Te Waimana Kaaku Trust

Ake Projects supported Te Waimana Kaaku Trust to undertake a best land use assessment for the Matahi Forest located in Waimana in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

The Matahi land utilisation project was successfully funded through the Maori Agribusiness Fund administered by the Ministry of Primary Industries. Matahi Forest is a former Forest Estate covering more than 2000 hectares with approximately half of that area currently in production forestry. The Matahi land use assessment will be used to inform post-harvest decision making and included consideration of alternative crop options and potential land uses. The project also focused on potential and constraints for land areas not currently utilised, identifying future commercial and cultural opportunities for Te Waimana.

Digital tools for decision making

The project included the development of a range of digital tools including a weighted decision making matrix and a live platform for displaying and comparing tribal demographics and strategic priorities. The Weighted Decision-Making Matrix allows Te Waimana to consider alternative land use based on adjustable priorities with a traffic light/scorecard system for easy comparison.

The Digital Demographics package provides a live platform for displaying tribal information that can be compared with regional and national census data allowing Te Waimana to measure and track their progress in to the future. The digital tools developed with Te Waimana allow for structured and transparent communication of opportunities and decisions that can be shared with the wider tribal community.