L-R: Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay, Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust Chair Pita Tipene, Otama Marere Trustee Diane Berghan, Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee Chair Nukuhia Hadfield, Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective CEO Charles Russell, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka.
Ahuwhenua Trophy 2026 Horticulture Finalists Announced
The 2026 finalists for the Ahuwhenua Trophy, Excellence in Māori Horticulture award were announced by the Māori Development Minister at a special event at Parliament today.
The three finalists are:
- Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective – Te Puke
- Otama Marere Trust – Paengaroa
- Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust – Kerikeri
“The finalists represent a cohort of Māori growers who are playing an important role in horticulture which is now the fastest growing of all the primary export industries,” Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee Chair Nukuhia Hadfield says.
“In recent years and months many growers throughout the country have endured some very difficult times due to devastating weather events, but they continue to navigate and respond to these challenges.
“Export returns for horticulture to the end of June this year were set to top more than $9 billion and expected rise even further in 2027.
“By producing high quality bumper crops Māori growers contribute greatly to the success of the sector and the Aotearoa economy,” she says.
All finalists receive a medal to recognise their selection and will now host a public field day during March or April at their respective premises to demonstrate growing operations.
The field day dates are:
- Thursday 26 March – Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective, Te Puke
- Thursday 2 April – Otama Marere Trust, Paengaroa
- Thursday 23 April – Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust, Kerikeri
The field days and a second round of judging will determine the overall winner, who will be announced at the awards dinner on Friday 5 June in Whangārei.
“One the strengths of Māori in the primary sector is their commitment to intergenerational succession planning,” Hadfield says.
“This is supported by the Ahuwhenua Trust which runs an annual award for young Māori growers and farmers alongside the senior competition to support and grow our future leaders,.”
The Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower award finalists will be announced in March, with the overall junior winner also to be announced at the Ahuwhenua Trophy awards dinner.
Finalist profile summaries
Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective
Field day: Thursday 26 March
Established in 2018, Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective represents a strategic collaboration between Te Arawa Group Holdings, Ngāti Awa Group Holdings, and Rotomā No.1 Incorporation. The partnership acquired 100+ productive canopy hectares of Te Puke kiwifruit orchards, combining commercial excellence with kaitiakitanga and Māori capability development.
Operating across three properties – Te Mātai (158 hectares), Pacific Gold (28 hectares), and Coachman (38 hectares) – the partnership grows SunGold and Hayward cultivars while advancing biodiversity restoration, soil health, and water resilience through research partnerships.
As Zespri's largest Māori shareholder, Mātai Pacific has grown its combined asset value beyond $130 million since 2018, exemplifying kotahitanga—iwi collaboration creating intergenerational opportunity and legacy grounded in ‘he kai kei aku ringa’.
Otama Marere Trust
Field day: Thursday 2 April
Otama Marere Trust manages 45 hectares of Māori freehold land in the Bay of Plenty and takes its name from the pā site once occupied by Rangiiwaho and his whānau. Historically a traveller's resting place along the Kaituna River, the land sustained whānau through tikanga-based harvesting of tuna, watercress, and crops such as kūmara, kamokamo and others.
Established as an Ahu Whenua Trust in 1979, the land was leased for a 60-year term to Te Puke Golf Club before orchard development began in the 1980s under Sir Peter Tapsell's leadership. An all-women PEP programme crew built the infrastructure. After managing significant debt, Huia Tapsell restructured operations, establishing a successful Seeka partnership now managed by Owner and Advisory Trustee Homman Tapsell.
Today's operations include 21+ hectares of kiwifruit, avocados, native plantings, and 6.3 hectares of protected wetlands. The Trust diversifies through commercial property investment and Māori partnerships.
Guided by whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga, and other core values, Otama Marere Trust honours its tūpuna while building intergenerational prosperity through sustainable enterprise and environmental stewardship.
Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust
Field day: Thursday 23 April
Established in 1974, Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust manages 6,000 hectares centered around Moerewa and Kawakawa, representing more than 6,000 owners through seven Trustees. Guided by 'He Whenua Hua, He Tangata Ora', the Trust holds interests across forestry, kiwifruit, mānuka honey, dairy, carbon crops, and native nurseries.
Six Kerikeri orchards, acquired 2004-2020, comprise 49 hectares with 32 hectares of Zespri SunGold G3 canopy, demonstrating successful diversification into high-value horticulture. Operating under Seeka lease and supply agreements, the Trust since 2023 employs 13 staff including an orchard manager, building internal capability through horticulture qualifications and Seeka cadetship training.
Operations integrate kaitiakitanga with commercial excellence through sustainable land use, water management, and responsible inputs. Strong governance balances intergenerational outcomes while kiwifruit returns diversify income, buffer commodity cycles, and fund marae, education, and cultural initiatives.
Grounded in 'He Ringa Ahuwhenua, He Hanga Mahi', the Trust cultivates enduring prosperity and capability for future generations.
Our thanks to our valued Ahuwhenua Trophy sponsors
Platinum: Te Puni Kōkiri and the Ministry for Primary Industries
Gold: Te Tumu Paeroa, BNZ, Horticulture New Zealand and Zespri
Silver: Ballance Agri-Nutrients, Fruitfed Supplies
Bronze: BDO, FMG, Massey University, New Zealand Bioeconomy Science Institute, New Zealand Fruitgrowers Charitable Trust, Ecolab and NZ Māori Tourism
Other: Kono Wines
A big thanks also to sponsors of the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower Award
Kaitautoko Tuatahi: Te Tumu Paeroa
Kaitautoko Taketake: Te Puni Kōkiri, Women in Horticulture: United Fresh New Zealand and Horticulture New Zealand
Nga Kaitautoko: New Zealand Apples & Pears
Notes to Editor/Media:
Material:
- For further information contact Peter Burke on 021 224 2184 or peterj@true-to-ireland.com
- For ‘free for editorial use’ photos of competition go to the Alphapix website and contact John Cowpland from Alphapix for download access on info@alphapix.co.nz.
- For more details about the competition: visit history and past winners of the trophy on this website.
Field days:
- The Ahuwhenua Trophy competition finalist field days will be held at their respective properties. Each day is open to the public and runs from 9.00am – 2.00pm, all are welcome. Further details, including start point addresses, will be posted here and Facebook page.
