On the 3^rd of April, Ahuwhenua Trophy Award Finalist for 2025, Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust welcomed over 200 people to Ngaiotonga Marae and their Ngaiotonga A3 block in Whangaruru, Northland. Our team was honoured to attend and learn about the devastating history of loss, the tenacity of local Tangata Whenua (people of the land) and the determination to rebuild a thriving sheep and beef farm. 

The field day began with a pōwhiri, warmly welcoming rural professionals, sponsors, Māori agribusiness leaders, local farmers and whānau to the Marae. The rain was also welcome, as Ron Walters, PGG Wrightson Iwi Relationships Manager explained, “Visitors were calling it pennies from heaven, and the locals were calling it gold nuggets from god.” 

He said, “The story of Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust is one of loss, restoration and resiliency. It was very moving and those who were hearing the story for the first time were feeling the sorrow and pain on receiving their whenua back in such unrecognisable condition five years ago. At the field day, we also felt the pride, the joy, the pleasure of being a part of some hard mahi and the support they have all given to a very organised and experienced Manager and his wife.” 

The field day also included a farm tour where attendees were able to see the farm in person amongst the stunning backdrop of the East Coast of Northland.

Dave McMillin, PGG Wrightson Regional Manager – Upper North Island said, “The rain clouds opened but all who attended saw the hard mahi that has gone into the transformation of the Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust farms over the last 5 years since they took the land back from a long-term lease holder. Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust’s passion and vision for the future was highlight throughout the day with a big take home message being that we are all winners, we need to continue to learn and celebrate success.” 

About Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust 

Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust manages the Ngaiotonga A3 block, situated an hour’s drive north of Whangārei, nestled in the heart of Whangaruru. Its whenua is bordered by the Te Moananui a Kiwa to the east and Whangaruru Harbour to the west. Totalling 1,100ha of coastal hill country, it consists of 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 the consolidation of the whenua into a ‘Land Development Scheme’ by the Department of Māori Affairs in 1952. 
   
Investment and support from MBIE (PGF), farming consultants AgFirst, and additional tautoko from Te Puni Kōkiri, MPI and Northland Regional Council enabled the Trust to embark 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. 

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. Together with 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.  

The farm’s rapid transformation has created employment and enabled the Trust to support Whangaruru Marae, Urupā, Kura and Sports Teams, as well as the next generation of leaders with education grants. Along the coastal bluffs unsuited to beef, sheep have been introduced as a source of kai for hui mate. Community gardening is now getting back underway for the first time since the 1950s, bringing mātauranga back into the kāinga to support community wellbeing.  

Its focus now is on continuing to enhance the farm’s footprint and productivity, and to create further employment by diversifying its landholdings and business portfolio into other areas such as horticulture and eco-tourism. 

Read more about the Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust field day on the Ahuwhenua Trophy Award website here. 

Photos by Alphapix.nz.