June 15, 2014
Taranaki farm wins Ahuwhenua trophy
A south Taranaki dairy operation that combines a leased treaty settlement block with four small family trust properties has won this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy for Maori excellence in farming.
Te Rua o Te Moko near Normanby runs 500 kiwi cross cows on a 170ha effective milking platform.
It’s now in its fifth season.
Ahuwhenua management committee chair Kingi Smiler says it’s an example of how small Maori trusts are collaborating to create larger more economically viable enterprises which serve local people and New Zealand better.
The farm also hosts training for descendants of the 1100 shareholders that whakapapa back to the land as well as other young people.
The other finalists were in the eastern Bay of Plenty, Putauaki Trust's Himiona Farm and Ngati Awa Farms' Ngakauroa Farm.
The winner of the young Maori Farmer Award was Wiremu Reid of Te Rarawa, a lower order sharemilker from Winton.
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