Te Ahikawariki

Enhancing environmental outcomes and sustaining vegetable production

Te Ahikawariki was built upon the foundation of finding common ground between mana whenua and vegetable growers. Ngāti Te Ata, Ngāti Tamaoho, Ngāti Tiipa, and vegetable growers from the Pukekohe region worked as a community to find solutions to environmental concerns in the area. Ngāti Te Ata developed and gifted the name Te Ahikawariki to the project.
Te Ahikawariki/Vegetable Industry Centre of Excellence (VICE) received over $2 million in seed funding from the Ministry for the Environment, which has been awarded via the Pukekohe Integrated Catchment Management Plan (Te Tautara o Pukekohe). Horticulture New Zealand and the vegetable product groups have played a key role in guiding the project thus far and will continue to support Te Ahikawariki into the future.  
Research trial plots developed and available for use
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Research and extension projects funded
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Postgraduate scholarships awarded
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Student summer internships funded
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Research Projects

Project Highlights

Tomato Leaf Mould

Pest and Disease

Assessing the likelihood of Cf genes providing resistance by analysing the mutation profiles in the effector genes of the F. fulva population. 

Biodiversity Survey

Pest and Disease

Collecting information on the arthropods associated with annual floral strips and movable insectaries, and quantify them as beneficial insects, while also looking to measure their impact in crop. 

Smart Insect Trapping

New Technology

Assessing the use of AI-driven Insect Traps, which provide growers with real-time information on their insect populations.

SLAKES

Other Sustainability

Ground-truthing soil aggregate stability results from a smartphone app called SLAKES with Manaaki Whenua’s wet-sieve testing.

Cover Crops Literature Review

Water Quality

Establishing a base for a work programme evaluating options and assessing the costs and benefits of cover crops for vegetable growing in New Zealand crops and regions. 

Biochar/Biofertiliser Soil Additives Glasshouse Trial 

Nutrient Management

Massey University is undertaking a study to understand how soil additives such as biochar, chicken manure, and vegetable waste compost impact crop production.

Projects

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18/04/2025

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18/04/2025

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18/04/2025

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet contetur adipiscing elit vitae iaculis. 

18/04/2025

Enhancing environmental outcomes and sustaining vegetable production