Poripori Farm A

Current Trustees

Today, Poripori Trust has five trustees, Whetu-Marama Rolleston (Chairperson), Parewhati Taikato, Marc Rolleston, Kylie Heke and Te Hemara Gardiner.

The backgrounds, skills, knowledge and experience of the Trustees are associated with self-employment, orchard, forestry contractors, administration, policies and farming.

November 2025 Chris Stokes resigned and had his last year as a Board trustee with the farm. He has done some superb mahi especially when it comes to the grants. He was able to assist in the 2025 AGM.

In December 2012 Will Gardiner, Pua Taikato and Neil Te Kani resigned as Trustees. John Gooch of Cooney Lees Morgan was appointed as an interim independent trustee by Maori Land Court until new trustees could be nominated at the Annual General Meeting of shareholders in February 2013.

Willie Tukaki resigned as Trustee in 2011 and was replaced by Neil Te Kani at the AGM on 17 February 2012. Neil Te Kani was previously involved with Poripori Farm acting as an advisory trustee.

After many years of dedicated service, Moira Rolleston resigned in April 2008.

Mahaki Ellis, the longest serving Trustee was appointed in the late eighties and resigned from the Trust at the 2010 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. Moira Rolleston and Bill Gardiner were appointed in the early nineties. Pua Taikato was elected in 2001, and Willie Tukaki in 2004.

Poripori Trust’s Farm Manager is Kevin O'Shea, Kevin has been managing the farm for three years now and took over from Lance Brough.

Legal advice to the Poripori Trust is provided by Cooney Lees Morgan and the financial support is provided by Finlay Dykzeul Chartered Accountants.

Our History

Poripori Trust has a rich history that goes back to the mid-1960s, when Poripori Farm was first managed by Government Departments. In 1982, the Trust was officially established, giving whānau the opportunity to take ownership and develop their land.

During the 1970s, Poripori Farm joined with Poripori Kumikumi Station and the orchard blocks, bringing the total land area to 1,551 hectares (3,832 acres). On 18 August 1982, Poripori Farm A Trust — now known simply as Poripori Trust — was formally created. The first trustees were Turi Te Kani, William Gardiner, Reihana Rangiawha, Tommy Clair, Susan Palmer, and Lou Gates.

The Trust was part of a Department of Lands and Survey scheme that encouraged Māori landowners to grow and strengthen their whenua. Since then, the Trust has gone from strength to strength, with the value of its assets increasing by more than $11.5 million between 1995 and 2005 alone.

As at Thursday 13th of November 2025, Poripori Farm A Trust has more 1,593 allocated owners connected to Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Ranginui of Tauranga Moana, and Ngāti Koroki Kahukura of Waikato, together holding 125,130 shares.

Our assets are diverse and include sheep, cattle, forestry, kiwifruit, land, farm and orchard buildings (including six homes), plant and equipment, vehicles, shares, and investments.

Poripori Trust – At a Glance

  • Established: 18 August 1982

  • Land area: 1,551 hectares (3,832 acres)

  • Owners: 1,593+ whānau

  • Shares: 125,130

  • Connected iwi: Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi (Tauranga Moana), Ngāti Koroki Kahukura (Waikato)

  • Assets: Sheep, cattle, forestry, kiwifruit, land, buildings, homes, vehicles, shares & investments