New Zealand Māori Agrifood Value Grant: $4.8M for Tikanga-Led Business

Māori are the original kaitiaki (guardians) of Aotearoa. For centuries, whānau, hapū, and iwi have managed the land and the sea using tikanga (customary practices) that sustained both people and nature.

But in the modern economy, Māori agrifood businesses often get stuck at the bottom of the value chain. They sell raw milk to Fonterra. They sell raw logs to China. They sell live crayfish to exporters. Someone else does the processing, the branding, and the marketing—and captures most of the profit.

The New Zealand Māori Agrifood Value Grant is designed to flip that script.

With grants of up to NZD $4.8 million per enterprise, this program funds Māori businesses to move up the value chain. It pays for the processing plant to turn milk into cheese. It pays for the brand development to sell “Māori Manuka Honey” at a premium. It pays for the cold storage to export fresh fish directly to Japan.

This is not just about profit. It is about mana motuhake (self-determination). It is about Māori controlling their own economic destiny while honoring the principles of kaitiakitanga (environmental stewardship).

Key Details at a Glance

What This Opportunity Offers

Processing Infrastructure The grant pays for the capital equipment that transforms raw products into finished goods:

• A meat processing plant to turn lambs into vacuum-sealed cuts for export.
• A dairy facility to make artisanal cheese or yogurt.
• A seafood packing house with blast freezers to ship fresh kina (sea urchin) to Tokyo.
• A honey extraction and bottling line to package Manuka honey in branded jars.

Brand Development Māori culture is a powerful brand differentiator. Consumers worldwide are willing to pay a premium for products with an authentic Indigenous story. The grant funds:

• Brand strategy: Working with Māori designers to create a visual identity rooted in whakapapa (genealogy) and mātauranga (knowledge).
• Storytelling: Video production, website development, and social media campaigns that tell the story of the whenua (land) and the people.
• Intellectual Property: Trademarking your brand and protecting it from cultural appropriation.

Export Market Access Te Puni Kōkiri organizes trade missions to key markets (Asia, North America, Europe). They connect you with distributors, retailers, and chefs who are looking for premium Māori products.

Regenerative Agriculture Support The grant funds the transition to regenerative practices that align with kaitiakitanga:

• Soil health: Composting systems, cover cropping, reduced tillage.
• Biodiversity: Planting native trees, creating wildlife corridors.
• Carbon farming: Measuring and monetizing carbon sequestration.

Who Should Apply

This is for Māori-owned enterprises. You must have at least 51% Māori ownership and governance.

Ideal Candidates:

• The Dairy Collective: You are a group of Māori dairy farmers. You want to build a cooperative cheese factory to capture more value.
• The Seafood Exporter: You are a Māori fishing company. You want to install a processing line to fillet and package fish instead of selling whole fish to middlemen.
• The Honey Brand: You have Manuka hives on Māori land. You want to build a brand and sell directly to consumers in the US and China.
• The Regenerative Farm: You are transitioning from conventional sheep farming to regenerative grazing. You want to market “Carbon-Neutral Lamb.”

Eligibility Checklist:

• Māori Ownership: 51%+ Māori ownership (individual or collective).
• Governance: Must have a governance structure that reflects tikanga (e.g., a board with kuia and kaumātua representation).
• Land Access: Must have secure access to whenua (owned, leased, or Treaty settlement land).
• Financial Health: Must have audited financial statements showing the business is viable.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

I have worked with Māori enterprises in Aotearoa. Here is how to stand out.

1. The “Whakapapa Narrative” Your application should start with whakapapa. Who are you? What is your connection to the land? What is the history of your whānau or iwi in this industry? The evaluators are looking for authenticity. If your story is just “We want to make money,” you will lose to someone who says “Our tūpuna (ancestors) fished these waters for 800 years. We are continuing their legacy.”

2. The “Tikanga in Practice” Section Don’t just say “We follow tikanga.” Show it. How is tikanga embedded in your operations?

• Example: “We hold a karakia (prayer) before every harvest.”
• Example: “We use a rāhui (temporary ban) to allow fish stocks to recover.”
• Example: “We allocate 10% of profits to a whānau education fund.”

3. The “Regenerative Premium” Strategy New Zealand’s agricultural reputation is under pressure due to water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. If you can prove your product is “regenerative” (improving the environment, not just sustaining it), you can charge a premium. Get certified by Toitū Envirocare or Hua Parakore (Māori organic standard).

4. The “Rangatahi (Youth) Pipeline” Māori youth unemployment is a national issue. If your project creates jobs and training opportunities for rangatahi, it scores highly. “We will hire 10 rangatahi as apprentices in the processing plant.”

5. The “Export-Ready” Proof Don’t just say “We will export.” Prove it. Get a Letter of Intent from an overseas buyer. “If we build this facility, [Retailer X in Japan] commits to purchasing 5 containers per month.”

Application Timeline

April-May 2025: Whānau Consultation

• Action: Hold a hui (meeting) with your whānau, hapū, or iwi. Get their buy-in. This is not optional—it is tikanga.
• Action: Document the hui. You will need to submit the minutes.

June 2025: Business Planning

• Action: Write the business plan. Include financial projections, market analysis, and environmental impact.
• Action: Engage a Māori business advisor (TPK has a list of approved consultants).

July 2025: Technical Design

• Action: Get engineering quotes for the processing equipment.
• Action: Conduct a feasibility study. Is the project technically and financially viable?

August 8, 2025: Submission

• Action: Submit via the TPK online portal.

Required Materials

• Whakapapa Statement: A narrative explaining your connection to the land and the kaupapa (purpose).
• Business Plan: 3-5 year financial model.
• Governance Charter: Showing how tikanga is embedded in decision-making.
• Environmental Plan: Demonstrating kaitiakitanga in practice.
• Market Validation: Letters from buyers or distributors.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

The “Iwi Partnership” Model If you can show that your enterprise is aligned with the iwi’s strategic plan (e.g., the iwi’s “Economic Development Strategy”), you get bonus points. TPK wants to fund projects that strengthen the entire iwi, not just individual businesses.

Cultural IP Protection If your brand uses Māori imagery, language, or stories, show that you have protected it. File a trademark. Use the Toi Iho certification mark (Māori-made). This prevents cultural appropriation and adds value.

The “Circular Economy” Approach Show how you will minimize waste. “We will use fish offcuts to make pet food.” “We will compost dairy waste to fertilize pastures.” This aligns with the Māori concept of kaitiakitanga.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring the Whānau If you apply as an individual without consulting your whānau or hapū, you will be seen as acting outside of tikanga. Māori business is collective, not individualistic.

Weak Environmental Credentials If your project harms the environment (e.g., intensive dairy with high nitrogen runoff), it will be rejected. Kaitiakitanga is non-negotiable.

Vague “Māori-ness” Don’t just slap a koru (spiral) on your logo and call it Māori. The evaluators can spot tokenism. Your Māori identity must be authentic and embedded in the business model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Pākehā (non-Māori) be involved? Yes, but Māori must have majority ownership and control. You can have Pākehā partners, employees, or advisors.

What is the “co-investment” requirement? You typically need to contribute 20-30% of the total project cost. This can be cash, land, or in-kind contributions (e.g., volunteer labor).

Can I use the grant to buy land? Generally, no. The grant is for “value-add” infrastructure and market development, not for land acquisition.

What happens if the business fails? If you followed the plan and market conditions changed, you usually don’t have to repay the grant. But if you misused the funds, TPK can claw them back.

How to Apply

1. Contact TPK: Go to www.tpk.govt.nz.
2. Attend a Workshop: TPK runs application workshops. Attend one.
3. Engage an Advisor: Use a Māori business advisor to help with the application.
4. Submit: Upload all documents before the deadline.

Māori agrifood is not just an industry. It is a taonga (treasure). This grant is your chance to protect that taonga while building a prosperous future for your whānau.