What We Do

Our Assets and Investments

Investment Approach

Our investment approach is guided by Puna Whakatupu Taangata (Puna) – the Waikato-Tainui investment framework. Puna outlines the investment principles, beliefs, tikanga and settings to guide how the Waikato-Tainui funds of around $2.1 billion are invested to balance the needs of current and future generations.

Farming

In total, TGH owns and manages around 2,760ha of farm whenua for Waikato-Tainui, supporting dairy, sheep, beef, and forestry operations. Three of our farms were owned by Waikato-Tainui prior to settlement including our largest sheep and beef farm Hangawera Station (800ha), Tainui Road dairy farm (250ha) and Hukanui dairy farm (109ha).

A further six Crown-owned farms were included in our 1995 Raupatu settlement including drystock farms at Whatawhata (650ha) and Rotowaro (360ha), and grazing blocks at Ruakura, Hopuhopu, Rotokauri and Rukuhia.

TGH also purchased Punawai dairy farm (89ha) in 2015 and Mangatea Farm (200ha) in 2017.

Forestry

TGH owns and cares for around 1,706ha of ngahere (forestry) on behalf of Waikato-Tainui. These include:

Onewhero Forest: This 887ha forest was the first state-owned forest ever to be returned to iwi. It is currently in early stage, second rotation Radiata Pine.

Kawaroa Forest: We are currently harvesting at this 392ha Radiata Pine forest located near Kawhia.

Waipuna Forest: 277ha of Redwoods, aged 14-16 years, located near Huntly.

Whatawhata Forest: This property within Whatawhata farm comprises 150ha of Radiata Pine, aged 21 years and a native stand.

Fisheries

TGH is the asset holding company for fishing quota received through the fisheries settlement of 1992. This quota is leased to iwi owned fishing companies such as Sealord and Moana (Aotearoa Fisheries). TGH also manages the income shares in Aotearoa Fisheries, through a holding company, Waikato-Tainui Fisheries Limited.

Part of our quota is leased to local Kaawhia tribal company Awaroa Fisheries.

Ruakura Inland Port

Ruakura Inland Port is a 50% JV of Tainui Group Holdings and Port of Tauranga Ltd. It is located adjacent to the East Coast Main Trunk rail line and Waikato Expressway to service importers, exporters and the domestic supply chain. The 9ha Stage 1 will open in 2023 providing capacity of up to 60,000 TEU with direct rail connections with Port of Tauranga and Metroport in Auckland.

Ruakura Inland Port

As part of the Puna Whakatupu Tangata investment framework, Waikato-Tainui holds a substantial portfolio of global shares in socially responsible companies which are held in funds managed by Mercer. TGH’s role is to manage the global equity managers on behalf of Waikato-Tainui and monitor investment performance.

TGH has investments in three private equity funds managed by Pioneer Capital Ltd and one managed by Waterman Capital Limited. These private equity funds are invested in a range of early and mid-stage, fast growing, high potential businesses such as PBT Transport, MoleMap and Rockit Apple.