Māori sheep and beef farmers are being urged to enter the 2022 Ahuwhenua Trophy competition.
The competition is designed to recognise excellence in Māori farming and was initiated in 1933 by the great Māori leader Sir Apirana Ngata and the Governor General at the time Lord Bledisloe.
Entries for the competition are now open and Chair of the Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee which runs the competition, Nuku Hadfield, says it offers a unique opportunity for individual Māori farmers, trusts and incorporations to showcase their excellent farming enterprises to both Māori and the wider farming sector.
Speaking at the Red Meat Sector Conference where the 2022 competition was officially launched, Nuku Hadfield noted that Māori contribute more than 15% of red meat exports and have done much to expand and develop their farming operations both in terms of sustainability and profitability.
She says previous participants in the competition have said it was an invaluable exercise, and through the judging process they gained feedback that they otherwise wouldn’t have got. Nuku says the time and effort in entering the Ahuwhenua Trophy is more than made up for by the benefits that can accrue – including becoming a finalist and winning the award.
To mark the official launch of the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition for sheep and beef, the Ahuwhenua Trophy was welcomed and displayed at the at Red Meat Sector Conference dinner attended by the Minister of Agriculture, Hon Damien O’Connor and close to 200 delegates.
Andrew Morrison, Chair of Beef+Lamb New Zealand says it was very exciting to launch the competition at the Red Meat Sector Conference. He says having the trophy on display to such a large and influential gathering helped raise the profile of the event. He says Beef + Lamb New Zealand are proud to be a Gold sponsor of the awards and are excited to participate in the various events held in conjunction with the competition. He says he hopes the profile of the launch will help attract Māori farmers and organisations to enter the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition and motivate other companies to encourage their clients to enter.
Entries close on Friday 10 December and the winner will be announced at a gala dinner on Friday 27 May 2022, in Hawke’s Bay.
The Entry Form and further details about 2022 competition will be on the Ahuwhenua Trophy website in the next few weeks.
More details are at www.ahuwhenuatrophy.maori.nz. Media can contact Peter Burke: 021 224 2183 / peterj@true-to-ireland.com.
