Couple's Ahuwhenua win 57 years ago still tasting sweet
This week the winner of the prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy for the top Māori Dairy farm will be announced at a gala dinner in Hamilton.
Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor co-announced the finalists today for the award celebrating excellence in the Māori agricultural sector.
The three finalists are Ngai Tukairangi Trust from Mt Maunganui, Otama Marere Trust from Tauranga, and Hineora Orchard Te Kaha 15B Ahuwhenua Trust from Te Kaha.
“These finalists are fine examples of the legacy of the Ahuwhenua competition that was first introduced by Tā Apirana Ngata to acknowledge primarily excellence in Māori farming and dairy,” says Mahuta.
“With the ever-growing industry of Māori entering the horticulture sector, it is great to be able to recognise and acknowledge the legacy of Māori agriculture that is in our DNA.”
This year marks the 87th year of the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition which traditionally focuses on dairy and sheep and beef farming but will include the horticulture sector from 2020.
“Whenua is central to Te Ao Māori, so when whenua is thriving, whānau are thriving as a direct result. The finalists announced are a testament to this.
“Our aspiration is to be able to enable whānau to achieve their aspirations, the time is right given the current upward trend for products that have origins steeped in Māori culture which are both sustainable and economically beneficial,” says Mahuta.
Each of the finalists announced will showcase their properties at public field days in March/April, before a winner is announced on Friday May 22, 2020 at the Trustpower Baypark Stadium, Tauranga.
For more information and more background on the finalists visit www.ahuwhenuatrophy.maori.nz
