Pūtake Whakatupu

Launched in 2024, Pūtake Whakatupu - which translates to Foundation for Growth - is the primary workstream under the Tuputupu Grow Northland Initiative. This transformative project aims to identify, support and develop land use and value-add manufacturing opportunities in Taitokerau Northland.  

THE PROJECT SO FAR

Pūtake Whakatupu aims to help Northlanders create greater value from our primary and associated manufacturing sectors while collaborating closely and supporting landowners, iwi, and hapū.

The project is working to:

• Identify and unlock new opportunities for the Northland primary and associated manufacturing sectors;
• Enable landowners to make more sustainable and optimal land use choices;
• Support the development of further in region value-add manufacturing.

The purpose of the Pūtake Whakatupu project is the development of a series of Market Opportunity Reports that assess economic pathways for optimising land use and creating value-added products in the region.

Pūtake Whakatupu has undertaken in-depth engagement with key stakeholders, including landowners, local farmers, growers, and associated manufacturing sectors.

This engagement took place through a survey of interested parties to help build a picture of the current primary industries and associated manufacturing landscape in Northland. Following the survey, four workshops were held across the region in November 2024 to facilitate further discussions and gather insights to feed into the Market Opportunity Reports. 

Workshops were an opportunity to share and explore ideas for new or alternative crops that have potential for further development along with ideas for value-add manufacturing.

Workshop notes and presentations are available below.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Since our workshop series in late 2024, the Pūtake Whakatupu project has made significant strides toward unlocking new opportunities for Northland’s land-based sectors. Here’s what we’ve achieved so far:

• Steering Group Established: We’ve formed a dedicated Steering Group comprising experienced representatives from across the primary and food manufacturing sectors to guide the project’s direction.
• Land Use Ideas Prioritised: Promising land use ideas have been thoroughly assessed and prioritised to focus on the most viable opportunities for our region.
• Market Opportunity Studies Commissioned: Four comprehensive market opportunity studies have been commissioned, covering nine crops: sunflower & soybean, banana & pineapple, moringa, mango & papaya, and turmeric & ginger. These Market Opportunity Reports will be published in early September.
• Community Engagement and Sector Development: We continue to foster cluster and sector development through ongoing engagement with our local communities and industry partners.

The release of our Market Opportunity Reports in early September will provide valuable insights to help shape Northland’s future through Pūtake Whakatupu and the wider Tuputupu/Grow Northland initiative.