Maori Farmer of the Year announced

Media Release

11th June

Maori Farmer of the Year announced

This year’s Maori Farmer of the Year competition has come to a close with the announcement of the top Maori farming business.

Wairarapa Moana Incorporation Te Pou-a-Kani Farms is this year’s winner of the Maori Farmer of the Year title and the celebrated Ahuwhenua Trophy for Maori farming excellence.

Competition chairman Bob Cottrell says the competition proved to be a tight contest between the three regional finalists and provided the judges with a challenge.

“This year’s competition was a hard fought one at both the regional and national level, with a number of excellent entries from right around the North Island.

“Te Pou-a-Kani demonstrated excellence in Maori farming right throughout their business. They have successfully introduced an intensification programme, innovative methods for recording and reporting. Te-Pou-a-Kani’s business is very diverse but at the same time has a clear business plan and vision for the future,” he says.

Te Pou-a-Kani Chairman Kingi Smiler says winning the national title and the Ahuwhenua Trophy is a great honour.

“We were honoured to win the regional title, but to be awarded the national title is something else. We’ve learnt a lot from the competition and from our fellow regional winners, Te Aute and Waihi Pukawa who are outstanding Maori farm businesses in their own right.”

“Winning the title and the Ahuwhenua Trophy is something we couldn’t have achieved without our excellent staff, consultants and management team,” he says.

Meat & Wool New Zealand is a major sponsor of the event along with the Bank of New Zealand, AgResearch and Te Puni Kokiri (Gold sponsors)

Williams & Kettle, Merial, Ballance Agri-Nutrients and Blue Wing Honda (Silver sponsors)

The AFFCO group, AgriQuality, Landcorp and PPCS-Richmond (Bronze sponsors)

ENDS

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