Judges
Ahuwhenua Judges 2026 – Horticulture
About the Judges
The Ahuwhenua Trophy judges play a vital role in the success of the competition. All are very experienced people who are able to accurately assess each entrant and provide valuable feedback to those in governance roles and those who are involved in the day-to-day management of the organisation.
The competition has two judging panels. The first-round judges have the task of selecting up to three finalists – in effect the short list. At this point the finalist judges become involved and they will select the eventual winner. The Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee greatly appreciates the support of those sponsors who have made top class horticultural experts available to judge the event.
FINALIST JUDGES
Dr Bruce Campbell, CNZM – Chief Judge
Dr Bruce Campbell is a company director and consultant. He holds board positions as Director of the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science, Director of the New Zealand Winegrowers Research Centre Limited and Director of Predator Free 2050 Limited. Bruce is experienced in strategies for innovation and was previously a Director of Horticulture New Zealand and Chief Operating Officer at Plant & Food Research.
He has a particular interest in building partnerships with tangata whenua and accelerating innovation, education and talent development. Bruce has a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Ecology from the University of Sheffield. He is a recipient of the 2017 Prime Minister’s Science Prize, 2017 Horticulture New Zealand Industry Service Award and 2016 Royal Society of New Zealand Thomson Medal for outstanding leadership of agricultural and horticultural science.
Nicole Nepe – Te Puni Kōkiri
Rongowhakaata, Te Whānau a Kai
Nicole brings extensive experience in Māori development and public policy. Over the past ten years, she has worked closely with Māori landowners across the country, supporting development at multiple scales and across a wide range of industries. Her deep understanding of Māori land law has strengthened national and regional programmes focused on land administration, governance capability, and the long term sustainability of Māori freehold land.
In her career, Nicole has contributed to initiatives that improve outcomes for Māori agribusiness, enhance regulatory settings, and ensure Māori aspirations are reflected in government decision making. She is adept at navigating the intersection of policy, practice, and community priorities, bringing clarity to complex issues and championing solutions that uphold tino rangatiratanga and the enduring relationship between people and whenua.
Nicole has worked alongside Māori landowners, growers, and enterprises to lift productivity while protecting whenua and whakapapa. Her work emphasises resilience, innovation, and the creation of pathways that support intergenerational prosperity. Known for a balanced, analytical approach, Nicole brings strong evaluative skills, a deep appreciation for kaupapa Māori, and a commitment to intergenerational stewardship and the unique strengths of Māori farming systems.
Nick Bullen – BNZ
Nick Bullen is an Agribusiness Partner at BNZ, based in the Bay of Plenty since 2022. His client base is predominantly kiwifruit, with dairy and drystock farming also in the mix. Originally from the Waikato, he spent several years working on dairy farms while completing a Bachelor of Business Analysis. He began his professional career in accounting before joining BNZ in 2016 where he has since held a range of roles supporting farmers, growers, and rural businesses.
Nick has experience working alongside a variety of Māori agribusiness groups and has an appreciation for the values, aspirations, and intergenerational objectives that underpin Māori land management and is looking forward to contributing as a judge for the 2026 Ahuwhenua Trophy.
Rito Tapuke – Pou Māori Judge
Te Atiawa, Ngāti Mutunga, Taranaki Iwi, Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Paoa
Rito is the Chief Advisor Māori for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. He has held a range of different roles spanning management, strategy, general legal practice, policy and accounting in iwi, private and public sectors. Including the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. He also holds a number of governance roles in Māori trusts involved in housing and property development.
Rito also has extensive tikanga Māori experience and has been the project director of the Ahuwhenua Trophy Project Team and a member of the Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee.
FIRST ROUND JUDGES
Wally Lee – Lead Judge, MPI
Born and raised in Rotorua, Wally began governance of whenua Māori in 2007 and now has an extensive background in leadership of ahu whenua land blocks. He is the current Chair of Tumunui Land Trust, Waipupumahana A1B2 Land Trust, Te Puke 2B1C kiwifruit orchard and a Trustee on a number of Tuhourangi/Ngati Wahiao whenua blocks including Rotomahana Parekarangi 6J2B5B, Kapenga M and Tokerau A10.
All Trusts Wally is involved with are functional and effective Trusts with significant experience in Governance. He has developed bovine and ovine dairy units, creating business plans and overseeing farming and horticultural contracts, dry stock, dairy, forestry, kiwifruit orchard management and commercial property management.
After 18 years as a professional fire fighter, Wally took an opportunity to join the Ministry of Primary Industries, Māori Agribusiness Team in February 2020. Covering the Bay of Plenty region, Wally is now six years into working with Mãori Land Trusts helping to build capability and growth in the agricultural and horticulture sector.
Erika Lilley – BNZ
Erika Lilley is an Agribusiness Partner with BNZ, based in Whakatāne. Originally from a dairy farm and kiwifruit orchard in Te Puke. Before joining BNZ in 2023, Erika completed her Bachelor of Agribusiness (Farm Management) through distance study with Massey University, whilst dairy farming in Southland.
As an Agribusiness partner she now works alongside a mix of both Horticulturalists and Dairy Farmers across the Bay of Plenty region, a few of whom are proudly connected to the Ahuwhenua Trophy. Erika is honoured to be a part of the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition and is looking forward to working with this year's entrants
Leanne Roberts – Horticulture New Zealand
Leanne is a Senior Environmental Policy Advisor with Horticulture NZ. Leanne has regional oversight of a number of regions and works closely with growers to advocate for their needs. Leanne has a blended background. She was Managing Director for 10 years of Thymebank, a commercial hydroponic salad and herb operation in Marlborough. Through this time, she was a Director on Vegetables NZ Inc. Prior to this she has held roles in policy and development in primary health and local government.
Leanne is based in the Manawatū where she lives with her fiancé and two children.
Preston Stevens – New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science Limited
Preston Stevens is the Assistant Research Orchard Manager for the Bio-economy Science Institute Plant and Food Research, Kerikeri. He resides in the beautiful Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) where he grew up in the kiwifruit industry from commercial pre and post-harvest canopy management, packhouse management and export to in the recent years of growing science kiwifruit. Preston mainly specialises in the breeding and growing of new varieties of kiwifruit with less spraying requirements, better disease and pest resilience, low cost high yield crops and more sustainable ways to grow, aiming to build ‘a smart green future, together.’
