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NGÄ ROHETE ARAWAMARAE EXPO - NETWORKINGFOR DEVELOPMENTSCIENCE SPOTLIGHT:TE ARAWA FOMAContracting scientists and developing plansfor a Mäori Research Unit and Eco-Lab: theTe Arawa Federation of Mäori Authorities isalready using science to unlock potential.Members say sustainable fertilisers arecritical to the future of their lands as well asfuture generations of their people.“The pioneering research being undertakenby Te Arawa FoMA and Te Puni Kökiri couldrevolutionise agribusiness in this country,”said TAFoMA chair, Malcolm Short.“Through a collaborative effort with WaiarikiPolytech and Waikato University there isa good chance we will establish a sciencefaculty that will allow our kids to attenduniversity here at home.At the Te Puni Kökiri exhibition (left to right) Caleb Ralph [Tühourangi Ngäti Wahiao] former All Blackand Te Arawa office staff Jasmine Waerea, Administration Officer, Watu Mihinui, Te Kaiwhakarite, andShontelle Bishara, Account Manager, Business Facilitation Service.A fine but cold July morning heralded theinaugural one-day Te Arawa Marae Expoat Te Papaiouru at Ohinemutu, Rotorua.As a step towards their developmentaspirations, it was an excellentopportunity for marae to network witheach other as well as with nine centraland local agencies and 39 local retailers.More than 300 people attended fromRotorua; many from Eastern BOP, CentralNorth Island and as far north as Bay ofIslands and as far south as Ashburtonthroughout the day.Workshops by central agencies such asMäori Land Court; Department of InternalAffairs; Inland Revenue Department;NZ Historic Places Trust; NZ Fire Servicewere held throughout the day. Therewas particular interest in the CharitiesCommission and funding opportunitiesthrough Internal Affairs.As well as being a member of theCollective Agency Group which spearheadedthe Expo, Te Puni Kökiri TeArawa Regional Office also purchased anexhibition booth.Feedback received has been first-ratewith demands for more, possibly a2-day event, consideration for spreadthroughout Bay of Plenty.“The creation of an independent sciencelaboratory will enable testing to be donelocally instead of sent to distant, sometimesoverseas facilities."Sustainability also means workingcollaboratively with other Mäori land ownersaround the country,” says deputy TAFoMAchair, Tom Walters.“Mäori are in this for the long term andthe sooner we form cooperatives and worktogether, sharing our wisdom and results ofour research, the better.”Scientist Guna Magesan has led TAFoMA’sresearch programme, and biological farmingsystems and trials are continuing.“Te Puni Kökiri has provided funding to assistTe Arawa FoMA to investigate the benefits ofbiological farming systems measured againstconventional farming methods. The ultimategoal is to achieve sustainable farming onMäori lands,” says Eruera Reedy, Te PuniKökiri Acting Deputy Secretary.34TE PUNI KÖKIRI | KÖKIRI | KÖANGA / SPRING 2012