Jacob Ratu (Tuhoe, Whakatohea, Ngati Maniapoto, Ngai Tahu) and Mere Ratu (Tuhoe, Whaktohea, Waikato-Tainui) both have dedicated 16 years to Pāmu, working side by side to support sustainable and values-led farming. 

Jacob manages Broadlands Dairy Unit, the largest farm in the Fonterra Organic portfolio. 

As well as being a ‘farm wife’, Mere manages system standardisation and audit compliance across Pāmu’s 19 dairy farms in the Central Plateau.

Jacob and Mere have successfully led Broadlands’ conversion from high-input conventional farming to organic. The farm has been fully certified organic since October 2023.  Central to their management approach are their personal values and the guiding principles of Te Ao Maori which underscore the pivotal role of whanaungatanga in achieving farm success.  

Together, Jacob and Mere embody Pāmu’s commitment to sustainable, values-led farming and operational integrity. Their combined expertise bridges the practical and the procedural—ensuring their decisions reflects respect for the land, the people, and the legacy they nurture.

“He mauri to te wai, he mauri to te whenua, he mauri to tangata.”