A Maori trust is planning a new cheese processing plant in the central North Island.

Waituhi Kuratau milks up to 5,000 sheep near Turangi, but has to truck the milk to its processing plant near Thames.

It's working to open a factory next year, closer to its milk supply.

Trustee Graeme Everton says the trust will be modeling the processing plant on a pioneering Canadian facility, the Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company.