Coby Warmington wins 2025 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award
Coby Warmington, 29, a farm manager at Waima Topu Beef near Hokianga was named at the winner of the 2025 Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer Award for sheep and beef.
More than 150 people turned up to Pukepoto Farm Trust on May 4 for the last of three field days in the Ahuwhenua Trophy BNZ Māori Excellence in Farming Award for sheep and beef.
Pukepoto Farm Trust, with just over a thousand owners, is situated near the tiny settlement of Ongarue about 20 minutes north of the central North Island town of Taumarunui. Most people understand Pukepoto to mean little hill but in this case it means blue clay. The farm is a typical hill country farm with high steep hills and gullies that drop down to feed the Ongarue and Ohura Rivers, and ultimately the Whanganui River.
The property consists of 1400 hectares of land of which just over 1000ha are farmed. About 100ha are covenanted under the Ngā Whenua Rāhui scheme. There is 62ha in plantation pine and the remainder of the unfarmed land is scrub; much of which is being retired to prevent erosion. The Trust has worked closely with Horizons Regional Council in this regard. Currently the property winters a flock of 6000 Romney ewes and a herd of 300 mainly Angus cattle.
The judges who selected Pukepoto Farm Trust as a finalist say they were impressed with the collaborative approach to governance by the Trust and the way they use their mix of skills to full advantage. The judges also praised the Trust for its financial management, the setting of clear and simple key performance indicators and its commitment to improving animal performance. The judges also commented positively on the steps the Trust had taken to achieve sustainability and environmental outcomes.
The Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee chairman Kingi Smiler says Pukepoto Farm Trust’s financial performance over the last three years has been outstanding and as a farm rated in the top 20% in their land class.
The whānau of the Trust have a strong connection with their land and this bonding and respect for their farm has, and will continue to serve them well into the future.
Smiler says all three field days have been very professionally run by the three finalists and the Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee recognises this effort. This is what you would expect from three of the top performing Māori sheep and beef farmers in the country.
Smiler commented that the judges now have a lot to ponder and he, like others, awaits with great interest their decision when the winner is announced at the awards dinner in Whangarei on May 26.
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.
Following heavy rain which caused flooding in parts of Nelson-Tasman and sewerage overflows in Marlborough, the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme (IFSO Scheme) is urging homeowners and tenants to be cautious when cleaning up and to take the right steps to support claims.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
OPINION: ACT MP Mark Cameron isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he certainly calls it how he sees it, holding…
OPINION: Did former PM Jacinda Ardern get fawning reviews for her book?