Opepe farm trust
It is our goal to protect, enhance, and utilise the whenua for the benefit of current and future shareholders, managing the investments and activities of the Tauhara Middle No.4A No.2B and No.2C land blocks, located by Maunganamu, State Highway 5. Through managing and growing sustainable entities, we continuously strive to create investment stability for the next generation while protecting the whenua and reducing our carbon footprint.
trust profile
Block Name: Tauhara Middle No.4A No.2B No.2C
Structure: Ahu Whenua Trust
Location: 942 State Highway 5, Maunganamu
Block ID: 36661
Total Owners: 5960 (approx)
Total Shares: 28104.74186
Area (ha): 4876.6479
Governance: Temuera Hall (Chairperson), Ngahere Wall (Deputy Chair), Heemi Biddle, John Tupara, Iraia Bailey
Management: Vernon Rameka (Opepe Group General Manager)
Contact Details: c/o He Akina, PO Box 723, Taupo 3351
Email admin@heakina.co.nz
opepe farm TRUST BUSINESS
We are continuously researching and investigating new investment opportunities that will provide tangible benefits to current and future shareholders. Below highlights the current businesses and investments we are involved in.
Opepe General Partner Limited
Directors: Temuera Hall, Brad Tatere
Drystock Manager: David Milne
Farm / Dairy Manager: Leighton Swan (901, 902)
Opepe Farm Trust established a 100% owned subsidiary company - Opepe General Partner Limited (OGPL) to manage the day-to-day running of the two farming operations (the drystock farm, and the manuka / kanuka plantations).
In 2018 we entered into a lease arrangement with Tauhara Middle Lands Trust, to lease approximately 200 hectares of effective pasture. And in March of 2019, we took up the leases over both the Tauhara North & Tauhara Middle 15 blocks, adding an additional 600 hectares. This will enable us to significantly expand our beef rearing operations.
FORESTRY
Opepe Farm Trust has a forestry lease agreement in place with the Lake Taupo Forest Trust, who pay a monthly lease to plant, grow and harvest pine on 1350 hectares of Opepe whenua.
This lease accumulates carbon credits for the trust and helps to offset the livestock emissions produced from farming. Managed by NZ Forest Managers, this agreement contributes to the environmental sustainability of our rohe.
Opepe Farm Trust has planted approximately 100 hectares of Manuka and Kanuka plants as a trial project, to investigate the viability of a commercial manuka \ kanuka honey operation on the corpus block.
Partnerships
Opepe Farm Trust has a 50% share in Tauhara Properties Limited - established with Te Pae o Waimihia to purchase the DoC building on Kaimanawa Street, Taupo.
We are also in a partnership with Tauhara Middle 15 Trust, in ownership of the Tauhara North block, which is leased back to Opepe General Partner Limited.
These partnerships are part of a wider Tauhara hapu relationship building initiative, with the goal of bringing Tauhara entities together, to work collaboratively on current and future projects.
Annual General Meetings
The 2023 AGM was held on Saturday 16th December at Opepe Farm, 926 State Highway 5, Maunganamu, Taupō.
Announced at the 2023 AGM was the introduction for Owner Discount Cards. Owners can pick these up from He Akina (88 Kaimanawa Street, Taupō) during office hours. Please note: I.D. will be required and name must match the owner / shareholder on Māori Lands Online. Please contact He Akina for queries. Beneficiaries will need to complete an application form with signature from the Opepe owner. Please email He Akina for a form or pick one up in the office.
Previous AGM books are available to download below.