February 18, 2026

#regional: Ahuwhenua Trophy Horticulture Finalists Announced

Matthew Tukaki Posted On February 18, 2026

The finalists for the 2026 Ahuwhenua Trophy for Excellence in Māori Horticulture have been unveiled at Parliament, marking another milestone in the celebration of Māori achievement across the primary sector.

Announced by the Māori Development Minister at a special event in Wellington, this year’s finalists reflect the strength, resilience and innovation of Māori growers operating at the forefront of Aotearoa’s fastest-growing primary export industry.

The three finalists are Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective from Te Puke, Otama Marere Trust from Paengaroa, and Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust from Kerikeri.

The Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee says the finalists represent a cohort of Māori growers playing an increasingly significant role in horticulture, which has now become the fastest-growing of all primary export industries. Despite recent years of severe weather events and mounting environmental pressures, growers across the motu have continued to adapt and respond to challenging conditions.

Export returns for horticulture are forecast to exceed $9 billion by the end of June this year, with further growth projected into 2027. Māori growers are contributing strongly to this performance, producing high-quality crops that underpin both sector success and the wider Aotearoa economy.

Each finalist will receive a medal recognising their achievement and will host a public field day at their respective operations during March and April. These field days provide an opportunity for the public and industry stakeholders to see first-hand the growing systems, management practices and strategic planning behind each enterprise.

The scheduled field days 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

Following the field days and a second round of judging, the overall winner will be announced at the Ahuwhenua Trophy awards dinner in Whangārei on Friday 5 June.

A key strength of Māori involvement in the primary sector continues to be its commitment to intergenerational succession planning. Alongside the senior competition, the Ahuwhenua Trust also runs an annual Young Māori Grower award to support emerging leaders and ensure the future of Māori excellence in agriculture and horticulture remains strong. Finalists for the 2026 Young Māori Grower award will be announced in March, with the junior winner revealed at the same awards dinner in June.

The Ahuwhenua Trophy is widely regarded as the most prestigious award in Māori agriculture. Established in 1933 by Sir Apirana Ngata and Governor-General Lord Bledisloe, its purpose remains unchanged: to celebrate Māori excellence and encourage continuous improvement in land use, farming performance and sustainability.

Operating on a three-year rotational basis across sheep and beef, dairy and horticulture, the 2026 competition focuses on horticulture, highlighting the growing economic and strategic importance of the sector for Māori landowners and collectives across the country.

Image: The winner of the 2025 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award for sheep and beef is: Coby Warmington, Te Mahurehure, Ngāpuhi, 29, Farm Manager, Waima Topu Beef Ltd, Te Tai Tokerau. Coby Warmington said he was extremely surprised and happy at receiving the award. He said he entered the competition with the objective of looking to broaden his comfort zone and challenge himself socially and mentally and said that is exactly what happened. Coby’s plan includes continuing the development of Waima Topu Beef with the target of being in Northlands top 5% producing farms, ideally creating a space to grow rangatahi who are interested in a farming career. Also important is continuing education opportunities and engaging with other farmers at B+LNZ workshops and focus groups. Long term, farm ownership is Coby’s dream.