Top Mā ori dairy farm finalists named
Finalist in running for Ahuwhenua Trophy
The finalists in this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy for the top Māori dairy farm have been announced. They are Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani Incorporation – based in Mangakino and Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board – based in Opotiki.
The announcement was made at a special function at Parliament recently by the Minister for Māori Development, Hon Tama Potaka.
The event was well attended with guests including politicians, agribusiness leaders, industry representatives, diplomats, and the finalists themselves.
The Ahuwhenua Trophy is the most prestigious an award for excellence in Māori farming.
It was inaugurated 91 years ago by the great Māori Leader, Sir Apirana Ngata and the Governor General at the time, Lord Bledisloe.
The objective was and still is to encourage Māori farmers to improve their land and overall farming performance with an emphasis on sustainability.
On a three-year rotational basis, the trophy is competed for by Māori farmers and growers in the sheep and beef, horticulture and dairy sectors.
This year the competition is for dairy.
Nukuhia Hadfield, chair of the Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee, said the competition had attracted a high calibre of entrants from around the country once again.
She said the dairy sector, like all
primary sectors, faced huge challenges such as global financial disruption, war, rising costs and some major markets that are taking longer than expected to recover from the Covid pandemic.
Hadfield said that, while Kiwi dairy farmers were not immune from these challenges, this hadn’t deterred them from entering this year’s competition.
“This year’s finalists, along with the other entrants in this competition, show the strength and determination of Mā ori dairy farmers to successfully
overcome adversity and get on with the daily task of producing their products in a truly sustainable way,” she said.
“Aotearoa should be proud of what they do and the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition ensures that their efforts are recognised and celebrated.”
Hadfield said an issue Māori farmers faced was that their contribution to Aotearoa’s economy, went largely unrecognised.
One of the goals of the Ahuwhenua Trophy was to build awareness of this
important contribution within te ao Mā ori, as well as with the wider public and throughout government and industry circles.
The winner will be announced at the awards dinner held on Friday, May 17, 2024, at the Globox Arena, Claudelands Event Centre, in Hamilton.
Ahuwhenua Trophy 2024 field day dates
Each day runs from 9.30am – 2pm and all are welcome.
The finalists will each hold a public field day at their respective properties.
■ Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani Incorporation - Thursday, March 28, 2024.
■ Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board Thursday, April 4, 2024.
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Further details, including start point addresses, will be posted on the Ahuwhenua Trophy website and Facebook page.
Not only was it the 40th anniversary of the event but also the 25th year for us hosting IRONMAN in Taupō. And boy we put on a show! It was wonderful to see everyone out there supporting the athletes as they took on the mammoth task but also to follow the athletes as they completed each circuit. It was great to see all the awesome volunteers, without whom these events wouldn’t be able to happen. Thank you to you all!
Speaking of volunteers, next up is Supercars weekend. In April, we host the 2024 ITM Taupō Super400 at the Taupō International Motorsport Park and are looking forward to thousands of Supercars fans from around New Zealand and the world making their way to the Taupō District.
Events like these are super beneficial for the local economy. I look forward to seeing our hotels and motels full to the brim, and our cafes and shops doing amazing trade as we welcome our visitors with true Kiwi spirit.
Volunteers are needed for the whole Supercars weekend, in town as well as out at the motorsport park. You can register your interest at https://bttr.im/i46iz. I am super excited about the 2024 ITM Taupō Super400. Make sure you come and say hello if you see me out and about.