Tawapata South Māori Inc’s Onenui Station has been named one of two finalists for this year’s prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy.
The annual Ahuwhenua Trophy, inaugurated in 1933, is the top honour in Māori-owned farming. The Trophy rotates across the sheep & beef, dairy and horticulture sectors. This year the competition is for sheep and beef farmers.
The other finalist is Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust from Northland. The winner will be announced in June.
Onenui Station, comprising 3,300 hectares (about 1,700 hectares is effective farming land), is located at the tip of the Mahia Peninsula and winters 15,000 stock units.
Interestingly, Rocket Lab’s launch facility is here as well, with Tawapata earning a revenue share from each launch.
Why do you have to say Māori farm ???? When you right about other farms – not Maori owned do you head it Pakeha Farms – no – it’s like as if Maori don’t have the capability to be successful. Such Racist headings
This is about an award specially for Maori-owned farms. Just like there are awards only for fly fishermen. Relax!
I would have liked to have learnt a lot more about this farm – the history, land use (ie forestry or protected conserved land?), how has the additional revenue from
Rocket Lab been spent and how has it benefited local iwi/hapu.
I agree with Gill that more info as to why this farm is a finalist would be great. Is it solely run by Maori ie they make the farming decisions or is it still under pakeha management like the 1840s?
How do you get to be considered for this award? I’m pakeha and have 2 Maori sons farming their whanau whenua and this award/ or opportunity has never been noticed by us or in IWI news.
Any help appreciated
Nga mihi
Here’s full information on the Ahuwhenua Award, history and process: https://www.ahuwhenuatrophy.maori.nz