Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmers Finalists Announced

The finalists in the 2022 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award for sheep and beef have been announced. They are:

• Chloe Butcher-Herries (Ngāti Mahanga, Waikato-Tainui), an Assistant Farm Manager at Newstead Farms in Puketapu, Napier.
• Puhirere Te-Akainga Tamanui Tau, (Ngati Ira, Ngati Porou, Ngāpuhi), a Shepherd working on Rototahi and Puatai Stations, Whangara Farms, located near Tolaga Bay.
• Rameka Eli Edwards (Ngāpuhi), the Manager at Reon and Wendy Verry’s farms Puketitire and Waitete, in Te Kuiti.

The Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer award was inaugurated in 2012 and is designed to recognise up and coming young Māori in the pastoral and horticulture sectors. Since its inception the competition has proved to be very popular and has attracted high quality entrants, many of whom have gone on to take leadership roles in the agri sector. The three finalists this year were selected from a number of entrants from around the country.

Representing Te Tumu Paeroa, judge Aaron Hunt says despite all the challenges that the rural sector has faced in the past year it is great to see three very worthy young Māori farmers come forward as finalists. He says all of them have demonstrated leadership qualities and that they are committed to working in the sheep and beef sector.

Aaron Hunt, says Māori are naturally close to the whenua and it is logical that many young Māori are choosing career paths in this sector.

“Despite all the headwinds, globally and locally, the sheep and beef industry remain a great career option offering an appealing outdoor lifestyle but where technology and innovation is taking the sector to new levels. The opportunities in this and other areas of the primary sector are limitless,” he says.

Aaron Hunt says since the award was inaugurated it has brought to the fore some outstanding farmers who are exemplars for all young people in Aotearoa. He says every year, past winners’ surface as finalists and winners of other primary sector awards and the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer alumni is fast becoming a powerful network showcasing Māori farming and achievement.

This year’s finalists will be at some of the Ahuwhenua Trophy finalist’s field days. He says this will give them the opportunity to widen their networks and for others in the agri sector to meet some of the future leaders of Māori agribusiness.

The winner will be announced at the awards dinner on Friday 21 October 2022 at the Pettigrew Green Arena in Taradale, Hawke’s Bay.

For more details about the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition and full profiles of the finalists, see the Ahuwhenua Trophy website. 

(Photo left to right: Chloe Butcher-Herries, Puhirere Te-Akainga Tamanui Tau, Rameka Eli Edwards - photos copyright Alphapix.co.nz)