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Erica Henare. Photo Credit: Alphapix
The finalists in the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower Award for 2023 have been announced and all are wahine Māori.
They are Alix Te Kere, who’s a health and safety advisor, Rockit Management Services, Hastings, Erica Henare, pipfruit and kiwifruit manager, Kono NZ LP, Motueka and Grace Rehu, a leading hand at Turners and Growers, Puketapu, Hawke’s Bay.
The Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer and Grower award was inaugurated in 2012 and is designed to recognise up-and-coming young Māori in the pastoral and horticulture sectors. The three finalists this year were selected from a number of entrants from around the country. This is only the second year the competition for the Young Māori Grower has been held.
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Alix Te Kere. Photo Credit: Alphapix |
Spokesperson for the competition Aaron Hunt says despite all the challenges that the horticultural sector has faced in recent months, it is amazing to see three very worthy young Māori growers come forward as finalists. He says all of them have demonstrated that they are committed to working in the sector and have fine leadership qualities.
Hunt says horticulture is in the DNA of Māori and they are naturally close to the whenua, both physically and spiritually. He believes it is perhaps why more and more young Māori are choosing career paths in this sector.
“For young Māori, the horticulture industry remains a great career option offering an appealing outdoor lifestyle but the lure of technology and innovation is taking the sector to new levels. The opportunities in this and other areas of the primary sector are limitless.”
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Grace Te Rehu. Photo Credit: Alphapix |
In a few weeks the winner of the prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy for the top Māori dairy farm will be revealed at a gala dinner in Hamilton. In the past couple of weeks, the two finalists in this year’s competition have been holding on-farm field days to showcase why they are finalists. Peter Burke has attended both field days.
Competitors from Oamaru, Ashburton and Tirau are all vying for this year’s prestigious Young Māori dairy farmer of the year title.
The finalists in this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy competition to select the top Māori dairy farm in the country are now busy planning and organising field days at their respective properties.
The search is on to select the top dairy farm for the main Ahuwhenua Trophy competition.
Entries are open for the 2024 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award, for up-and-coming young Māori working on dairy farms around the country.
James and Debbie Stewart from Dairylands in Manawatu impressed judges and took out the 2024 Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award.
Manawatu farmers Will Hinton and Kali Rangiawha have scooped the 2024 New Zealand Share Farmers of the Year.
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Females are dominating the veterinary profession worldwide and many farmers are welcoming this change in the composition of the profession, says Britain's Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) Professor Christine Middlemiss.
Fonterra has appointed a new chief financial officer, seven months after its last CFO’s shock resignation.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
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