7/20/26 Meeting Minutes
Attendees: Catti, Adam, Chris, Dave, Steve, Ron, Aaron J., Bob F., Hubert (daughter’s as guests)
Brag bucks:
- Catti – birthday on 17th
- Adam – Successful Chamber golf outing; State Baseball this week; Merchant’s are #1 in league
Club Business:
- No meeting on Monday, July 27th since we will be doing the passing of the gavel on Friday, July 31st during Aaron’s BBQ at Eastside shelter from 5-10 PM
Speaker: Lora Hagemann talking to us about Māori Agriculture in New Zealand
- Indigenous people of New Zealand
- She has lived in New Zealand for 35 years
- Exports are $60 billion dollars
- Top exports: dairy, meat, horticulture, forestry, seafood
- Exports to China largest and then U.S.
- There are no government subsidies for exports there.
- New Zealand is double the size of Iowa
- Currency difference .57 to 100 (if turn in 100 New Zealand you would get $57 U.S. dollars)
- European farming methods introduced in 1700’s brought a variety of animals and fruits/vegetables
- To be able to trade they had to become their own country so British stepped in to help them accomplish a treaty
- Land was often taken unfairly and then good land often sold before it was given back by the “courts”.
- Māori lost land because they couldn’t pay taxes or debts and then they had to become tradesmen
- 1992 – 2017 settlements included urban and rural land and cash ($1.92 billion paid back)
- Native land courts have been abolished and Māori traditions are respected
- Current time: working to build relationships
NO MEETING 7/27/27!!! Passing of gavel at Aaron’s BBQ on 7/31/26 at Swan Lake!!
