Our Story
Rooted in Te Awanui Huka Pak’s rich legacy, we blend heritage and innovation to produce world-class kiwifruit. With meticulous oversight, we ensure top-quality, ethically sourced, and fully traceable fruit, deeply connected to its land.
Advancing our legacy
Our roots are firmly planted in the soil of Tauranga Moana, Aotearoa - New Zealand. Once a natural trading post for local Māori, international trade is in our DNA.
Ko wai mātou? Who are we..
Te Whai Ao Group Ltd. builds on the legacy of Te Awanui Huka Pak, acting as the investment arm of Te Awanui. With a strong heritage in kiwifruit growing, we are advancing this legacy through means of innovation and expanding our commercial ventures.
Te Whai Ao Group Ltd., is backed by a diverse and highly credible team with extensive experience in commercialising extracts to global markets. The team is made up of bio extract specialists, commercial experts, and market intelligence advisors who are all focused on delivering results and driving progress to ensure the project is successful.
Continuing Legacy
Te Whai Ao and our parent company, Te Awanui Huka Pak, have always been forward-thinking, embracing risk and challenging the status quo. In the 1980s, our entrepreneurial founders expanded the value chain by establishing Te Awanui Huka Pak.
Through our work with international buyers and close partnerships with Kiwifruit Processing Company (2021) Ltd and Seeka, we have a deep understanding of the export market. Our end-to-end control allows us to anticipate and resolve supply, process, and delivery challenges before they affect customers. With extensive experience and operational strength, our leaders play a vital role in New Zealand government advisory.
Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures
SFF Futures, a Ministry for Primary Industries program, co-invests in innovative projects that drive resilience and growth in Aotearoa - New Zealand’s food and fibre sector. By partnering with industry stakeholders like us, it supports problem-solving initiatives with lasting impact.
Te Ao Mārama Project – Government Partnership
In partnership with MPI, the Te Ao Mārama Project explores a value chain blending traditional knowledge with modern science to create sustainable, culturally significant, and economically viable products while preserving indigenous knowledge and biodiversity.
Founded in 1984 by a collective of Māori trusts, we are a 100% Māori-owned company with deep roots in horticulture. Originally established by kiwifruit growers seeking to expand their presence, we acquired a packhouse in Mount Maunganui. Today, Te Awanui holds over $20 million in investments, primarily in commercial property and shares in Seeka Ltd.
Our vision remains clear—to see Māori leading the way in the horticulture industry.
