The chair of a Rangitikei iwi hopes its new partnership with Lincoln University could result in iwi members gaining doctorates in the agricultural sector.
Te Runanga o Ngati Apa and the Canterbury-based educator have signed an agreement to help provide education to tribal descendants in all levels of the primary industry sector.
The chair of the tribe, Pahia Turia, said they still need to work out details of the partnership and the best ways of using its land, including the return of the historic Flock House farms near Bulls.
With the help of the university, he said the iwi wants the ability to say it not only own farms, but manages them too.
Mr Turia said there is the potential for descendants to become agri-scientists or working with agri-nutrients, and hopefully its relationship with Lincoln could see the establishment of PhD programmes on its farms.
Mr Turia said the tribe plans to ask to descendants about how to develop the partnership.