Ellen Gardiner is a trainee trustee on the Tautata Mapawhaura Trust, of which farming is a key component.
With no farming background and a career in finance and banking, Gardiner admitted she had very little understanding of farming.
That was until she graduated this month from the Rotorua pilot of Wahine Maia, Wahine Whenua, an Agri-Women’s Development Trust (AWDT) training programme designed specifically for Maori women.
Wahine Maia, Wahine Whenua (Understanding Your Farming Business) engages Maori farming women as critical farming partners through building business knowledge, skills and confidence.
Funded by the Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP), the programme consists of three high-quality modules delivered over three months.
“Basically, I knew nothing about farming and while the Tautata Mapawhaura Trust had business in property and forestry, farming was a main component and now I know so much more I can be so much better as a trustee and shareholder,” Gardiner said.
When approached about attending the course Gardiner admitted she was hesitant.
“A little bit scared really. I thought I have to come out of this with a better understanding of farming.
“That was the good thing about the course, even after the first month’s module I had confidence to get out onfarm with some understanding and some knowledge,” she said.
“The farm manager was quite excited when I could understand what he was talking about.
“Before this course I would go to meetings and hear what was said but I didn’t have an understanding of farm business.
“By the end of module one I knew what R1, R2 and two-tooth were,” Gardiner said.
“After three months I have a whole new understanding with knowledge and insight to better contribute to discussion around business such as stock reconciliation and farm budgeting and I have the confidence to question.”
As a farming shareholder Gardiner said she now felt she could intelligently ask questions and offer her opinion.
“Without this course I wouldn’t have known how to go about understanding the farm business.”
She also gained a lot of personal confidence and network support.
“I just wish this course had come two years ago.”
Gardiner was passionate about getting the word out to Maori governance and trusts.
“Everyone needs to know there is this course available just for Maori women.
“It has given me so much confidence in all aspects of my career and in personal life,” Gardiner said.
“I have options now that I never had before that give me a drive to pursue more training in agribusiness and also more in governance.”
Gardiner has now started studying towards a diploma in business management.
“The future holds lots of opportunities. It’s exciting” she said.
AWDT executive director Lindy Nelson said the AWDT piloted Wahine Maia, Wahine Whenua to see whether the need was real and valid.
“And we have found that it most definitely is,” she said.
Three pilot courses in Gisborne, Rotorua and National Park had been completed this year and their success was encouraging.
Nelson said the initial programme had been adapted to design a three-month course targeted to cater for the needs of Maori women.
Through the pilot, AWDT had become a trusted partner in developing Maori farming women.
As a result of the pilot programme participants had built deeper networks themselves with other Maori women who were in similar situations.
“The skills and confidence these women have gained from the programme will result in more sustainable farms and higher financial returns.”
Nelson said with 30% of the agricultural sector either now or to become Maori agribusiness, AWDT had been approached by individual Maori women, who had completed other AWDT programmes, for specific training modules designed to meet the needs of Maori women.
AWDT then worked with Maori facilitators Hinerangi Edwards and Anne-Marie Broughton, both AWDT Escalator alumni, and course facilitator Tina Ngatai to review the UYFB programme and develop it to be meaningful for Maori women.
The content of UYFB was the same but had been slightly adapted and context added, Nelson said.
Wahine Maia Wahine Whenua was aimed at women involved in sheep and beef Maori agribusiness.
“For these women, decision-making could be around the kitchen table or around the board table,” Nelson said.
The Maori women-specific programme was also included in the wider RMPP funded UYFB programme, completed by almost 500 women since 2014.
Nelson said Wahine Maia Wahine Whenua had different needs given there were more Maori women who were trustees or managers of farming trusts and businesses and often they hadn’t come from farming backgrounds.
It was also for female farming partners of individual sheep and beef farms, which was the main audience for UYFB, Nelson said.
“What we have seen to date shows that it has been highly successful and we are looking to extend the programme next year to four more areas.”
While the pilot was specifically focused on sheep and beef business, in line with RMPP funding, Nelson hoped a programme specific to dairy farming could be included.
