The winner of the inaugural Ahuwhenua Trophy Excellence in Māori Horticulture Award 2020 is Te Kaha 15B Hineora Orchard. Hineora Orchard is a Māori freehold land block located in the Eastern Bay of Plenty township of Te Kaha, 65 km east of Ōpōtiki.
Norm Carter – Te Kaha 15 B, Hineora Orchard with the Governor General, Rt Hon. Dame Patsy Reddy
This is the first time in its 87 year history that horticulture has been included in the competition. In the past the competition has been for dairy and sheep and beef, held in alternate years, but this year the competition was widened to include horticulture.
The field day attracted a wide range of people from the kiwifruit industry as well as the wider agri business sector. The day commenced with a powihi at the Hungahungatoroa Marae and was followed by a series of presentations from Trustees and staff about its history, governance, strategy and business planning. Those attending the field day were also taken on a tour of the property.
The announcement was made on Friday 20th November 2020 by Her Excellency, the Rt Hon. Dame Patsy Reddy at a special awards function in Rotorua attended by 750 people including the Minister for Māori Development and Minister of Agriculture, other politicians and dignitaries, agribusiness leaders and whānau.
read more...The winner of the inaugural Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower Award is 26 year old Maatutaera Akonga. Maatutaera is of Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungungu descent and is senior leading hand at Llewellyn Horticulture based in Hastings.
Maatutaera Akonga
The two other finalists in the competition were 24 year-old Brandon Cross of Tauranga who works as trainee orchard manager for the large kiwifruit orchard management and post-harvest company Seeka, and 25 year-old Finnisha Tuhiwai who is packhouse manager for Maungatapere Berries located west of Whangarei in a rural town ship of Maungatapere.
read more...Entries are being called for the 2021 Ahuwhenua Trophy competition for the top Maori dairy farm. The competition is open to all individual Maori farmers and Maori entities such as Trusts and Incorporations who are involved in dairy farming.
Entry forms and full details about the competition are available here.
The prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy competition was first held in 1933 and is designed to showcase and celebrate excellence in Maori agriculture and horticulture. Over three years competitions are run for dairy, sheep and beef and horticulture; in 2021 the award recognises excellence in dairying.