Wakatu

Wakatū Incorporation is a Māori-owned organisation based in Nelson, New Zealand, representing over 4,000 customary landowners with a 500-year intergenerational vision called Te Pae Tawhiti. The company operates three core divisions: Whenua (land management), Kono (food and beverage), and AuOra, its dedicated health and wellness science arm. AuOra focuses on identifying, researching, and commercialising functional foods, active ingredients, and natural therapeutics derived from indigenous New Zealand plants, marine species, and fungi. By combining traditional Māori knowledge (mātauranga) with conventional scientific research, the company develops sustainable solutions targeting metabolic, joint, digestive, brain, and skin health.