Gisborne Rural Communities - Enterprise and employment needs

Trevor Mills

Manager Mature Employment Support Agency ,Gisborne-East Coast, New Zealand
Ph (64) 06-867-6533 Mobile 025-537-186 Fax (64) 06-867-5932
e-mail t.c.mills@xtra.co.nz
http://gisborne.hypermart.net
Home (64) 06-868-4659 Fax (64) 06-863-1104

October 1999

(Matawai, Motu, Whatatutu, Te Karaka, Patutahi, Waituhi, Manutuke, Muriwai, Ormond, Waihirere)

PART I

Introduction

The first Enterprise and Employment Needs Survey Analysis was conceived in October 1997, as a survey on the above rural communities in the Gisborne District Council area from Muriwai in the south to Matawai and Motu in the northwest. Work on the first report started in January 1998 and ended on April 23, 1998.

This first report, in its initial stages, involved researching background information on the Community Employment Group (CEG), its programmes, gathering statistical data in terms of unemployment figures, age, gender and ethnic origin, developing a questionnaire to be sent to various people within the identified areas, analysing the information, making preliminary conclusions, giving feedback, collecting extra information, making a final summary and analysis, and making final conclusions and recommendations, giving feedback to respondents and presenting that report.

The first report was not acceptable to the Gisborne office of CEG, so I volunteered my services to do this second report, which was acceptable to Pierre Henare, the CEG Field Officer originally assigned to oversee the first report.

A particular concern from the first report was that only 18 questionnaires were sent out to various Marae committees and secondary schools in the survey area. The response rate was only three, a very poor response rate as the report said. From the three responses received, one identified the need for a co-ordinator to be based at a central point (Patutahi was suggested), to co-ordinate economic development programmes (based on a holistic point of view) throughout all the identified research areas.

My report has been based on actual visits, meetings and interviews with key people in the various communities that have been surveyed in this project, which has been an extremely valuable learning experience for me. The responses I have received have been overwhelming in terms of their honesty and sincerity, with full co-operation from everyone concerned. Background information that I have gained through becoming more involved in economic development matters during the three and a half years with the Mature Employment Support Agency Gisborne-East Coast has also been well worthwhile to help to complete this project. I must also mention that the time frame of my report has been compiled over a much shorter period than the first report because of the urgent need to satisfy CEG's requirements.

Purpose Of The Project

• To research enterprise and related needs and opportunities with particular focus on maori, pacific islanders,women, rural disadvantaged and urban disadvantaged.
• To research each community and their community organisations, trusts etc. Capacity to provide enterprise opportunities, provide employment and/or employment projects, and what support is needed to implement these initiatives.

Project Background And Objectives

This project was originally developed in response to the government's focus on employment. It has been also required to review the relevance of the Be Your Own Boss (BYOB) concept in its current format with regard to the areas included in this project.

To enhance results, the second component of the research carried out has been to complete a needs analysis with regards to :

• Determining each community's capacity to provide community work for those within each community who receive the community wage.
• Enterprise and employment options for those who are self employed or those who may have ideas of being self employed in these communities.
• Recommended delivery strategies for each community
• Training requirements and what level of training may be required for each community.
• Providing a recommended monitoring and evaluation strategy that will include a quality communication component.
• Identifying potential enterprise opportunities and assist individuals and groups to explore funding assistance opportunites and/or be referred on to appropriate agencies.

Identified Areas And IWI

Matawai/Motu - Te Aitanga-A-Mahaki
Whatatutu - Te Aitanga-A-Mahaki/Nga Ariki
Te Karaka - Te Aitanga-A-Mahaki
Patutahi/Waituhi - Te Aitanga-A-Mahaki
Manutuke - Rongawhakaata
Muriwai - Ngai Tamanuhiri
Ormond/Waihirere - Te Aitanga-A-Mahaki

Special Comment

(Please note I acknowledge and accept that for this project to be effective and retain credibility, each community will need to be revisited to determine the level of assistance that can be provided. It would have been certainly unfair for me to ask each community to provide a plan at this stage, as this would have created false expectations - this was referred to also in the Eastern Bay of Plenty report).

General Recommendations

Establishment Of Community Centres

The Manutuke Community Development Centre (MCDC) was established from March 1997 to provide a focal point for a range of activities and initiatives for the benefit of the Manutuke community. In my view, the other communities included in this project should follow Manutuke's example, subject to appropriate funding being made available for each centre's establishment.

A Centre such as this can be designed to advance the economic prosperity of the community it serves, as well as improve the quality of life for the people living within the community.

Each community should be empowered to make the decision whether or not a community centre should be established in the first place. The MCDC has identified the following activities and services :

• developing a database for potential employees
• being a local information centre
• establish a health and fitness centre
• establish a hair dressers
• establish and manage a nursery
• a place where people may buy, sell and/or koha goods and resources

In any rural area of high unemployment, there should be a strong emphasis on community development, local participation, and utilisation of community skills and experience.

The MCDC has a long term aim to be "a catalyst for the development of a range of community services and initiatives in Manutuke".

For over 12 months a small group of Manutuke people had met to discuss ideas for creating employment opportunities for unemployed in the community of Manutuke. At the end of 1996 the ideas took fruition when the group was able to successfully negotiate the rental of a large corner building in the Manutuke township.

Current unemployment statistics for Manutuke and Muriwai are around 450 people, however a high percentage of these are long-term. Closure of the Weddel Kaiti meat processing and freezing work facility only added to the existing problems. Cedenco food processors moved the major part of their operations to Australia. Although seasonal occupations, these industries supported the Manutuke economic and employment situation in the past. With these current issues, it was apparent that the Manutuke community needed to address issues, including :

• providing a range of services as follows -
• - develop a presence for the development of a labour pool for
  horticultural, agricultural, the fishing industry and other business
  sectors.
  - develop a nursery and encourage whanau and the wider
  community to grow and nurture their own vegetables and flowers.
  - investigate small business opportunities that create self
  employment.
• the Hillary Sports Commission being identified as a possible source of funding for the establishment and co-ordination of a health and fitness centre that will assist local sports groups and those who wish to maintain their general health and fitness.

The key philosophies underpinning the MCDC enterprise are :

• that human resources are highly-valued, yet under-utilised resource
• recognition of the principle of "koha" for local residents to buy, sell or exchange goods/services and resources.

A key objective of the MCDC centre is to "foster the educational advancement of the people in Manutuke".

Overall strategy for the Centre will include :

• using research to develop an action plan to address the type and level of education and training required in the community.
• establish a Manutuke Community resource base which identifies people with skills in the community.
• establish a register/database of resource people in the Manutuke community.
• develop a draft education, training and employment opportunity strategy.

The Centre would also assist in the development of social and economic well-being of Maori and others in the Manutuke Community, by sustainably managing resources that have value. Strategies would include :

• identifying key information sources regarding all natural resources within the Manutuke Community.
• researching and collating relevant data on all natural resources in Manutuke.
• formulate an action plan that will sustainably manage all resources, in particular resources that enable employment opportunities.
• to sustainably manage our natural resources that have value.

Also, the MCDC would assist in the development of small business initiatives that increase the prosperity of the community by :

• establishing appropriate/responsive and accountable financial and administration systems within the Centre.
• establishing an appropriate networking/communication system with potential businesses and agencies.
• employing appropriately skilled, experienced and qualified staff from within and around the Manutuke Community.

A labour pool would be developed that will provide labour services to various sectors on the Turanganui-A-Kiwa flats (including horticultural/farming and the local fishing industry)

• establish a database identifying various industry sectors in and around the Manutuke Community.
• develop and identify an industry skills needs analysis and provide an employment matching service.

Also develop a nursery and encourage Whanau to plant their own crops by :

• establishing a nursery working party.
• developing an action plan for establishing a nursery.
• draft an implementation and marketing plan.

The MCDC management structure consists of eight active members with range of skills and strengths, and one to have the responsibility as overall co-ordinator.

Key tasks to establish the Centre have been identified in the following stages :

Stage One - Gaining Commitment for the Project

• local community meetings are convened.
• people with particular skills are identified and invited to participate with the project.

Stage Two - Establishing a Location for the Centre

• negotiating for a building in Manutuke at an affordable rent.
• negotiating for a long term lease of the property.
• recruiting local people to clean up the building and grounds.
• the interior of the building is prepared and painted.
• seeking business development funding from the Community Employment Group and other sources.

Stage Three - Nursery Development

• the area is cleared of weeds and prepared for establishment.
• a fence is built around the perimeter to house the nursery.
• establishment of a nursery.

Stage Four

• installation of a toilet, kitchen and bathroom facilities.
• development of a community health and fitness centre and gymnasium.

Stage Five

• seek to buy the corner property.
• prepare an asset inventory.
• prepare a financial forecast for the next 3 - 5 years.

As a part of the overall process, every person in the Manutuke Community was encouraged to fill in a confidential personal details form for the MCDC database. The form included :

• Income status (unemployed, benefit, employed etc.)
• Family name, first names, age, address, phone number
• Iwi/Tribe/Hapu/Marae (if applicable)
• Marital status
• Children and ages
• Last class at school
• Last training opportunity
• Qualifications/Experience/Skills
• Health Status and/or problems
• Interests/Hobbies
• Suggested training options
• Suggested Work/Career options
• Consent section allowing details to be included on a register of the MCDC, and understanding that all information noted on the register form will be strictly confidential, and will not be released to any person unless approved by the registered person.

(Acknowledgement -The information about the Manutuke Community Development Centre given here in this report is a suggested outline for the other communities included in this report to seriously consider the establishment of a similar facility in their own community. My grateful thanks to Laurie Te Nahu, co-ordinator for the Manutuke Community Development Centre - MCDC - for the use of the document for this report).

Now if the idea of establishing a community centre has gained your interest, I would like to submit a guide to economic development for the various communities who have at present no such centre established.

Getting Started

1. Organise your group

Start with a small key group of community members. These members should be stakeholders in the community and people who are directly affected by the economy. Open meetings should not be held at this stage, as early on your work should be confidential, as you may be dealing with controversial issues. The goal of this group is to lay the groundwork; public input will come later. Members on this "task force" should be there for the long run. A real problem with most groups is that they want to organise like a service club with annual elections and rotating members. It is better to look at this group as being there for the long run with gradual changes in leadership and members. The service club approach results in leaders trying to get short term programmes in during the year they are the chairperson so that they look successful.

2. Begin to define your problem

You may think you know what the problem is when in reality you are looking at a symptom. For example, all the communities included in this project will state that the problem is not enough jobs. That may really be the symptom of other economic factors that are preventing business growth in the area (e.g. central government neglect, local authority inaction). No problem stands alone. They are always interrelated to other problems. For example, business growth may be hampered by a lack of suitable signage to entice passing tourists to stop and stay in your community for a few days. The lack of signage is caused by a lack of funds, which may be caused by a lack of support from your local district councillor and/or the council's economic development unit, who may be able to point you in the direction of a funding source to get new signs made and erected, obviously to Transit NZ’s satisfaction etc.

Define your problems in the light of what is needed for a total solution. You will need to take into consideration all factors of a community including infrastructure, work force, education level, available land for business sites, competition (is there any ?), political situation (the performance of your district councillor), life style, and so forth.

I should not outline all the factors because if you are serious, you and your group should be doing some research and reading the subject. Who has on the internet in your community ? Why not involve the senior students at your local schools (if you still have one !) in an internet and community project involving the future and possible methods of economic development that will benefit your community.

Involve the future generations of your community. My internet experience has shown hundreds of sites dealing with any issue dealing with community and economic development. If you are serious, educate yourself. Amateurs usually do not.

3. Prepare a list of economic development resources

You must make yourselves aware of what economic development agencies are available to assist you and where funding can be sourced. For example the Gisborne office of the Community Employment Group (CEG) which is now attached to the East Coast branch of Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ).

The CEG field officers are responsible to the East Coast WINZ Regional Commissioner, Lindsay Scott, who is based in Napier but is responsible for the area which incorporates the Gisborne District Council area and the communities included in this project.

Also the Business Grow Gisborne agency attached to the Gisborne District Council's Economic Development Unit, a service for those who are running their own businesses in rural communities.

Consider also the various Lottery Board funding committees - welfare, youth, community facilities, aged etc. Also the Tairawhiti Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS), and the Westpac Trust/formerly Eastern and Central grants.

Get involved and search others out. Start at central government level with the local office of the Department of Internal Affairs Community Development Funding Section (Phone 868-1960). Keep looking ! Network with other communities to make sure you are up to date with funders who can help you.

Contact as many of these organisations personally as you can and build a database of what services are available to you. Go through the information and discover what worthwhile services are available that can "do good" in your community. Most organisations involved in community and economic development are not paid for results; they are paid for programmes. Programmes can earn funding grants which cover the overhead costs of running a community centre for example.

Focus on aspects that you can really deliver and use in your community. Planning may well be one of these "deliverables", but you will need others.

4. Think globally, interact regionally, and act locally !

Get this attitude in concrete in your mission statement of your organisation. Avoid the "poor me" syndrome so often heard from rural areas. Everyone has problems ! Avoid the wasteful and rude "us versus them" attitude. Also some say stay away from the political nonsense. Concentrate on what YOU can change. Provide and educate others with your point of view, but don't waste your time and effort on "dead horses" !

Step two after getting started

1. Decide how you are going to finance your organisation.

It is suggested to avoid the common trap of claiming that other organisations are not doing their job; and therefore central government or the district council should pay you instead. If you are clever, you WILL use their resources, let them pay your administration costs and you will concentrate directly on your "mission". If you are perceived as part of the solution, you will be able to collect money and donations from the stakeholders. Later on, if you are successful, you may be able to get grants from other sources.

2. Avoid the trap of thinking that you must have paid staff.

Well-organised volunteers can run an excellent programme, such as a community centre. In fact, if the organisation can not run a good volunteer outfit, it will not be better with paid staff and the funds will just go into admin. There may be a time later for paid staff, but not at the beginning.

3. Avoid the trap that you must raise funds to hire some guru or hire some consultants.

4. Get public input and build consensus.

There are many ways to do this. The old fashioned way of debate results in the best way to drag out hard issues, identify them, and address solutions. Creating a vision for your community is a method of bringing a community together to discuss issues. However the problem with a method such as visioning is that the community is left with a warm fuzzy feeling without the hard issues being resolved.

Group consensus building often centers on what people will agree on while, in reality, what they disagree on are the real issues. The social pressure in the meeting may prevent dissenters from speaking up. Many organisations who hold visioning meetings develop a programme based on consensus, and then just get "creamed" by an opposition group that forms because real issues are not addressed.

Community meetings often raise expectations, leaving you holding "the bag" when they do not materialise.

Community input is important but it cannot all come from open meetings. Some stakeholders will not state their view in public but will become very active if they perceive their interests being at risk. The community may not even want development. Some rural communities have business interests that want development and residents who moved there hoping that no growth would occur. In the end run your group may have to slowly build community support by "selling" your programme, while addressing the concerns of the community. Few great leaders or great movements ever started with "community census".

At any rate, you must find out what the community will support and what it will not support at this time. This is your starting point.

6. Redefine your list of problems after the community input.

Prioritise in terms of what is needed most from an economic viewpoint and then list in order of what the community will support at this time. Then in light of both lists, prepare a list of problems in the order you will tackle them. The top few of these will become your immediate goals and the rest will become long term goals. Eliminate those that are just plain impossible. You may have to build community support for important goals that just cannot be started now because of community opposition.

7. Prepare a list of community resources.

This should be a brainstorming session. No idea is stupid. An interest in collecting leaves may sound stupid to some but perhaps enough people exist with that interest to become a tourism resource. This list will include business sites, existing businesses and existing employers, medical facilities, tourist attractions, what you like about the area, what your relatives/whanau like about the area, utility resources, weather/climate, and so forth.

8. Identify the current economic state of your community.

How many people in your community rely on Income Support for their income ? What is the state of farming in the area ? What businesses are struggling, facing possible retrenchment or possible closure ? Are we getting more tourists through ? Do they stop or just drive through in their campervans and cars ? How can we get them to stay in our area for a few days ? And so on.....what solutions can we come up with to improve our local economy. Good stimulating stuff !

Step three - do it !

1. After assembling all the data, it is time to start action. This is an ongoing process of planning, funding and organising, doing, evaluating, correcting, doing again. These processes will be mentioned later. Most activity will fall under the following actions :

1.1 Retention

This is the process of helping to keep the industry, business, and economic activities your community has.

1.2 Social and Educational Climate

This is the process of improving the community you live in through having better educational facilities, better housing, lower crime rate, and similar areas of concern. This is often part of a recruiting effort.

1.3 "Sowing the Seeds"

This is the effort to develop local entrepreneurs who will start businesses in your community. This effort ranges from technical support (e.g. Business Grow) to peer support groups (e.g. Women In Self Employment - WISE). Make people aware of the "Biz Info" free services that are available to people in rural areas.

1.4 Recruiting

This is the effort to attract outside businesses to locate or relocate to your community. This is probably the most difficult approach to be successful in but it may have the highest payoff if you succeed.

1.5 Recreation and Tourism

This is the effort to develop local resources as to attract tourists. Recreational efforts range from targeting day use of people from the nearest urban centre (Gisborne) to efforts to become a destination resort. Establishing an efficient tourist information centre within your community centre. "Capturing" free and independent travellers (FIT's) in the nicest possible way by personal contact to stay in the area for as long as possible.

1.6. Outside Incomes

This is the effort to attract retirement populations and others such as "lone eagles" whose incomes from outside sources but who spend money locally. These lone eagles are self employed persons who often sell expertise or consulting but prefer to live in a rural area. Artists would be similar. Lone eagles often have high incomes. Usually they have started their business elsewhere but retain the clients when they move to a rural area.

1.7 Electronic Infrastructure

This is the effort to modernise the communications system in your area, such as introducing/extending cellphone coverage, upgrading telephone lines in order to efficiently handle connection to the outside world through voice mail, faxes, e-mail, Internet connection and allow all these electronically based information systems to be used locally. Also this would allow Internet based businesses to exist locally.

1.8 General Infrastructure

This is the effort to provide, maintain and improve where necessary, community services, district council services, central government services, deal with Transit NZ's requirements where necessary, identify building sites, water supplies, sewer and septic tank systems, public toilets, recycling possibilities, rubbish transfer stations and their upkeep, and other services so the community can handle growth.

1.9 Build It And They Will Come !

This is the effort to build or open facilities (such as a Community Centre), often with public money, to attract business or industry, hopefully with regional development incentives, including low interest rates, in the future.

1.10 Life Style

This is recruiting by selling the good points of a community. Rural communities often market the safe and low stress life style along with the natural beauty of the rural setting.

1.11 Leakage

This is the effort to bolster the retail trade of a community by combating buying patterns where residents purchase outside the community such as retail outlets like "The Warehouse", Pak'n Save, Woolworths, and the coming importance of Internet purchases. Has the CBD development in Gisborne encouraged or discouraged you to shop in town ?

1.12 Planning

This is the process of setting objectives, each player's part, and the method to achieve these objectives.

There are others, but these are the primary efforts most communities use.

2. Now Initiate Plans and Form Your Committee(s) to Carry Out Your Plans.

These will be based on the needs you have identified, your resources, and the methods you chose.

Really, I cannot tell you what method to use nor if it will succeed !

However there are ways to approach the problem. As you work out your courses of action, you should develop the partners who will help you. For example, if your goal is to increase tourism, you would partner the regional tourism organisation, First Light Tourism ( a new CEO is about to be appointed). The process is to identify problems, resources (both community and from outside), advantages, obstacles, and goals - in fact a SWOT analysis - list your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

Once these are identified and a course of action is selected, the committee handling this goal will set up partnerships with available resource agencies and begin the work. Of course, a budget is set for this and also a review process.

3. Limit Your Projects to a Realistic Number Based On Your Organisation and its Budget.

You will do better if you do a few things well as opposed to doing a lot of things poorly.

4.Use Consultants When Possible ?

The use of students currently studying at Lincoln University in the Whatatutu district is mentioned later in this report. This is an example of a "free" service that may be also available through other New Zealand universities. Our local Tairawhiti Polytechnic has students studying tourism, and the tutors may be able to use your community as a study example and come up with recommendations to better promote tourism in your community. They could be very successful if you get the right match for your problems. Check both sources out. Call Julie O'Donnell at Whatatutu to see how the Lincoln students worked out and find out what results were achieved. Check for hard, real results - not just the fact that everyone enjoyed their presence in the community.

5. Network With the Other Communities Included in this Project and See What Has Really Worked.

Look at an expanse of time and not just the last few months. Learn from others. You can copy successes when it makes sense and you can avoid duplicating mistakes.

6. Stay in the Economic Development Loops.

Remember - think globally, interact regionally, and act locally.

7. Put Your Programmes In Motion.

Quit talking and start doing ! If you need to recruit people from your community for example, then learn how to approach them and give it a try.

Your organisation now moves from planning to action.

The Last Step - Evaluation

In this business of community and economic development, nothing is carved in stone. New approaches, trends, and changes in the economy, central government, local government - these all put us in an always changing environment.

It is important that you recognise trends, both locally and globally (the trend towards organic farming for example).

Evaluation is the process of seeing how things are going and to change the process if needed. The management process steps of planning, funding, organising, doing, evaluating, correcting, and doing again is a never ending chain.

Always be prepared to drop programmes that do not work and start new ones if needed, or to change existing ones.

Quarterly, or three monthly, reports are a good idea for your committee.

Avoid sacred cows or pet projects that continue to exist in spite of being ineffective. Evaluate projects on real results, not warm and fuzzy feelings. Too many dollars are spent on programmes that really deliver nothing directly in the community. People will eventually see through this and public support will drop. Be real !

In the evaluation process, encourage input from the public, local government and the Community Employment Group.

Be prepared to handle criticism. Listen, and if the input indicates the need for change, then be willing to change. Also be willing to defend what you are doing if it is really of value to the community. You should be looking for input from these sources, not management of your organisation by these sources.

Good luck ! I hope that you have thick skin, dedication and a great sense of humour.

(Acknowledgement -This guide to Economic Development has been sourced from an Internet article "A One Minute Guide to Economic Development for Remote and Rural Small Towns" by Min Hosik, C/- P.O. Box 1013, Kettle Falls, Western Australia)

Continued Part II over…

GISBORNE RURAL COMMUNITIES - PART II

Economic Development Ideas That May Work In Your Community

These suggestions have been taken from an Internet site of the United States Department of Agriculture - Rural Development. They are all case studies whose objectives are to enhance communities with limited resources and ability to develop and conduct effective rural development projects. The process is to :

• Identify successful project designs and project management techniques that have worked with low income, limited resource communities and drawing on the experience of other community based organisations.
• Develop a database to facilitate dissemination, use, and updating of this information.
• Make this information available to limited resource communities, non-profit organisations that work with them, and to central and local government field staff to support effective community outreach action.

Here Are Some Of The Ideas

Ageing

• Community Volunteers
• Senior Citizen Employment
• Providing Hot Meals to Senior Citizens
• Regional Elder Abuse Awareness
• Over 40's Employment
• Services to the Elderly

Arts

• Developing a Local Arts Council
• Improving Access to the Arts for Low Income People

Business, Community And Economic Development

• Proactive Intervention to Diversify a Rural Economy
• Micro-Business Development Programme
• Capital Investment/Revolving Loan Fund
• Forming a Cooperative
• Advertising Campaign for Community Development
• Business Recruiting Through Collaboration

Child Care

• Child Care for Low Income Families

Communications And Technology

• Electronic Bulletin Boards
• Family Support Centres
• Technological Business Development
• Electronic Villages

Community Development

• Mobilising an Entire Community
• Community Planning

Disaster Relief

• Community Relocation
• Natural Relief Disaster Plan

Environment

• Wetland Management
• Foundation Centre

Job Training

• Developing Jobs and New Services for a Rural, Low Income Population
• Providing Motivational Skills Training to Low-Income Youth
• Providing Education and Training for At-Risk Youth
• Providing Education and Training to Seasonal Farmworkers

Partnership

• Service Co-ordination in Rural Areas
• Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community Selection

Recycling

• Tyre Recycling

Social Services

• Family Support Centres
• Utilisation of Existing Resources
• Enhancing Unity and Cooperation by Developing a Community Centre
• Career and Microenterprise Development for Low-Income Women
• Assisting Families to Become Self Sufficient
• Providing Substance Abuse Services

Youth

• Youth Non-Violence Conference
• Assisting At-Risk Youth in the Transition from School to Work

It is indeed interesting to find that rural communities in the United States are facing similiar problems and issues that are faced by the communities involved in this project. However, the most important difference is that the communities in the U.S.A. receive regional development funding from the U.S. Treasury once they meet certain criteria (e.g. level of unemployment, low income levels, pending loss of industries etc.) under the EZEC (Empowerment Zone/Economic Communities) programmes.

For further information the EZEC website on the internet can be accessed at <www.ezec.govt>

A Recommendation For The Farmers In Our Rural Communities

This report recommends that serious consideration be given to the following processes that the farmers in Southland, with the full support of the Southland District Council, have committed their farming futures to.

The main processes are :

• topoclimate
• crops for southland
• cool climate flowers (floraculture)

Below is a summary and further information of each of the above categories.

1. Topoclimate

While the "new economy" of information technology and services may be seen as the employment of the future, rural New Zealand MUST be looking at fresh ideas on how to gain a good livelihood beyond the traditional methods of farming, particularly sheep and cattle farming.

In Southland, a collaborative effort between local councils, government agencies and community groups is quickly becoming a "flagship" initiative for rural communities who want economic development and real jobs.

The Topoclimate South Trust has been undertaking for some time now a major infrastructure project which will provide essential information on Southland and South Otago soils and climate and will open up new land use opportunities. The key to the project is using high-tech data loggers to map the pockets of land in the region that could support intensive horticulture.

There are large areas of first class soils in the Gisborne-East Coast region but there is only a limited understanding of what they are and what can be grown on them. Mapping the favourable micro-climates here could ultimately lead to the economic development of those areas.

2. Crops For Southland

This organisation is a major backer of the Topoclimate Trust. Crops for Southland is a focus group comprising commercial interests, farmers, growers, scientists and the regional and district councils and has long been active in researching crops that can be grown in the Southland region.

One of the main constraints to the sustainable development of horticulture in the Southland region was the lack of reliable information on the soils and climate within potential production areas. Providing this information has long been identified by farmers and local agencies down there as a key factor in unlocking the economic potential of their region.

What new crops could be grown in the Gisborne-East Coast region with the ongoing effects of global warming and resultant climatic changes ? What crops could now be grown in other places in our region where it has been traditionally thought previous climates would not allow it ?

In Southland, property owners on whose land the climate data-loggers are positioned, are being offered a free copy of a 1:100,000 scale map of the soils in their area as well as information on which pockets of their land will support different levels of "growing degree day (GDD) heat. There are plans to also set up an information bureau to help landowners further develop their specific horticulture potential.

A Board member of Crops For Southland and a local beekeeper, Murray Ballantyne says that in the past, a lot of people went sour about alternative land use because they had not planted in the right places. The Topoclimate project is seen as enabling intelligent and informed decisions to be made about alternative land uses.

Crops for Southland believe there will be an extra job created for every hectare of horticulture developed in the region with four more jobs downstream. The Crops for Southland target for the year 2000 is 5,000 jobs. Even with this conservative prediction ( the Dutch government says one extra job creates EIGHT more positions downstream) and if only 0.5% (5,000 hectares) of the 852,000 hectares to be surveyed by Topoclimate South went into horticulture, there could be up to 20,000 new jobs.

Examples of Alternative Crops Being Presently Trialled or Grown in Southland

• Gevuina Nuts (the cool climate equivalent and relative of the macadamia). The Gevuina nut is the world's highest valued nut.
• Wasabi - the stem of the plant provides vegetable matter which is groud up into a green paste and used as a condiment to Japanese food. "Anywhere you can grow swedes, you can grow wasabi".
• Ginseng - classed as an aphrodisiac, which is most ideally grown in the shade in forests and native bush.
• Foxtail Lilies - extensively used by florists in large floral arrangements in the northern hemisphere.
• Edible Fungi - four varieties ( porcina, saffron milk cap, matsuake and bianchetto) which can be grown in association with pinus radiata forestry, an international market potential well in excess of $1 billion.
• Medicinal herbs - valerian, echinacea, arnica, calendula, dandelion, licorice, St. John's Wort, burdock, golden seal and saffron.
• Culinary Herbs - thyme, sage, lemon balm and origanum.
• Essential Oils - from lavender, sage, thyme, origanum, coriander leaf and fruit, manuka, kanuka, clary sage and briar leaf.
• Bio-oils - rape seed oil, linseed, meadowfoam.

3. Cool Climate Flowers (Floraculture)

Crops for Southland has a database of over 1,200 people who are growing and trialling new crops in the region. One of the offshoots of its projects has been the Hydrangea Hunters and Gatherers. The project, which involves over 168 women gathering the common hydrangea blooms for sale to the USA, has allowed low income earners, beneficiaries and retired women to supplement their income.

Now, like Southland, most people in our rural communities have hydrangeas growing in sheltered areas behind their houses, which provide the protection that they need. These plants then have the microclimate to survive and produce their distinctive blooms. As a result, it is not the sort of flower that can be produced through planting large fields of them, so when hydrangeas were identified as an export crop, a different method of harvesting was needed.

The blooms were collected from the backyards of the "exporters", who were mostly elderly women (with an average age of 74). Seven people are employed in the packing shed to sort, treat and process the flowers. A letter is distributed to the "exporters" informing them of the best products and products and practices in order to improve the quality of their blooms. This year there are 367 growers on the database, and production, at 35,000 stems is still not meeting the present demands of 60-90,000 stems. Markets in France and Switzerland have also expressed their interest in hydrangeas. The plant, which everyone once took for granted, is now part of a community tourism promotion along the main road, to create the "Hydrangea Highway".

New horticultural operations in Southland illustrate the present trend in employment creation. For instance, a bulb growing enterprise at Tapanui (formerly running sheep and cattle) employs the equivalent of 68 full-time people on 70 hectares of land. Another flower growing enterprise near Invercargill employs three people on 3.5 hectares of area.

Cool climate flowers species being currently grown and/or trialled in southland

• Callas
• Daffodils/Narcissus
• Foliage
• Freesias
• Gentians
• Irises
• Lilac Buds
• Lilies
• Nerines
• Paeony
• Sandersonia
• Tulips
• 50 Other Varieties

( Please note - a book "Cool Climate Flowers - A Beginner's Guide to Commercial Flower and Bulb Growing in Southern New Zealand" - an excellent publication - is available for $19.95 from the Southland District Council, P.O. Box 903, Invercargill).

Some floraculture operations currently operating in our rural communities

1. Ross Gregory, Ormond - Calla Lilies(Zantedeschia). Has several years experience. Total crop is exported to Asia, mainly Japan, and is trucked to Auckland then flown to the Asian market and can be on sale there 24 hours after leaving Gisborne. These lilies require constant attention and hourly monitoring for disease. Quality of the stems is of the highest importance to meet the Asian market's standards, otherwise they will be rejected and endanger future sales. This business was initially established as a family partnership.

2. Wi Pere Trust, Tangihanga Station, Lavenham Road, Waituhi - Nerine Lilies - a recent addition to the Trust's farming operations. Still in the evaluation stage of what financial returns will be achieved. Two shadehouses were built at a cost of around $25,000 each. Total crop exported to Asia. Nerine growers are "locked into" their own growing organisation which does not allow others who are not members of the "club" to become involved in the growing of this type of lily. (Further mention of the Trust is included later on in this report).

3. Bryne Gregory, Willows Road, Matawhero - Calla lilies, Statice (limonium), Yarrow (achillea), Flax etc. - has 2000 square metres of shade houses, 2000 square metres of plastic cover. Calla lilies are grown all year round in totally enclosed shade houses, grown in large sawdust beds which require a constant soil temperature of 22C, maintained by a hot water system heated by gas. Bryne employs two full time staff to assist him. Statice and Yarrow are commonly known as weeds - both can be grown under plastic or outside, subject to weather conditions. Artesian water supply has to be monitored closely, on an hourly basis at times. Water quality not the best anyway. Climatic changes noticed have included an earlier spring, only one very mild frost over the winter and a lack of rain over the winter. An impressive operation which needs constant attention and monitoring to maintain the highest possible quality.

4. Annie Conole, Matawhero - Sweet Pea Seed Export - Annie grows sweet peas on about an acre, and they require great amounts of labour input, weeding etc. All the seed is pre-sold to a buyer in the United Kingdom. Annie also grows swan plants for seed.

(Acknowledgement - my grateful thanks to Ross, Henare Lardelli from Wi Pere Trust, Bryne and Annie for making their time available to see me and make a valuable contribution to this report).

Further Recommendations

Consideration of growing alternative tree species in our rural communities

Conifers

• macrocarpa
• lusitanica
• lawson's cypress
• douglas fir
• lesser known conifers

(Western Red Cedar, Atlantic & Deodar Cedars, Redwood, Leyland Cypress, Ovameal Fir, Monkey Puzzle, Norfolk Pine)

Hardwoods

• Tasmanian Blackwood
• Silver Wattle
• Poplars

Eucalyptus

• Southern Mahogony/Sydney Blue Gum
• Murray Red River Gum
• Yellow Stringy Bark Gum
• Shining Gum
• Mountain Gum

Other Hardwood Species

• Catalpa speciosa
• Sweet Chestnut
• Paulownia
• Desert Ash
• Black Walnut
• London Plane
• Liquidambar
• Pecan
• Oaks
• (Types-English, Pin, Red and Scarlet)

Fodder Trees

• Willows, Poplars, Tagasaste (Tree Lucerne), Honey Locust.

Suckering Trees

• Tasmanian Blackwood, Thorny Acacia or Black Locust, Maytens Tree, Caucasian Wingnut, Bolleana Poplar)

Shelter trees for the agriculture sector

• Japanese Cedar, Alders, Sheoaks

(Acknowledgement - Thanks to the local Farm Forestry Association and their publication "Alternative Tree Species for the East Coast", and Michael Smith, Patutahi, for supplying me with a copy).

Co-operative forestry for community development

Interview with Kees Wetymans, Director, Forest Care Ltd. Gisborne

Kees has wide experience with Community Development Forestry Projects, having been involved with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in places like Somalia, Zambia and Nepal.

These projects have involved women from these various overseas communities growing trees as a resource for the villages in these countries.

Forest Care Ltd. derives about 95% of their income from corporate forests in the Gisborne-East Coast region.

Kees has a plan for a private community forestry initiative which involves landowners, with a special focus on Maori owned blocks, becoming motivated to plant areas that are currently subject to regenerating back into native bush. He also includes those with a high manuka/kanuka content. This idea would provide good outcomes for the land itself.

He has had input into a planting of 50 hectares of poplar, which he provided free to the landowner.

His experience with alternative species has now made him certain that the one of the best species is Lusitanica or Cupressus lusitanica. This is a cousin of the macrocapra but grows better, is less disease prone than macrocarpra, produces very good timber, is tolerant of drier and less fertile sites, the thinnings after 15 years growth can be processed, and the trees reach full maturity after 35 years. There has been a shortage of seedlings locally recently - the current price is around 45 cents per tree. Native plants preferred for planting these areas would be puriri and totara. In Kees' view, there are hundreds of hectares in the Gisborne-East Coast region that could be planted in this manner, a huge and untapped resource.

His own personal opinion with forestry in the rural communities need strong leadership, especially lands that are Maori owned. Obviously the current Maori owners are burdened with payment of District Council rates every year, and much of this type of land has found itself on the Council's Whenua Rahui register.

I have received a booklet entitled "Co-operative Forestry for Community Development" from the Community Information Service, Lincoln University; as well as some information off the Internet.

(Acknowledgement - my thanks to Kees for giving up his time to make a meaningful contribution to this project).

Organic and bio-dynamic farming considerations

Introduction

"The Organic Products Exporters Group (OPEG) reckons New Zealand is in danger of missing a profitable organic bus. The sector is growing - by 20 per cent in 1999 to $35 million worth of exports - but is small fry against the demand".

"Britain, which imports 70 per cent of its organic food, exports the market to be worth $1600 million in the year 2000. Up to 10 per cent of Japan's $666 billion food market is likely to be organic products next year and the US organic market is forecast to be around $90 billion by the year 2006".

"At the same time, countries as diverse as Argentina and Denmark have made major commitments to organic growing. Denmark aims to be totally organic by the year 2010. Argentina has 200,000ha in organic production (New Zealand about 14,000ha)".

"Converting to organic farming is a fraught and costly task which governments worldwide have recognised by providing incentives. That's likely to be an unpalatable view to the present government but an election might change that".

"The Green Party, which could be a useful coalition partner, is campaigning to have half New Zealand's production certified organic by the year 2020".

"However, New Zealand would commit economic suicide if it sacrificed its biotechnological expertise and prospects on the organic altar".

"In time, organic products will be just another brand as subject to the fickle consumer swings as any other, making OPEG's support for a ban on genetic engineering in agriculture and food production short-sighted and dangerous".

"We will raise our glasses to a successful future only if we are smart enough on many fronts".

(Source - New Zealand Herald Business Herald, Monday 4 October, 1999 - Article "Between the Lines" by Philippa Stevenson)

Some of my own experiences with organics and bio-dynamics in our rural communities and neighbouring regions

(Finding Out Who Is Doing What !)

• Visited Te Wharo Farm Trust, Welcome Bay, Tauranga - managed by Andrew Fowler - organic medicinal herb growing - five acres of echinacea, small plots of valerian, St. John's Wort, ginko bilboa.
• Whanarua Bay, Eastern Bay of Plenty - Hoani Park's property - bananas, white sapote, tamarillos, macadamias, native plants propogation, nursery, sale of driftwood to Auckland flea markets.
• Rainbow Gardens, Torere, Opotiki - vegetable organics garden, totally self sufficient, producing a wide range of crops - the garlic is impressive ! Has organics roadside stall on S.H. 35, and sells produce at the Whakatane flea market.
• Coast Biologicals Ltd., Opotiki - agar (seaweed) production, manuka oil production - all waste products from the manuka are recycled into mulch for the orchardists around Opotiki.
• "TMac's Patch" - Tawhai McClutchie's property at Rangitukia, turn right at Tikitiki. 50 acres of gorse now transformed into growing organic potatoes, kumara, strawberries, white and red maize. ( I still have to visit David Swann's property at Ruatoria).
• Mike Parker, Paroa Road, Tolaga Bay - full scale, large acreages of organic peas and sweetcorn etc. for Heinz-Watties.
• Mark Lindsey's organic vegetable farm, Back Ormond Road, Hexton - organic peas and sweetcorn for Heinz-Watties, organic leeks and broccoli for the Hawkes Bay market.

(Note : On last season's prices, Heinz Wattie's prices per tonne for organic vegetables were $1000 per tonne more than non-organic produce).

(Other visits to other places will be detailed later in the individual community summaries)

Organic Meat Farming

I feel that this aspect of organic farming should be brought to the notice of those sheep and cattle farmers in our rural communities.

"John Pearce of Helensville, produces organic lamb, beef and pork for West Lynn Organic Meats, Auckland. With consumers in growing turmoil over the implications of genetically modified food, Pearce is noticing a surge of interest in organic meat".

"In the past two weeks, I've had six butchers approach me to see if I could possibly supply them because their customers are asking for organic meat".

"It was not easy getting started in organic farming. Pearce found that modern farm animals rely on a chemical support system to survive. Without it, they die. Over a 12 year period, Pearce culled a lot of animals to build up a herd of cows that don't suffer mastitis, bloat and facial eczema. And a flock of sheep that can happily exist without being dipped. There are no drips, drenches, antibiotics or vaccinations allowed on this farm. If an animal is not thriving, it is immediately isolated from the others, and got rid of".

"The effort he has put into growing healthy animals and building up the composition of the farm's soil has paid off. His farm has been scrutinised by soil scientists from State Washington University, who found that its soil has been getting thicker and deeper while his neighbours' farms get thinner and tired".

(Source - New Zealand Herald "Viva" liftout, Wednesday 29 September 1999 - article "Earthy Powers" by Maggie Blake).

The certification process for gaining organic certification

Organic growers are now controlled by a quality assurance certification process. To my knowledge, this process takes three years subject to stringent tests. The certification fee is initially $800. Some small growers cannot afford this outlay.

In the same article above, an organic fruit and vegetable grower for the past 12 years in Auckland revealed that he was not certified yet. he had got by so far only because he was well known in the industry. Now, he believes, the time is right to stop rebelling against the expense of the certification procedure and join up.

The article continues - "Another organic grower, however, has been scared away altogether by the certification process. Rippon Vineyards in Wanaka grow their grapes organically - but no longer make that claim officially. One reason why they have decided against certification is that the certification agency, Bio-Gro wanted them to enrich their soils. If they did so, the quality of their wine would be adversely affected, says Rippon's Lois Mills (no relation !). The vineyard continues to grow grapes according to organic principles - because that is the philosophy of its owners".

(Source - New Zealand Herald "Viva" liftout - article "Earthy Powers" by Maggie Blake Wednesday 29 September 1999).

Organic banana production a commercial opportunity for the future here ?

Rodger Bodle, out at Wainui Beach, Gisborne, has farmed bananas organically for many years. At present he has about 20 different varieties of bananas from Australia, Tonga, Western Samoa, Fiji and Israel - one variety there survives the winter snowfalls on the Golan heights. The bananas flower and fruit right through the year, and they are about the same size as the imported ones in the shop.

Now, I researched the price for organic bananas in Auckland - in Mangere they are fetching $5.50 per kg and demand exceeds supply. A retailer of organic produce in Tauranga has advised me they can't get enough of them either.

Is tropical/sub tropical fruit production a new industry for our rural communities here ? When you read the community summary, you will be amazed at what has been growing here, and for many years now.

In my opinion, Rodger has gained membership of my "Visionaries" club - he has pawpaw trees producing all year round, his fifteen year old Moroccan date palms have produced their first crop, and he now says seriously that coffee can be grown here.

Responses from retailers selling organic produce

One local retailer has informed me that erratic supply from local organic growers has been 'the norm' rather than the exception. They obviously prefer those growers who are certified, GST registered and are reliable. It is a small select market, and most of the produce is brought in from outside the Gisborne district. Organic apples have been a popular seller ($3.95kg was the going price at the time of my visit), as well as asparagus in season, avacados etc. Greens don't usually last the distance at times.

A response I received from a Tauranga organic fruit and vegetable retailer advised that the orchardists don't grow any vegetables over there - any supply of veges from the Gisborne area would be great - organic cauli, cabbage, celery, broccoli, silverbeet, sweetcorn, watermelon, rockmelon, kumara, potatoes, onions, carrots, garlic. Can't get enough organic bananas ! Most produce organically grown is scarce over here.

A current retail price list was sourced from an Auckland business, Organic Home Delivery. Organic fruit and vegetables were available in "value baskets" at $25 each, "family value baskets" at $35 each, and "salad value" baskets at $15 each. Current retail prices of some of the organic vegetables (for the week ending 3 September, 1999) were as follows :

Broccoli $2.20 each, carrots $2.20 kg, cauliflower $3.00 each, cabbage $2.75 each, courgettes $5.50 per 500 grams, garlic $3.00 bulb, kumara $2.90 kg, potatoes $6.00 for 5kg, silverbeet $2.50 for 500 grams, tomatoes $4.00 for 500 grams.

Retail prices for the organic fruit included Braeburn apples at $2.50 per kg, Pacific Rose apples at $3.50 per kg, oranges at $2.50 per kg, lemons and grapefruit at $2.50 per kg, avocados at $2.00 each.

Growing lavender organically

Growing Lavender for oil seems to be the way to go, especially if you have a small land holding. For further information, details of a cuurent local operation involved in this relatively new industry to one of our rural community is outlined in the Manutuke section further on in this report.

Other people involved in organic and bio-dynamic practices in our area include James and Annie Millton, Papatu Road, Manutuke "Millton Vineyard", Duncan and Judy Smith, Pooh Corner, Waimata Valley, "Tiritiri" label (both organic wine producers); Marcus Williams, Turihaua, organic deer products; Geoff Hair, Back Ormond Road, avocados etc; Kate McDonald, Gisborne, organic products "Bush Penguin" brand; Neil and Linda Kerr, Nuhaka, organic produce; Neville Pomare, Nuhaka, organic vegetables - garlic etc; Roger Bremner, Bremdale Gardens, Nuhaka, organic vegetables etc. My apologies for anyone I have missed.

(Others will be mentioned in the community summary section further on).

Comment

I have included as much information on Organics/Bio-Dynamics activities in this report as I can, so that opinions can be made on the ability of these farming methods to create more jobs, more work and more idle land can be brought into worthwhile production in our rural communities.

Manuka Oil Production

Extracts from an article in the Gisborne Herald, Thursday 17 June 1999 included

Manuka Oil Distiller To Grow Own Forest

Product has huge export potential

"New Zealand's native manuka tree is set to be 'farmed' for its antibacterial oils....Coast Biologicals, an exporter of manuka oil, based in Opotiki currently harvests its manuka from the wild but the company has taken specific cuttings from specific trees which give oil with a particularly high anti-microbial activity".

"The company is paralleling work by North Island apiarists who are gaining significant price premiums on honey made from some strains of native manuka bush they have proved has special antibacterial properties".

(Our region produces this honey).

"Manuka oil has become big business on the East Coast - another company harvesting from wild manuka, Tairawhiti Pharmaceuticals Ltd, and its sister company Natural Solutions Ltd, both based at Te Araroa, are significant employers on the Coast.........".

"East Coast harvesters have claimed manuka oil from their region is 20 to 30 times more active than Australian tea tree oil".

(According to my research, the manuka species is Leptospermum Scoparium).

"At Opotiki Coast Biologicals now aimed to have commercial manuka plantations, and cuttings taken from selected plants were being propogated at a local nursery".

As a coincidence, the local H.B. Williams Memorial library recently displayed a new book "Tea Tree Farming in Australia ". The book gave plenty of information on commercial tea tree farming. From my studies of this information, I would recommend that serious consideration be given to growing trial plots of manuka on reasonably fertile flat land somewhere locally - to determine growth rates and oil yields etc. The tea tree in Australia is grown from seed in cell transplants (like broccoli) in rows, and is mechanically harvested by a forage harvester for processing into oil after about twelve months. Natural regrowth then takes place to produce successive crops, again on an approximate twelve month cycle.

However, with our fertile soils and great climate, growth rates may easily exceed those that are encountered in Australia.

Our Rural Communitites Capacity To Provide Community Work Schemes

From my recent travels around the communities included in this project, the best potential for suitable community work schemes would come from the establishment of marae and community vegetable gardens.

The Mature Employment Support Agency has had experience and some success in establishing the "Pride in Kaiti - Manaaki Maara" vegetable gardening project over in Kaiti. An elderly couple donated a quarter acre section next to their residence for the project. Up to eight community workers from the Kaiti area have been involved with the garden - all receive the $21 per week community wage which does not effect their community wage benefit or their accommodation supplement.

We have been fortunate to have all our plants donated by Mason Smith, the owner of Norfolk Nursery, Patutahi which has been a major boost to the project, and we are grateful for Mason's generosity. Extensive new plantings have taken place recently as each visit to the nursery has yielded five trays of plants (256 per tray, a total of 1280 plants).

The project is directing all the vegetables produced to the Salvation Army Foodbank in Gisborne city. The new potatoes, which grew OK during the winter months, and some greens have been well received by the foodbank, as they have no other source of vegetables at present. Our garden is run on organic principles.

I am available to give presentations on how to go about it. Every community I have visited has ample resources of suitable land for gardens of this type, and most maraes would have space also.

The benefits for the community workers have been just as significant - a boost to their confidence, self esteem and their outlook on life. Attendances have been very good. One of the workers has gone on to full time employment with a local nursery, and has done paid landscaping work also.

The other community work project that Mature Employment has taken on is "Tairawhiti Supergrans". This project is basically using older people who are on the community wage, and other volunteers as well, assisting younger families with their everyday life skills - basic cooking, good menu planning and improving the family's nutrition, housekeeping techniques, shopping, sewing, parenting skills, dealing with government agencies, home maintenance and repairs etc.

We have been really fortunate in having two highly skilled and capable co-ordinators running our Supergrans, who were both recruited from the community wage ranks. Men, as well as women, can be involved in Supergrans. Out of our first intake of five Supergrans, three have gone onto paid employment and a fourth is contemplating a teaching career. A free six week training programme is also supplied by our Supergrans training co-ordinator.

Significant funding has been received from the Gisborne office of the Community Employment Group to sustain our Supergrans operations, and the Tindall Foundation has supported it well also. Other financial assistance has come from the Gisborne District Council, Lottery Welfare Board and the Sir John Logan Residuary Estate, Auckland in the initial stages.

Mature Employment has been fortunate to have the services of Sue Read, the Community Work Advisor who works from the Gisborne Small Business and Enterprise Agency. Sue's role is that of a work broker, liaising with many community organisations and WINZ, and she is available to be of service to all of the communities involved in this project. (Telephone 867-6787, fax 867-6788).

Sue has an interesting list of community projects she has been involved in :

Teacher Aides, Kaiawhina (for Kohanga Reos), Office Administration (mail, word processing etc), research projects, building projects including section and riverbank clearing, sports groups (training, coaching), counselling assistance, marae enhancement, assisting in the Salvation Army Foodbank, sportsground maintenance, after school programmes, resource people for teachers, and of course gardening projects and Supergrans.

Other projects I have identified as possiblities include local cemetery/urupa enhancement, township beautification, and for tourism potential, further walkway creation. All the local golf courses may benefit from having extra people on the community wage helping out.

It is the responsibility of each community and marae to make their own decisions whether a project like this should happen. Any community or marae committee could be involved in identifying local community work opportunities.

Maori incorporated blocks their responsibility to be leaders in alternative land use practices and more work creation ?

I am including this question in this report in response to the feedback I have received over the last few weeks. Of course the trustees have major responsibilities to the shareholders of the various incorporated blocks, and it is my observation that they are always "between a rock and a hard place" with what types of farming practices and uses should be carried out to make continual meaningful financial returns to all of the shareholders.

The largest incorporation in the project area is Mangatu Blocks of course. In my research role, I have found the Te Puni Kokiri, Ministry of Maori Development July 1999 publication "Maori in the New Zealand Economy" contains plenty of information on all sorts of subjects including current information about Mangatu Blocks.

"The Mangatu Blocks Incorporation is based in Gisborne, located on the East Coast of New Zealand. The Incorporation's mission is 'Adding value to the land for the benefit of the people' ".

"Mangatu's 3,932 shareholders own substantial interests in farming, forestry, a vineyard and meat companies in the region, as well as investments in local tourism and property. About 22,173 hectares are used for farming, and 2,100 hectares for forestry production ".

"Mangatu's total assets were $65.5 million for the year ended June 1998, with liabilities to $5.3 million. The Incorporation made a net loss of $0.9 million for the year, following a profit of $0.6 million for the 1997 year ".

"The Incorporation's farming and farm service operations were adversely affected by the severe drought on the East Coast during 1998, and by reduced prices for wool on world commodity markets. However, vineyard profits increased by 273% due to excellent growing conditions ".

I can only make the comment that Mangatu's financial performance for the 1998 year would severely restrict any moves to diversify their various activities at this time. I just would hope that the trustees and the shareholders may have thoughts and plans to seek ways of alternative land use in the future to create more work on their extensive land holdings.

The same section in the Te Puni Kokiri publication also mentions the Wi Pere Trust's involvement in the creation of Tohu Wines Ltd., a joint venture with the Wakatu Incorporation and Ngati Rarua Atiawa Iwi Trust. Tohu Wines is developing its own branded Maori wine label. In its first year the company has produced 4,000 cases of wine. In June 1999 21 tonnes of grapes from the Wi Pere's Trust vineyard in Gisborne was in the winery to produce a commercial and reserve chardonnay. The Wi Pere Trust has about 300 shareholders. An interview with Henare Lardelli from the Trust revealed the growing financial importance of grape growing to the Trust, and with better management techniques being achieved (e.g. a revised spraying programme resulted in a 50% saving in spray costs) and a computer linked climatic monitoring system in place, the future looks promising. Also a Californian wine expert, on a recent visit to the Trust's vineyards, identified ideal new sites on north facing hillsides situated on the Trust's properties.

In my opinion, trustees of Maori Incorporated Blocks are always faced with a delicate balancing act in times when returns from their farming operations are not great, other than viticulture, as illustrated in Mangatu's information. Other blocks have relied on the steady returns from extensive plantings of maize, and have shown understandable caution in diversifying into alternative, more labour intensive crops which would provide much needed employment for the shareholders and their whanau.

Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) has financially supported Kaiatiaki Trustee training workshops in the Hawkes Bay and Wairoa areas in recent weeks, and this training option would be well supported here as well in my opinion. The four day course covers all aspects of a trustee's responsibilities, and the total course fee of $900 per person was subsidised by WINZ to the tune of $700 per person.

I would suggest anyone interested in contacting Lindsay Scott, the WINZ Regional Commissioner based in Napier, responsible for the communities included in this project.

Harking back to "Maori in the New Zealand Economy" a section on Organic Produce is included. The article states that the organic "market offers good profit opportunities for organic primary production exports by Maori landowners, particularly if successful quality control and marketing investments are made".

"Apart from the commercial rewards which are likely to flow from investments in organic production, there could also be significant evironmental and employment benefits. These may be particularly attractive to iwi and hapu which own farming enterprises".

"Furthermore, the fact that many Maori land blocks have been undeveloped - and so were not exposed to agricultural chemicals - raises the prospect of securing accreditation to supply organic produce".

The section also has features on Biofarm Products Limited , Manawatu, and Tairawhiti Pharmaceuticals Limited that has already been referred to earlier in this report.

Continued Part III over…

GISBORNE RURAL COMMUNITIES - PART III

Reports on the individual communities involved in this project

Muriwai Case Study

Alternative Land Use

(Paul Dodgshun's Property, Pakowhai Road, Muriwai)

Paul's property is an excellent example of alternative land use and diversification. The farm is about 320 hectares (700 acres) of mainly steep hill country with 6 - 7 hectares of flats, with some north facing hill side. While the traditional sheep and cattle provide the farm's main income, the farm has diversified into other areas :

• Persimmons (has transitional bio-grow label)
• Mandarins
• Nursery - trees etc.
• Pecan Nut trees
• Forestry - 100 acres radiata, other species include chestnut, hickory, black walnut, acacia, elm, rabinia (thorny acacia), copper species etc.
• Carob trees (chocolate substitute)

A contractor is used to supply labour for picking mandarins etc. Paul is presently finding all this diversification becoming too much to handle, and needs better returns and generation of income to enable him to employ more staff at this time.

But shouldn't Paul's farm be an ideal example and inspiration to his neighbours and to us all ? Should not this be the way to a better future ? I will let you answer the last question !

(Acknowledgement - special thanks to Paul Dodgshun for allowing his farm to be included in this report. Kia ora Paul)

Pakowhai Incorporated Blocks

I was fortunate to be able to attend an impromptu meeting at Peka's house, and very pleased to meet some members of Pakowhai's management committee.

The 600 acres or so has been traditionally planted in maize, providing a steady return for the shareholders. However, maize is not a labour intensive crop and there were signs that the word "diversification" was coming into the frame. There had been talk about a possible viticulture venture to be established on a prime site adjacent to the Muriwai hotel. Photos of Rodger Bodle's banana plantation I produced at the meeting gained much interest and many questions, especially the proximity to the sea, and frost free requirements as well as adequate shelter belts and water supply.

Some land owned by Tu Wyllie, MP and his whanau was last season leased out for melon production. Kia ora Tu, I hope you read this report when you have time.

(Acknowledgement - thanks to Peka and Rob for the cup of tea and the hospitality, and thanks to the other attendees for their interest and their input and enthusiasm that they displayed at the meeting that day).

Some Of Muriwai's Resources And Opportunities

• Great people
• Strong community and whanau spirit
• Great marae and village
• Land available for small, alternative crops (e.g. lavender, flower growing etc)
• Land available for community/marae/training organic gardens
• Using topoclimate to identify suitable micro-climates for all sorts of tropical/sub tropical fruits and other new crops
• Tourism opportunities - Maori Culture and History, working in with the owners and guests of the homestays in the area, looking at building an authentic "ye olde" world railway station to receive tourists from the WA165 steam locomotive trips in the future, taking advantage of tourist traffic using S.H. 2
• Supporting local farmers and Maori Incorporations who are diversifying their land to provide more work
• Acquaculture in the future ? I can show you the paua farm facility at Waikawa, Whanarua Bay, EBOP if you want to see a great working model
• More Viticulture development - keep Phil Parker on your side !
• Estuary/Wetland development ("Ducks Unlimited")

Manutuke Case Study

Growing organic lavender for lavender oil and associated products

(Theo and Jocelyn Marama's Property, Papatu Road, Manutuke)

The Maramas have already harvested their first crop of lavender grosso from about 500 plants situated on their front lawn, covering an area of about a quarter of an acre.

The parent plants were sourced from the Nelson area at a cost of approx. $1.15 each. The favourable growing conditions on their 1.3 hectare property meant that the first crop came much earlier than the text books said, but it was all good news for Theo and Jocelyn.

The crop was harvested right on New Year, and then transported to a still for distilling into oil, situated in Hastings. Much valuable knowledge was gained from this first harvest, including making sure the harvested crop has as much dampness and condensation removed from it prior to processing.

The Maramas have also registered their own trademark for their own line of lavender products - lavender oil, cosmetics etc. Test results from their first oil samples have ranked it as true international quality. There are plans to purchase their own still in the future and open an outlet to sell their lavender products. The Maramas have a choice location being near the Millton winery, so a "cluster" is forming along Papatu Road with the Karalus gardens nearby as well.

Theo is pleased that he now has a tractor to cultivate his fertile ground. More lavender plants, propogated from the parent plants on the front lawn, are being planted out the back. To supplement their income, organic caulis, cabbages, silverbeet etc. are sold at the Flea Market in town every Saturday morning, and this produce is well sought after.

The real strength that the Maramas have is that they are doing everything themselves, for themselves, and retain their independence in what they are doing. They have received support from Crop and Food Research when they have needed help.

Theo and Jocelyn are always willing to share their knowledge and growing expertise with others interested in growing lavender, Their operation is a fine example of what can be achieved on a small area of land. Don't tell anyone, but Theo was a commercial banana grower in his homeland of Rarotonga !

(Acknowledgement - my heartfelt thanks to Jocelyn and Theo for allowing my visitors to see what you are up to, keep the date scones coming, your smiling faces light up all of our lives !)

Some Of Manutuke's Resources And Opportunities

• Great people
• Strong community and whanau spirit
• Manutuke Community Development Centre
• Five marae in close proximity - consideration of the establishing of marae and community gardens
• Tourism potential - Maori culture and history, traditional Maori medicine, organic "trail" featuring wine, lavender, gardens, herb growing etc.
• Rongawhakaata Organic Medicinal Herb Project
• More lavender planting and researching flower growing initiatives
• Providing employment opportunities for the older people in Manutuke
• Consideration of Topoclimate studies to complement the current survey work Shane Awatere is doing for Rongawhakaata
• Derelict Vehicle Disposal and Recycling Depot at Matawhero
• Returning more local blocks of land currently leased to outside interests back to the original owners for better outcomes to benefit the local community
• Tony's Driftwood Expo
• Fish based products (including fertiliser)
• Community forestry development for firewood production and sale
• Maintaining a strong sense of unity to protect the environment for the future generations who will live in the Manutuke area in the coming years
• Running more marae based training programmes in and around Manutuke

(Acknowledgement - sincere thanks to Laurie, Robin and Ruthy for their continued help and support for myself and my family, kia ora to local kaumatua Naki Paratene for always encouraging me with my endeavours, the Hokianga boys, Kerry and the crew, Tony Halbert-Pere for his ingenuity with driftwood, Colin Alder and his commitment to organic growing and being able to share his experiences, and everyone else out there at Manutuke. Kia kaha !).

Patutahi/Waituhi Case study

Alternative land use and tree crops

(Michael Smith's property, Waitaria, Patutahi)

After making a personal visit to Michael's 40 hectare/100 acre property, I was convinced that Patutahi has their own tourist attraction to rival the Eastwoodhill and Hackfalls arboretums elsewhere in the region. Significant trees are individually identified by name and species to assist novices like me.

A recent article in the Gisborne Herald summed up the farm's activities perfectly.

"On his property Michael now has hundreds of trees including pecans, walnuts, macadamias, carobs, almonds, chestnuts, hazelnuts, oaks and even a fruiting cacti ".

"Trees for bees, trees for shade and shelter, trees for timber, and native trees all gradually planted by Mr. Smith since he first began in 1979 have turned the farm into an oasis".

"Waitaria Farm is also growing trees from the eastern rain forests of Australia and is the centre of South American trees in conjunction with Invermay Research Station"..........

"I would like to see farmers planting more trees for shelter and shade for their livestock, particularly in our long hot summers".

Michael also has around 14,000 citrus trees - oranges, mandarins, grapefruit, and until recently, 2,500 Meyer lemon trees which proved to be uneconomic and have been mulched along with the current crop of lemons. If onsold to the packhouse, the lowest grade would only have been worth 13 cents per kilogram, once the packhouse took their 12 cents per kg fee. Having spent some time in Canterbury and Southland this year, the sight of the trees being shredded to sawdust type material would have brought tears to the most hardened citrus-starved mainlander. Lemons were selling for $5 per kilogram in Christchurch and Invercargill supermarkets.

No doubt Michael will come up with a replacement for his lemon trees. Mandarins seem to provide a reasonable return at the moment.

The livestock on the farm do really well in the tree lined paddocks. The fodder trees seem to provide cattle with a natural anthelmintic as the leaves pass through their digestive system according to Michael.

I would encourage more people from our rural communities to follow Michael's example and seriously consider all the benefits that trees can bring to themselves and their families/whanau, their livelihood, the environment and create a better future for us all.

(Acknowledgement - thanks to Barbara Scott, Agriculture Reporter for the Herald - article "Other tree lovers an inspiration, award for those people", Wednesday 22 September 1999)

(Acknowledgement - grateful thanks to Michael Smith, another visionary in my opinion, for taking the time to show me and my family around his "treasure trove" - it was an unforgettable experience)

Some Of Patutahi And Waituhi's Resources And Opportunites

• Great people
• Strong spirit in both communities
• Are community gardens a possibility in Patutahi and Waituhi ?
• Diversification into lavender and flower growing a possibility ?
• Heaps of citrus and grapes with major new viticulture plantings completed
• More Organically Grown Crops in the future
• More Employment Opportunities in Viticulture and Horticulture (e.g. more grape pruners needed in the future)
• Tourism Opportunities - marae visits, Maori culture and history around Waituhi (especially Te Kooti), historic pa sites, farmstays and homestays, trout fishing guiding service
• Patutahi Community Hall - focal point for the community
• Sporting facilities - Patutahi Golf Club, Ngatapa Sports Club's complex and grounds at Patutahi, rugby league ground
• Shalimar Winery
• Chris Parker's New Hillside Vineyard
• Wi Pere Trust
• Norfolk Nursery

Ormond/Waihirere

Organics

One of the pioneers of bio-dynamics in Poverty Bay, Jack Wanklyn resides at Ormond, and is currently becoming involved more in the marketing side of organic produce. He has been dealing with Peter Anderson of Chantal Foods Ltd., Hawkes Bay and has been assisting David Swann, a Ruatoria organic grower, with selling his produce. Jack has also had contact with outlets in the Bay of Plenty.

One of his latest ventures has been marketing the current crop of organically grown oranges from a neighbour's property while they are away overseas. The oranges are being sold at the local flea market and from a roadside stall outside his gate in ever increasing quantities. Organically grown persimmons have been another crop I have noticed being sold in season at the flea market.

Jack's place is opposite the former Ormond store, with the shop part currently vacant. Jack and I soon agreed that this may have the potential to be reopened as a community centre and an outlet for the sale of organic and other produce.

Jack attended the recent organics seminar at Nuhaka organised by Neville Pomare and the Bremners, and attended by about 30 people. Jack indicated to me that there is a need for some co-ordination and bringing together of organic growers in the Gisborne-East Coast region, perhaps forming an organic growers association.

An organic grower established in the Waihirere district is Tim Klay, who is farming a small holding, and last season grew a reasonable quantity of watermelons.

(Acknowledgement - many thanks to Jack and Deanna for taking time out from preparing the oranges for the next day's flea market to talk to me).

Is there a future for different tropical and sub-tropical crops To be grown here ?

I visited and spoke to David Grey, a long time grower of avacados, (his late father pioneered avacado growing in this area about fifty years ago), as well as kumaras, citrus and other produce.

He was able to give me an insight into growing cherimoya (custard apples) which he sells commercially as well as from his stall on his property. This tropical fruit is delicious, but needs to be hand pollinated to ensure that the fruit is grown successfully, making it labour intensive for this stage of the fruit's development.

The ability of the Ormond/Waihirere district to grow tropical fruits was further confirmed with a visit to Ian and Jean McMillan's property in Snowsill Road. Not only was there an example of a well grown cherimoya tree, but happily growing specimens of white and black sapote, two kinds of guavas (one being the pink variety), and a massive Ethiopian or Abyssinian banana tree.

Now I have yet to ascertain what the current demand is for tropical and sub-tropical fruits is like in niche markets such as Auckland, but this is another option to consider in the future.

(Acknowledgement - thank you Jean and David for allowing me to visit and taking the time to help me gain an appreciation of the variety of things that can be grown locally).

Some of the resources and opportunities for the Ormond/Waihirere district

• Great people
• Strong community spirit
• Waihirere Marae
• Waihirere Maori Concert Party - a world class act of long standing
• Waihirere Domain
• Possible community/marae gardens ?
• Assessing the potential of reopening the old Ormond store as a community centre/produce outlet ?
• Diversity of current activities - intensively farmed area - citrus, grapes, broccoli, melons, organic produce etc.
• Increased grape plantings with Corbans recent purchase of the Wolter vineyard, Ormond as well as the big development on the Johnson property, Waipaoa (more grape pruners to be trained ?)
• Lifestyle blocks and smaller holdings - potential for lavender and flower growing ?
• Topoclimate analysis to gauge microclimates that are suitable for alternative crops

Te Karaka Case Study

Let's Help Te Karaka

A few months ago, Mature Employment met with the members of the township committee - Cath Hema, Bonnie Peta, Jim Rutene and Norm Boynton - and the ideas of community gardens and Supergrans were discussed with myself, Jan Hall and Jenny Krzanich (from Supergrans). Just prior to this, WINZ had referred a person from the Te Karaka area to be considered for Supergrans. Also present at the meeting was Tom Laing, a business development consultant, who was interested in any new business and self employment opportunities in the area.

Since that meeting, feedback has been received by Mature Employment that there is interest in establishing a Te Karaka Supergrans and possibly a community garden.

The Te Karaka township had been a serious victim of a decision to put a in a bypass about ten years ago, with major losses of businesses and services. There are plenty of vacant buildings in the township itself. Just recently, the Gisborne District Council Service Centre was under threat of closure but eventually survived for now. The Waikohu College was also under threat with reduced rolls and lack of community support, but has been able to continue to stay open for now. Civil Defence has also adopted an new evacuation plan for the Te Karaka village in case of flooding from the nearby Waipaoa River. With all this happening, property values have dropped there, and in my view, morale of the residents is not great.

I just hope that Te Karaka can enjoy a better future, and somehow central and local government can take responsiblity of providing appropriate assistance out there.

Some Of Te Karaka's Resources And Opportunities

• Great people
• Determined community spirit
• Development of a Community Centre, a Community garden and the establishment of a local Supergrans organisation ?
• Closing the bypass !
• Continued Support of Local Businesses to Maintain Viability
• Puha Nursery - growing huge quantities of conifers for planting, as well as other tree varieties.
• Maori Culture and History
• Topoclimate Assistance to identify Microclimates and Possible New Crops
• Different crops being grown up the Kanakanaia Valley - grapes, sweetcorn etc.
• Possible lavender and flower growing, and more crop diversification
• Medicinal herbs (St. John's Wort) being grown in the Te Karaka area
• Sporting Clubs and Grounds - Te Karaka Bowling Club, Rangatira Rugby Club, Waikohu Golf Club

Whatatutu Case study

A community with vision

As I mentioned much earlier in this report, some time ago the Whatatutu community engaged students from Lincoln University, Canterbury to assist them to prepare a vision statement for Whatatutu. The result is the following document :

Whatatutu will be a self sufficient community by the year 2002

Marae - To assist in the development of the Community that reflects the authentic cultural identity of the area.

1. Landscaping of Marae (12 months)

• Development of designs (6 months)
• Completion
• Project (6 months)

2. Tourism - foster the development of Tourism in a manner which benefits the community and protects the environment.

3. Employment - to identify and develop opportunities within the community that provides self sufficiency.

4. Marketing - to market and promote the community in order to increase the number of visitors.

Upgrading Of Marae Buildings And Facilities

1. Complete plans of required upgrading for :

• Wharenui
• Toilet/Ablution blocks
• Wharekai
• Adventure Playground

2. Obtain costings and compile resource needs to complete project, and assess what funding is available.

3. Prioritise plans.

4. Develop projects for implementation.

Time frame : 12 months

Tourism

1. Feasibility trip.
2. Complete SWOT analysis.
3. Investigate other tourism operations currently in the area.
4. Compile data, and present to community and committee.
5. Design of tourism packages for :

• Year 2000
• Mangatu Incorporation
• I.T.T. Rayonier
• Local hotel

6. Identify resource people

• Skills, needs, courses

7. Implement packages

Marketing

1. Develop and identify needs for promoting the Mangatu community
2. Prepare and promote awareness of community within the Tairawhiti area.
3. Promote local awareness of events, community.
4. Liaise with our organisations, tourism groups.
5. Investigate marketing options and financial assistance.

Landscaping Of Community

1. Development of community grounds, as per plan.

• Landscaping of ground
• Fencing of areas
• Planting of shrubs/trees
• Construction of - Meeting areas, buildings; tennis courts, adventure playground.
• Continuing of maintenance of grounds

2. Development of beautification of other community areas - e.g. Roadside verges, frontages of homes.

• Survey community of needs/ideas for individual frontage. Collate and present to community for endorsement.
• Look at District Council as to what resources able to provide for planting, signage, footpaths, lighting, maintenance of verges.
• Investigate other options for resources/funding.
• Compile data and formulate beautification plan to present to community.
• Implement project.

I wish to congratulate the Whatatutu community for their foresight and commitment to their future, and I hope that worthwhile progress has been made to date. In my view, the community in Whatatutu have identified the resources and opportunities themselves ! Congratulations to you all !

Matawai/Motu Case Study

Tourism Development And Future Employment And Business Opportunities In The Area

I was grateful to have the opportunity to interview Frank Murphy, the owner of Murphy's Lodge situated at Motu, which caters for an exclusive clientele of tourists from overseas.

Being able to meet and talk with Frank at his lodge was indeed an interesting and enjoyable experience. He was only too happy to share his views and opinions about tourism and the Motu community in general.

Frank considers the nearby DOC controlled Whinray Scenic Reserve as an increasing important tourist attraction. The New Zealand Tourism Board had identified bush walks as a preferred option of visiting tourists, and the Whinray Reserve was really ideal. Birdlife included wekas and kiwis, and DOC was operating a weka protection scheme in the area. The new swing bridge there had cost $27,000 to build, with a $12,000 contribution from the Gisborne District Council and other sponsorship and local financial input helped to pay for the rest. The whole community got involved in the project.

The Motu River and its environs were protected by law, and the rare Hochstetter frog population in the area, which was receiving interest from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History (New York), was being studied for what effects there were on the species from global warming. Another attraction is "real" live glow worms nearby.

The walking track through the Reserve takes around two and a quarter hours and is mainly flat.

Frank has been a resident of Motu for nearly forty years, and has been involved in programmes to "clean up the community". DOC once had a programme eradicating possums employing ten people.

An expert bushman, still resident in the area, Robert Niwha and one other also cleaned up the possums.

The Scenic Reserves in the Motu area are a valuable asset to the district, but how do you utilise it best ? There is a growing worldwide interest in ancient traditional use of native plants and shrubs. 76% of all the world's pharmaceuticals are now derived from trees and plants. There was a need to market these Motu bush walks with doctors and influential pharmaceutical people throughout the world.

Frank's immaculate lodge employs five staff, and caters for a maximum of six guests at any one time. He is currently President of the New Zealand Professional Fishing Guides Association and a member of the Eastland First Light Tourism Board. Some times he has to bring in professional trout fishing guides from Taupo, because there are no locally trained guides available. There is a great future for eeling also. Horse trekking is also available at Motu.

His lodge is a high yield tourism business, and the presentation of Murphy's Lodge, inside and outside, is most important, as is great customer service.

Frank has strong views on past work schemes. In Motu, there has never been any job potential in running welding and panelbeating training schemes - focus on the actual possibilities in the Motu area, and concentrate on long term employment prospects e.g. tourism guides etc. Also make sure the training is done properly. Frank has never agreed with the old NZES concept of having to accept whoever was referred to you by them.In Frank's view and from his personal experience, "you cannot bullshit overseas tourists !" Even now the returns from possums are not economical - for the new drive for possum fur by a South Island firm the price for fur is $45 per kilogram - you need at least 70 possums to get a kilogram for fur according to Frank.

To be successful, any tourism venture MUST have customers. Frank's main clientele is from U.S.A. with others from France, Switzerland and other places around Europe. His return rate stands at 83%. Their average age is 72 years. There is potential for the Matawai Hotel to be included in future tourism packages in the district. The lodge also has its own craft shop, selling souvenir tee shirts, hats, pottery, wool garments and jerseys - locals do the knitting. There is also a range of rimu wood products. There is an authentic old world style wine bar as well, with heads of deer and wild pigs displayed, a large open fire, seating, new toilets,and a wide range of artifacts to add to the atmosphere.

Tourists travelling through the Matawai/Motu area must be stopped and enticed to stay in the community for a time. Tourism Holdings had recently purchased another 6,000 new campervans. These campervans entering the Matawai township must be stopped, and as well, be encouraged to turn left up the Motu valley.

There is also a need for more homestays/farmstays in the Matawai/Motu area. One benefit from the latest amendments to the Liquor Act to become law on December 1, 1999 is that any homestay will not have to have a liquor licence - you will now be able to serve wine to your guests and charge them for it (before this the cost was included in the overall tariff. Frank says that this will revolutionise rural tourism.

Many travel agents Frank deals with are only interested with how much commission they can receive from a booking - up to 20% in some cases. They want to make as much money as they can !

Frank firmly believes that the future of tourism in the Eastland Region lies in chardonnay (and first light red ?) and local Maori culture and history.

(Acknowledgement - thanks for taking time out from your busy shedule to talk to me Frank. Much appreciated !)

A Recent Community Initiative In Motu

The Motu community has recently joined together to buy a community house and property. The house has three bedrooms and used to be the old post office, and is next to the Motu school. It is planned to have a variety of uses, including being an information centre for visitors possibly.

Motu School

This well cared for school has a current roll of 31 pupils, ranging from

new entrants. I have approached Tessa Miller, the School secretary, in regard to a possible school project for the senior students to do their own project on the future of their own community.

Apparently, similar projects have been completed by the students of secondary school pupils from Rerekohu and Tolaga Bay District High Schools.

Matawai village

A new initiative

Malcolm Sherman has recently set up a new camping ground within the old Ministry Works Depot in the village, with a new kitchen/ablution block and caravan power points etc. There is also river access through the old railway reserve at the rear of the property.

Malcolm is also manufacturing an impressive range of hand made furniture there as well, using native timbers such as rimu, matai and red beech. The timber is sourced from his parent's farm in the Koranga Valley and the logging is under strict control from the government agencies involved. Malcolm is registered with Business Grow and is appreciative of the free help.

(Acknowledgement - best of luck with your new ventures, Malcolm and taking the time to talk to me).

Talking to Neville and Anne from the cafe, it was encouraging to hear that a citizens ratepayers-type committee had been formed recently, and were dealing with community issues on an ongoing basis. Having some sort of community/information type facility in the village could also be handy for visitors passing through.

There seemed to be a need for better signs to be funded and provided for, especially at the Gorge end, to advise tourists travelling S.H. 2 the services and tourist attractions to see in the Matawai/Motu areas. The increase in campervans was noticeable and there was a couple of power points available next to the cafe.

I also met with Andy Pilmer, the chairman of the local marae committee. He informed me that he had been in contact with the Gisborne office of WINZ to see if the Matawai marae could be involved in a scheme to enhance the marae's buildings. He also told me that a hawker from town usually visited the village on Wednesdays, selling meat and fresh veges. I told him about the idea of establishing a community garden to help out the local people who may be in need.

We also talked about the interest that the Bay Milk Company had expressed in 1996 about the suitability of a new dairy farm industry in the Matawai/Motu area. Apparently about 4000 hectares in the area had been identified as suitable. However, with Bay Milk being taken over by the New Zealand Dairy Group, the impetus was lost.

Another item of interest confirmed by all I spoke to on this area was that the climate was becoming more milder, especially in the winter.

(Acknowledgement - I appreciated your feedback, Anne and Neville. Good luck with your new book. Thanks also, Andy for your views coming from a Maori marae perspective).

Some Resources And Opportunities Identified In The Matawai/Motu Area

• Great people
• Matawai and Motu communities working together
• A community/information centre for Matawai as well as a Community / Marae garden
• Tourism development has a future
• More homestays/farmstays for both areas ?
• Topoclimate studies needed to identify alternative land uses, climate changes into consideration (what could be grown on some of the flat land for example)
• Cool Climate Flowers evaluation
• Sports Clubs - Matawai Squash Club, Rakauroa Golf Club etc.

(this ends the section of individual community summaries)

Be Your Own Boss And Biz Programmes

Introduction

Historically, the Gisborne Small Business and Enterprise Agency has delivered "Be Your Own Boss" courses in the Gisborne region. Thanks to the dedication of people like Maurie Bayne, capably assisted by Gayle Jones, significant numbers of people (referred to the courses by WINZ, and having their business ideas being scrutinised by Maurie) have gone through these three monthly courses which deal thoroughly with all aspects of running your own business. (I know, I have been on one of these courses). These courses are free, providing you meet WINZ's requirements and your business idea is acceptable to the Small Business and Enterprise Agency. If your business plan is accepted at the end of the course, you may qualify for financial assistance of up to $5000 for an enterprise grant, and also a wage subsidy for a short period while the business is becoming established,

Numbers attending these courses over the last two financial years are as follows :

1997-98 Year - 159 people participated in the courses. Of those, 10 of those people came from the rural communities surveyed in this project (6% of the total - 6 from Patutahi, 1 each from Te Karaka, Muriwai, Manutuke and Ngatapa)

1998-99 Year - a total of 140 participants. Out of this total, the rural areas as above contributed 11 people - about 8% of the total - 5 from Te Karaka, 3 from Manutuke, 1 each from Manutuke, Ngatapa and Waihirere.

The New Biz Programmes

BIZ INFO

This new free service, paid for by the Ministry of Commerce, has been available from the Biz Info offices, in the Federated Farmers Rooms, in Gladstone Road, Gisborne. The service commenced on 1 July, 1999.

Information about the services available will be gladly given by the staff at the offices. An example of one of the free courses available is one called "Farming To Win", run in conjunction with Agriculture New Zealand. This course should be of strong interest from the farmers in our rural communities. Details from the Biz Info office - you will be surprised with what range of free services are available there.

Turanga Ararau Biz - business development programme "minding your own business"

This new programme also started on July 1, 1999 and is run by Te Runanga O Turanganui A Kiwa's (TROTAK's) Private Training Establishment, Kahutia Street, Gisborne.

The programme co-ordinator is Kahu Nikora.

Firstly, these programmes are FREE ! The programmes run for a total of 18 weeks and are open to Maori and non-Maori. The end result of each programme is that each participant will receive a full and complete business plan at the end of the course. Tutors include Tom Laing and Richard Brooking, as well as Ken Raureti, from the Wellington Employers and Manufacturers Association.

One marae based course, to introduce the new programme, has been held at the Takipu Marae, Te Karaka. I hope that more marae based courses can be held in the other rural communities in this project especially. About 60% of the attendees at Takipu Marae were women.

Perhaps funding from CEG could be used to meet the costs of these rural presentations. People are introduced to the aspects of strategic business planning, and gain an appreciation of what the full programme is all about. Normal hours for the day course is between 9am through to about 1.30pm. To be viable, there needs to be between 10 to 14 people enrolled.

People who have attended the full 18 week programme have included apiarists (beekeepers), those involved in fishing, acquaculture, organic farming, and seaweed juice production among others.

(Acknowledgement - thanks to Kahu Nikora for his help in providing the background to this new programme, and I wish him all the best and success for the future with the programme).

What has been the Gisborne district council's performance in providing economic development to the rural communities involved in this project ?

Well, I will leave it up to you to make your own opinion - don't forget to ask your Councillor who is your Ward representative - that will be either Meng Foon (Patutahi), Simon Cave (Chairman of the Council's Economic Development Committee and Councillor for the Cook Ward, or Richard Tombleson, Councillor for Waikohu - about what the Council is doing to provide a better economic future for the rural communities involved in this project.

This is a short summary of what my research has produced. First I examined the performance of our neighbours, the Wairoa District Council, in economic development matters and policy affecting its ratepayers and citizens. The following reports summarise the level of commitment and responsibility they have been involved in :

1. Report - "The Impacts of Land Use Change in Wairoa" - May 1995 - this contains information on the impacts of land use change in the Wairoa District - a summary report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Landcare Research. Also contains "From Farming to Forestry in Wairoa", an estimate of employment and household income changes in the Wairoa District arising from a land-use change from farming to forestry - provided by Butcher Partners.

2. Report - "Wairoa 1998 - A Profile of the Wairoa District - Social, Economic and Environmental". This excellent report came about the Council in 1996 realising that in order to plan for a better future, they needed to know what their position was then. This 1998 report is an update which now includes the 1996 Census statistics.

The report, in Mayor Derek Fox's opinion, does for the first time, lay out in black and white the sorts of negative factors the Wairoa District labours under as a community. It also let them know the challenges that lay ahead. The Wairoa Development Taskforce started to tackle some of these challenges, but in order to succeed the Council would need as much help as they could get.

As well as a summary of the whole Wairoa district, full consultation meetings were held with the people of each Council Ward. Each ward came up with a Vision 2007 statement - which included a profile, council services - existing and proposed trends, prospects, what were the constraints (e.g. declining population, low economic base), issues ( e.g. lack of employment opportunities), the needs and priorities from the community for the Council to consider, and the Council's decisions in regards to the communities needs/priorities.

3. Report - "The Wairoa Economic Development Forum Programme" - the result of Wairoa hosting 45 international and national economic development staff, who came to Wairoa to help the people of the Wairoa district assess the potential of their Wairoa communities, and develop their ideas. Many issues were SWOT analysed and this report lists the outcomes of the forum.

4. Report - "Horticultural Potential for Land in the Wairoa District " - prepared for the Wairoa District Council by Agriculture New Zealand. One of the most interesting results from this study was that a total of 24,082 hectares classed as suitable for horticultural production in the Wairoa district, only 130 hectares were in permanent crops and another 900 hectares in temporary crops (maize, sweetcorn).

What would a survey of the Gisborne District Council area reveal ?

5. Topoclimate Initial Visit - this has already taken place in Wairoa and presentations were made to the full Council and farmers from the Districts, Feedback from those who attended ranged from"amazing" and "staggered with the potential ".

In summary, I can reveal that the Gisborne District Council, in its annual plan each year, allocated $25,000 per year for "rural employment initiatives". To illustrate Council's performance in spending this money each financial year, my research has revealed the following performance :

1995/96 - Amount allocated $25,000 - Spent $750 - underspent by $24,250.
1996/97 - Amount allocated $25,000 - Spent $27,680 - overspent by $2680.
1997/98 - Amount allocated $25,000 - Spent $176 - underspent by $24824.
1998/99 - Amount allocated $25,000 – Spent $5338 – underspent by $19662.

P.T.O. for summary and conclusion…………..

Summary And Conclusion

If you have made it to this final part of the report, I must congratulate you for your patience and perseverance to get this far.

I am sorry if the information is overpowering and sometimes not relevant in certain ways, but I hope you may have learned something about each of the rural communities that are included in this report.

I just want to thank all the great people who gave up their time freely to make a contribution to the report's contents. My apologies if I have missed anyone out along the "long and winding road". This report has been compiled over a short period of three weeks, and just the task of producing the report on my home computer has been an exhausting, but mostly very enjoyable task. Now I am nearly at the end, it is an enormous relief in some ways.

Heartfelt thanks to Pierre Henare to allowing me to do the report, and I hope it meets most of the Gisborne office of the Community Employment Group's expectations.

Ka kite, see you around sometime !

Now for the final summary :

1. Community Work - each community has the right people to identify what community work could be done in each community. This report contains examples of what types of work has been done in the urban and some rural areas. I would recommend you contacting Sue Read, mentioned earlier in the report (Community Work section).

What happens on November 27 (the next election) may determine the future of Community Work.

2. Enterprise and Employment Options for Self Employment - the withdrawal of Business Development Board grants to get approved businesses started, has, in my opinion, severely restricted potential new businesses here to actually start and get more people into self employment.

A number of businesses in the Gisborne-East Coast region relied on these grants to get started, and are now doing well.

It really now means that anyone who is interested in developing their business idea must first contact the providers of BYOB courses and business programmes if they are going to get the right training and direction in running their own business. They would be taking an awful risk in going into a business "cold". And the Business Grow free service provided by Kim Scott at the Gisborne District Council is there as well as a FREE service !

3. In my opinion, the only effective delivery strategy in the initial stages is to do what they are doing with the TROTAK business programmes - holding one day seminars at venues such as maraes and halls that are situated in the communities themselves. This will mean better attendances, as the expense of travelling to town is a major financial expense to many in our rural communities.

4. Training Requirements - each rural community needs to identify what training each interested person requires. Having a community centre and some registration process would be the easiest way of achieving us. A community centre could also serve as an information centre for training providers, and awareness of what courses are currently available, or coming up, could be certainly heightened.

5. In my opinion, the best way to monitor and evaluate strategy would be to use a Local Employment Committee (LEC) as a community based organisation responsible for this most important function, as a much needed service for the rural communities in our region. Getting a connection through the LEC with the Tairawhiti Rural Education Programme (REAP) would be the way to go !

end of report
(Thanks for coming !)
(I hope that this document can be made available to interested persons in the future