_{Pictured: Finalists from Whakatōhea Mãori Trust Board and Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani Incorporation with Minister Tama Potaka, Minister Todd McClay, Ahuwhenua Trophy Chair, Nukuhia Hadfield and Pou Tikanga Trevor Moeke.} 

The finalists in this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy for the top Māori dairy farm were announced at a special function at Parliament yesterday 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 finalists are:
 
•    Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani Incorporation – based in Mangakino; and
•    Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board – based in Opotiki.

The Ahuwhenua Trophy is the most prestigious award for excellence in Māori farming and 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 their 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, says once again the competition has attracted a high calibre of entrants from around the country. She says the dairy sector, like all primary sectors, faces 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. Our dairy farmers are not immune from these challenges, but this has not 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 Māori dairy farmers to successfully overcome adversity and get on with the daily task of producing their products in a truly sustainable way. Aotearoa should be proud of what they do and the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition ensures that their efforts are recognised and celebrated,” she says.

Nukuhia Hadfield says an issue Māori farmers face is that their contribution to the Aotearoa economy, goes largely unrecognised, and one of the goals on the Ahuwhenua Trophy is to build awareness of this important contribution within te ao Māori, as well as with the wider public and throughout government and industry circles.

The finalists will each hold a public field day at their respective properties. Each day runs from 9.30am – 2.00pm and all are welcome. Further details, including start point addresses, will be posted on the Ahuwhenua Trophy website and Facebook page.

Field day dates
 
•    Thursday 28 March 2024 – Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani Incorporation
•    Thursday 4 April 2024 – Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board

The winner will be announced at the awards dinner held on Friday 17 May 2024 at the Globox Arena, Claudelands Event Centre, in Hamilton.

Photo Credit: Alphapix Photography. 

Pictured: Finalists from Whakatōhea Mãori Trust Board and Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani Incorporation with Minister Tama Potaka, Minister Todd McClay, Ahuwhenua Trophy Chair, Nukuhia Hadfield and Pou Tikanga Trevor Moeke.