The much-anticipated Ahuwhenua Finalists Field Days for 2025 are almost upon us. Early next month, Ahuwhenua Trophy Award Finalists—Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust in Whangaruru on the East Coast of Northland and Tawapata South Māori Incorporation Onenui Station in Mahia in the Hawke’s Bay region—will each be hosting a field day at their farms. All are welcome to attend.  

The field days are set to take place on the following days: 

• 9am – 3.30pm, Thursday 3 April – Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust in Whangaruru, Northland 
• 9am – 3.30pm, Thursday 10 April – Tawapata South Māori Incorporation Onenui Station in Mahia, Hawke's Bay

About Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust 

Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust manages the Ngaiotonga A3 block, totaling 1,100ha of coastal hill country, with 360ha of effective farmland, 297ha of forestry, and 443ha of native forest and wetlands. 

The Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust has worked hard to restore the whenua and overcome mismanagement and disconnection following consolidation of the whenua into a ‘Land Development Scheme’ by the Department of Māori Affairs in 1952. 

Since 2020, the Trust has turned its previously struggling farm into a modern and profitable bull operation. It set a goal of owning a million-dollar herd by 2025 and achieved this by 2023. With support and investment from MBIE, AgFirst, Te Puni Kōkiri, MPI and Northland Regional Council, the Trust embarked on a complete farm turn around, including 60ha of gorse removal, a 40km network of water pipe supplying 450 micro toughs, 57km of fencing and cell systems, and a new farm roading system.  

Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust farm in Whangaruru on the East Coast of Northland.

Alongside the support of the people, these steps marked the beginning of the Trust’s whenua reclamation and farming journey, and the establishment of the thriving 1,200 head bull fattening operation the Trust runs today. 

About Tawapata South Māori Incorporation Onenui Station 

The Proprietors of Tawapata South, trading as Onenui Station, is a Māori incorporation located at the tip of the Māhia Peninsula, Hawke’s Bay. Spanning 3,476 hectares, the whenua includes 1,700 hectares of effective farmland and 836 hectares under a Ngā Whenua Rāhui Kawenata. 

Onenui Station winters15,000 stock units, including 6,000 breeding ewes, 600 breeding cows, replacements, and trade cattle. The station comprises 350 hectares of productive flats, with the balance classified as North Island steep hard hill country. 

Tawapata South Māori Incorporation Onenui Station in Mahia in the Hawke’s Bay region.
   

A major development project, initiated in 2016, is reclaiming 1,046 hectares of scrubland for productive use. Erosion-prone areas are managed through fencing, native planting, and long-term sustainability initiatives.

With innovative diversification such as becoming a home to Rocket Lab, a private orbital launch range, Tawapata South integrates traditional land use with cutting edge technology. The farm remains dedicated to preserving its whenua while ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for its people, with a comprehensive environmental plan to protect waterways, coastal dunes and erosion-prone gullies, and strong relationships with the community and Kahungunu Marae. 

See You at The Field Days 

Our Iwi Relationship Team will be attending both field days next month and look forward to seeing you there. For more details on the itineraries for both events, head to the Ahuwhenua Trophy Award website here. 

News feature image is of the Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust farm in Whangaruru on the East Coast of Northland.

All photos by Alphapix.nz.