Regional Infrastructure Fund support for Māori horticulture
Published: 13 February, 2026
The government is investing a total of $6.25 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) into 2 horticulture developments on underutilised Māori land in Northland and Waikato.
The 2 RIF investments will bring collectively owned Māori land into productive use in these regions, helping to strengthen local horticulture supply chains, accelerate a shift in land use to high-value horticulture, and unlock economic potential.
The 2 initiatives being funded are:
Mid-North Kiwifruit Project – Te Tai Tokerau / Northland
The Mid-North Kiwifruit Project will receive a $4 million loan and $200,000 grant from the RIF.
The funding recipients, Oromahoe and Rangihamama Omapere trusts will use the funding for orchard preparation and infrastructure including irrigation, drainage, access tracks, orchard structures and shelter belts.
With a total project value of $20.7 million, the RIF’s $4.2 million contribution has unlocked major local co-investment from key players in the local horticulture sector.
The project is expected to deliver long-term economic benefits for whānau in Te Tai Tokerau.
Ngāti Hauā Horticulture – Waikato
The Ngāti Hauā Horticulture Project will receive a $2.05 million repayable grant to support its horticulture development in Waikato.
Delivered by Ngāti Hauā, the project will bring 9 whānau-owned land blocks, totalling more than 90ha, into commercial production, growing asparagus, strawberries and blueberries.
The RIF funding will be used to build infrastructure, expand packhouse capacity and support the first crop plantings.
The project has a total cost of $5.1 million and has co-funding from investors and joint venture partners Peria LP under the Ngāti Hauā Iwi Trust.