Applications for new Young Māori Trainee/Cadet Award

MEDIA RELEASE

16 December 2011

Applications for new Young Māori Trainee/Cadet Award now open

A new competition for young Māori working in agriculture has been introduced as part of the Ahuwhenua Trophy BNZ Māori Excellence in Farming Award in 2012. The inaugural 2012 Award is for the Young Māori Dairy Trainee/Cadet of the Year.

AgITO’s Strategic Relations Manager, Peter MacGregor, is encouraging talented young Māori working in the dairy industry to enter the competition. He says young people of Māori descent working on farms throughout the country are eligible to enter and interest has already been strong.

“The award was created to recognise the achievements of young Māori in farming and to promote and profile farming as a career of choice and of the future,” Peter says. “In my role as a judge of the Ahuwhenua Trophy I have observed the passion our young people have for their career and their commitment to growing the productivity of the farm and the sustainable maintenance of the whenua. This award will help to raise the profile of Māori in farming in this country”

The award was announced at the Ahuwhenua Trophy Awards ceremony on Friday 3 June this year by the Minister of Māori Affairs, Hon Dr Pita Sharples and has been developed with the support of the Māori Trustee, AgITO, and Te Puni Kokiri. The Award is primarily resourced by the Maori Soldiers Fund administered by the Maori Trustee.

Entrants must be between 16 and 25 years old as at 31 December 2011, currently employed on a dairy farm, of Māori descent (they must provide confirmation of whakapapa signed off by a Kaumātua) and currently enrolled in or have completed within the last year a National Certificate in Agriculture (Level 3) or higher.

The new award aims to encourage young Māori into leadership roles, encourage personal development and growth and recognise outstanding achievement and excellence in Māori farming. The winner of the first Young Māori Trainee/Cadet Award will be announced at the Ahuwhenua Trophy awards ceremony on 8 June next year.
“Entry is also open to the 2012 Ahuwhenua Trophy – BNZ Māori Excellence in Farming Competition,” Peter says. “This year it’s the turn of Māori Dairy farmers to accept the challenge and test themselves against some of the best dairy farmers in Aotearoa.”

Applications for the Young Māori Trainee/Cadet award are open until 29 February 2012. For more information and to download an application form, please visit http://www.ahuwhenuatrophy.Māori.nz or see www.agito.ac.nz.

The Ahuwhenua Trophy is the premier award for Māori in agriculture. It acknowledges and celebrates business excellence in the New Zealand pastoral sector and is open to Māori farming properties either owned individually, or managed by Māori Trusts and Incorporations in New Zealand . Entries for the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition close on 27 January, 2012.

BNZ is the Platinum Sponsor for the Award. Gold sponsors are Fonterra, Dairy NZ and Te Puni Kokiri. Silver sponsors are AgResearch, AgITO, PGG Wrightson and Ballance Agri-Nutrients. Bronze sponsors are Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Allflex, AFFCO, BDO, Maori Trustee, LIC and Re:Gen. Sponsor support will also be supplied by Tohu Wines, Landcorp, Agrecovery and Ecolab.
ENDS

About AgITO

Agriculture ITO (AgITO) provides leadership in education and training, develops national qualifications, maintains national standards and provides on-going support for their trainees and employers. AgITO training is subsidised by industry and Government. For more information on our qualifications, please visit www.agito.ac.nz.

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