Wednesday, 11 May 2022 12:55

Ahuwhenua comp back on

Written by  Peter Burke
After having been postponed earlier in the year due to Covid-19 2022, the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition to find the top Māori sheep and beef farm is back on track. After having been postponed earlier in the year due to Covid-19 2022, the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition to find the top Māori sheep and beef farm is back on track.

The 2022 Ahuwhenua Trophy competition to find the top Māori sheep and beef farm is back on track, after having been posponed earlier in the year due to Covid-19.

Judging of the entrants in this competition resumes in May, as well as the judging for the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award, which is run in conjunction with the senior event.

Ahuwhenua Trophy chair Nuku Hadfield says, with Covid restrictions now being progressively lifted, it was decided that it is safe to resume the judging process. She says entrants and sponsors have all been consulted and they are happy with this decision.

Hadfield says the only change to the programme now is the cancellation of the announcement of finalists at a function at Parliament.

"We will be announcing the finalists once the first-round judging process is complete," she told Rural News. "People will have a chance to meet this year's finalists at their respective field days in August and September. These events have always proved popular and are an excellent way of showcasing the achievements of our finalists."

Hadfield says 2022 has been a very challenging year for many Māori sheep and beef farmers, especially those on the East Coast of the North Island.

"The heavy rains in March had a catastrophic effect on some Māori farms - akin to the devastating Cyclone Bola in 1988," she says.

“The torrential rain caused massive slips on many farms, destroying fences, tracks and other infrastructure. Stock have also been lost or affected by the storms. It will take considerable time and effort to restore these farms to their former states.”

But Hadfield says, despite these setbacks, the prospects are good for another excellent Ahuwhenua Trophy competition. She says the Ahuwhenua Trophy has always been a highlight of the year for the agri sector and the 2022 competition will be no exception.

The field days for the finalists will take place in the last week of August and the first two weeks of September, with the awards dinner to be held on Friday 21 October in Hawke’s Bay.

More like this

Top Māori sheep and beef farms showcase excellence in Ahuwhenua Trophy field days

Recently two of New Zealand's top Maori sheep and beef farms held field days as part of the prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy competition. The two are: Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust, northeast of Whangarei, and the proprietors of Tawapata Onenui farm on Mahia Peninsula in southern Hawke's Bay. Reporter Peter Burke attended both field days.

Rain brings joy at Māori field day

The drought breaking rain in Northland was greeted with much joy and delight by the more than 200 people who turned out last week for a field day at the farm of Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust near the east coast settlement of Whangaruru, about 70km from Whangarei.

Ahuwhenua Trophy finalists announced

Farms from Northland and northern Hawke's Bay are the finalists in this year's Ahuwhenua Trophy competition for the top Māori sheep and beef farms.

Top Maori farms named

Maori farms from Northland and Northern Hawkes Bay are the finalists in this year’s prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy competition  for the top Maori sheep and beef farm.

Featured

National

Machinery & Products

New Holland combines crack 50 years

New Holland is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the introduction its Twin Rotor threshing and separation technology, which has evolved…

Iconic TPW Woolpress turns 50!

The company behind the iconic TPW Woolpress, which fundamentally changed the way wool is baled in Australia and New Zealand,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Double standards

OPINION: Imagine if the Hound had called the Minister of Finance the 'c-word' and accused her of "girl math".

Debt monster

OPINION: It's good news that Finance Minister Nicola Willis has slashed $1.1 billion from new spending, citing "a seismic global…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter