Finalists for Ahuwhenua Trophy

MEDIA RELEASE

10 February 2014

 

The three finalists for the 2014 Ahuwhenua Trophy BNZ Maori Excellence in Farming Award will be announced at a special function at Parliament on Wednesday 19 February hosted by the Minister of Maori Affairs, Hon Dr Pita Sharples.

The annual Ahuwhenua Trophy Competition alternates between sheep and beef and dairy farming and the 2014 competition is for the top performing Maori dairy farm. The three finalists will be chosen from a number of Maori trusts, incorporations and individual farmers from around the country. Following their selection as finalists, they will then be subject to another round of judging which will include each of them staging a field day at their individual properties which will be open to members of the public. These will be held in March so that people can see the farms in action before the cows are dried off in the late autumn.

The Chairman of the Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee Kingi Smiler says the reason for announcing the finalists at a function in Wellington, is to draw greater attention to the significance of the Ahuwhenua Trophy and to highlight the significant contribution that Maori agribusiness makes to the New Zealand economy.

“For example, Maori are significant players in the dairy industry with ten percent of the milk produced in the country coming from Maori farmers. In Taranaki a large Maori Trust, Parininihi ki Waitotara is Fonterra’s largest supplier. It is also important to realise the importance that Maori place on sustainable farming practices. This is an integral part of our farming systems,” he says.

As well as announcing the finalists in the trophy for the dairy awards, Kingi Smiler says they will also be promoting the award for the Young Maori Dairy Farmer of the year. “We have some great emerging talent coming through the industry and this competition is a great way of encouraging our young people to make a career in farming,” he says.

Kingi Smiler says the Ahuwhenua Trophy Competition is a great opportunity for Maori trusts, incorporations and individuals to show case their successful dairy farming operations, some of which he says are among the top performing farms in the whole of the country.

The Ahuwhenua Trophy Competition was inaugurated eighty one years ago by the great visionary leader, Sir Apirana Ngata and the Governor General at the time, Lord Bledisloe with the aim of encouraging Maori to improve their farming operations. Kingi Smiler says Sir Apirana was able to convince Lord Bledisloe that such a competition would not only reap benefits for Maori, but also for the New Zealand economy.

“The value and intent of both Sir Apirana and Lord Bledisloe remains as relevant today and it was eighty one years ago. While farming systems and technology have changed, the Maori value of kaitiaki of their lands for future generations remain. The judging criteria remain the same with the farms being assessed in terms of their overall performance, including financial, as well as governance and community engagement,” he says.

BNZ is the Platinum Sponsor for the Award. Gold sponsors are DairyNZ, Fonterra, the Ministry for Primary Industries, Te Puni Kokiri and Te Tumu Paeroa. Silver sponsors are AgResearch, Primary ITO, PGG Wrightson and Ballance Agri-Nutrients. Bronze sponsors are Allflex, AFFCO, BDO, Ecolab, LIC, Polaris. Sponsor support is also supplied by the Federation of Maori Authorities, Landcorp, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and Tohu Wines.

 

Note for media

The finalists will be announced at the function at parliament at 5.30pm on Wednesday 19 February

Profiles of the finalists will be available that evening

The field days are set down for March 11, 14 and 19. You will be advised of the location of these on the night of the announcement and you are very welcome to attend these events.

The eventual winner of the Ahuwhenua Trophy and the Young Maori Dairy Farmer of the Year will be announced at a special function in Tauranga on 13 June

If you require any assistance please call Peter Burke, Communications Manager, 021 224 2184.