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The chair of this year’s winner of the Ahuwhenua Trophy for Maori farming excellence says the win will give the owners the confidence to move into the next phase of their development.
Dion Maaka says Te Rua o Te Moko started operations five years ago when the Maori Trustee helped bring together four small land trusts to combine their holdings for shares in the new venture.
The farm is currently run with a 50-50 sharemilking arrangement, but Te Rua o Moko has been building up its own herd behind the scenes.
"For the start of the 2015 – 2016 season our intention is to have our own farm manager on board with our own herd of cows so that we can accumulate 100 per cent of the milk check. We've done that in consultation with the sharemilker. They are fully aware and supportive of where Te Rua O Te Moko is headed," he says.
Dion Maaka says a farm cadet course on the land will produce eight Maori graduates this year, joining the eight from last year who have already got jobs in the industry.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH DION MAAKA CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MTkxNDE=
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