Māori-owned Pukepoto Farm Trust joins Hub Farm programme to share profit-driven practices

Since its establishment by the Māori Land Court in 1978, the Pukepoto Farm Trust has never posted a loss, allowing it to pay dividends and later provide education and kaumātua grants to its Ngāti Maniapoto shareholders. Trustee Weo Maag attributes this record to detailed seasonal planning, strict benchmarking and a focus on what the farm can produce rather than market prices. In October 2025 the trust joined Beef and Lamb's Hub Farm Programme, which tracks farm performance over several years to deliver real-time data on grass growth and soil moisture.

The trust expects this data to refine its own benchmarks and to create a knowledge base for future trustees who may excel in governance but lack farming experience. At a recent field day, about 80 farmers and rural professionals gathered to hear early results, including the use of Gallagher's eShepherd virtual fencing collars, highlighting the trust's drive for continual improvement.