Gisborne's Pakarae Whangara B5 Partnership Wins 2009 Ahuwhenua Trophy

Pakarae Whangara B5 Partnership, north of Gisborne, is the winner of this year's prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy – BNZ Māori Excellence in Farming Award for sheep and beef farming.

Judges described the newly formed partnership of Pakarae Whangara B5 as "impressive" and representing "true leadership, vision and hard work."

The Ahuwhenua Trophy Competition is held annually and alternates between sheep and beef farming and dairy farming.
The Award was presented to the Pakarae/Whangara B5 Partnership Board Chair Ingrid Collins by the Minister of Māori Affairs Dr Pita Sharples and Tony Arthur, National Managing Partner for BNZ Agribusiness at the Gisborne Showgrounds.
A record turnout of some 650 people attended the presentation.
As well as being presented with the Ahuwhenua Trophy, the Partnership will also receive up to $40,000 in cash, services and farm products including a Yamaha Power steer 550 cc Utility ATV.
In awarding the Trophy to Pakarae Whangara B5, the Judges noted: "the impressive financial performance" that had placed the property in the top 10 per cent for its farm class. They also commended the Partnership on an exceptionally well-run Field Day attended by over 400 people.

The Pakarae Whangara B5 Partnership was one of three finalists at the Awards' Night Final. The Judges said all the properties had strong historical links to their local communities and outstanding modern governance and management practices. The other finalists are Morikau Station near Ranana on the Whanganui River, and Hereheretau Station, west of Wairoa.

The Pakarae Whangara B5 Partnership was formed in 2006 when two neighbouring farms, Pakarae and Whangara B5, amalgamated to form a 5,600-hectare property running a Romney-based flock of 27,496 sheep, and a herd of 18,374 Angus-cross cattle. The partnership expects to run 60,000 stock units within the next five years.

In the last two years the partnership has focused on bringing the previously autonomous farms together into one farming operation. They expect this to result in greater economies of scale in their business as well as better pricing in the retail market and greater cost efficiencies.

Partnership Board Chair Ingrid Collins has been a member of the Whangara B5 Trust for 35 years. First elected to the Trust in 1986, she became the first woman to chair Māori Incorporation. She says that keeping shareholders, all of whom belong to Ngati Konohi's Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti hapu, well informed and involved in the business is a priority.

"We guard our land ferociously. It is our taonga tuku iho. Our overriding aim is to ensure its sustainability, its availability to mokopuna for generations to come, and its development for the betterment of all shareholders," she says.

A major goal for the Partnership Board is to see Ngati Konohi lands and people brought back together. They expect this to result in a sustainable farming operation that "nurtures the land" and delivers an effective farm surplus of $350 per hectare, as well as jobs for rangitahi.

The other two finalists are: Morikau Station, one of Māoridom's many multible properties with a large shareholder base, run by the Morikaunui Corporation Board and Hereheretau Station, administered by the Māori Trustee on behalf of the Māori Soldier's Trust.

Both stations were cited by Ahuwhenua Trophy Chief Judge John Acland as having "a strong commitment to care for the assets of past and future generations, while at the same time having a focus on achieving good bottom line performance in the short to medium term."

Farming an effective area 720,000 hectares worth an estimated $7.5billion Māori
are the largest natural grouping of pastoral farmers in New Zealand. More than 15 per cent of sheep and beef exports are estimated to come from Māori farming businesses.
BNZ is the Platinum Sponsor for the Award. Gold sponsors are: Te Puni Kōkiri, AgResearch, and Meat & Wool New Zealand. Silver sponsors are PGG Wrightson, and Ballance Agri-Nutrients, and Bronze sponsors are: the Māori Trustee, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Agriculture ITO, Yamaha and BDO Spicers. Other sponsors are: Landcorp, Tohu Wines, AFFCO, Poutama Business Trust, DB Breweries, Mangatu Blocks- Fresh meats NZ and Leaderbrand Produce.