomaru H have since been removed.
  • New boundary fence installed during 2013 fenced out and protected from stock at least two areas of significance referred to as WR71, containing Totara, Rimu and Puriri. The Committee sought Dept of Conservation subsidy several years earlier without success.
  • Main central stock race development took place during 2014/2015 period to facilitate stock movement through the top of the block without requiring to use SH35.
  • NZTA approached Pourau CoM in 2018 regarding a proposed re-alignment of SH35 at the single lane bridge and culvit crossing the Makokomuka Stream Ox-bow adjacent Tokomaru Pt H (Mahi Block). Given the nature of the existing road and the potential for serious road accidents (fatalities already recorded here) Pourau CoM have agreed in principle to provide a small portion of land on the uphill side of the bridge to enable this alignment goal to be achieved in the interests of road users and the local communities safety. Consultation work is ongoing with local hapu in regard to the historical aspects of the re-alignment of the Makokomuka Stream.
  • Pourau CoM have removed some of the large exotic trees either side of SH35 adjacent the Station homestead/woolshed entrance during 2021/22 in conjunction with NZTA and GDC for the purposes of mitigating H&S risks to SH35 users as well as Pourau Station residence.
  • The Homestead has been re-roofed and a front covered in deck added during 2024.
  • The Hikuwai Road Bridge accessing the Te-karaka Block was destroyed by Cyclone Gabrielle and access remains via Pt Pararaki s paddock to the river crossing. Pourau CoM working with GDC, and all local stakeholders to facilitate a replacement and guarantee all weather access.
  • Pourau signage added over 2023, 2024.

Three Bridges / Katikati – view farm

  • The total area is approx. 330 Hectares, consisting:
    ~34 Hectares of cropping land (includes areas that were covered in grapes and in Kiwifruit). Includes lock up shed with power available, no agricultural machinery exists having being sold.
    ~32 Hectares of bush and reversion.
    ~264 Hectares of easy to steep hill country including a 57 Hectare fenced off forestry plantation on the steep Katikati face which was planted in 2014.

General issues, Pastoral area (Katikati Block)

  • ~300 Hectares leased following public tender process to Marotiri Farm Partnership (MFP) for 10 year period from July 2004, concluding June 2014. Public re-tendering during 2013 resulted in ~240 Hectares leased to Valour Partnership (Roz and John Pethybridge) from July 2014 with lease terms including specific maintenance and value added/development clauses.
  • An extended lease period of 2 years is proposed for the Katikati Block including an additional and separate lease of the cropping flats to Valour Partnership from July 2024 to June 2026.
  • Goats and regenerating Kanuka an ongoing problem as well as the potential for erosion.  Large volume of aerial spraying carried out during 2013 and 2014 to control reversion as well as provide for a plantation forest development on the Katikati face.
  • Native forest areas historically fenced off by DOC following recommendation from Nga Whenua Rahui committee to preserve the natural 10 Hectares of Puriri forest in #3 paddock where the oldest known Puriri tree in NZ resides (~ 1.0 km remediated in 2024 -25 ) and also the 4 Hectares of native bush closer to the main road (~1.36 km replaced in full in 2024).
  • The government forestry grant available in 96 to develop the ~66 Hectares of this paddock in forestry was not taken up and hence lapsed.
  • Improved fencing segregation was carried out during 2014 to improve stock handling and provide a stock proof perimeter fence for the 57 hectare forestry development carried out during the winter of 2015. Further segregation undertaken on the North side of the main flats creek from 2021.
  • Vehicular access improved through the centre of the block via Katikati face to the top during 2014 with the addition of a 1.5 km length track. The plantation pine tree branch growth was opened up during 2024 -25 to improve vehicular access.
  • Extended access tracking via the south catchment part way to the Eastern skyline completed in 2021 . Intention is to eventually extend this to the Eastern skyline.
  • An additional half dozen stock watering dams have been developed since 2014 hence improving the blocks stock carrying capacity during the dry months.
  • A further dam fed by a continuous spring has been developed during 2025 immediately above the wharenui and two water tanks provided water reticulation to the flats.
  • Since Cyclone Hale and Gabriel in Q1 2023 and the consequential loss of SH35, Hikuwai 1 Bridge, etc; the 2.2km emergency bypass (Pourau Road) Road build was commenced under urgency by Kuru Contracting on Sat 18th Feb 2023 opening to the public on Mon 28th March 2023. This resulted in many hundreds of lineal metres of fence being required to be added to create the laneway.
  • A new 3 Bay Pole Shed was added to the block adjacent the stock yards in mid 2022. Power was added in 2024 thanks to support from First Light Network.
  • A replacement Cattle yard was completed in 2023, 2024 due to its relativity to the busy Pourau Road with regular use by heavy transport.
  • 1/3 of the western end of the ~3.3 km length South boundary fence with Mangaheia 2D was replaced over 2024 (800m East of SH35 and 500m West of SH35 between cropping paddocks.
  • Pourau signage added over 2023, 2024.

General issues, Horticulture area (Three Bridges)

  • Vineyard and Kiwifruit managed by whanau members up to and including 1999 season.
  • Grapes leased out to local vineyard owner Bruce Gaw in early 2000. Poor climatic conditions, spray regime and plant disease negatively impacted potential returns for 2002 season. Lease agreement ceased.
  • Grape plants and supporting equipment removed at nil cost in 2002 due to poor returns resulting from the impact of disease on vine production and poor local climatic conditions at/prior to harvest. Option to replant vineyard with new variety of plants not taken up.
  • Machinery sold – Ford Tractor and some auxiliary equipment, late 2000.
  • 30 Hectares Horticulture and cropping land publicly tendered and lease let to Rinii and Huhana Rokx Sept 2002 based on price and conditions.
  • Kiwifruit orchard removed.
  • Other options considered for horticulture including other grape varieties, lavender, lemons, olives, kiwifruit, etc. Returns too unpredictable long term with risks, which can negatively impact Incorporation income.
  • Public re-tendering during 2013 resulted in the block being leased to Decosta Enterprises (Mark Decosta) of Gisborne from July 2014 with a 10 year lease term and including specific maintenance and value added/development clauses.
  • Re-fencing of the perimeter boundary has been gradually undertaken since 2014. Much of this needed replacement due to the damaging affects of Cyclone Gabriel and the large volume of Forestry slash, trees and sediment.
  • Erosion Pole nursery developed with GDC advice and support, located on adjacent west side of SH35 in the South end of the Cropping Flats for the purposes of providing economic self-sufficiency in pole production for Pourau Incorporation whenua going forward.
  • Decision made in 2024 to give cropping a rest and set up the flats for grazing and fattening stock which requires paddock segregation and water reticulation.
  • Lease of the cropping flats to Valour Partnership from July 2024 to June 2026.

General issues, Wharenui (Three Bridges)

  • Wharenui purchased from Huhana and Rini’s family in June 2022 based on valuation report.
  • Removal of vegetation undertaken in 2022 -2023.
  • Leasing to Parata Contracting from Q3 2023.
  • Secure perimeter fence added 2023-24.