Leading hand now NZ's leading young Maori grower
Grace Rehu, 21 – a leading hand for Turners and Growers in Puketapu, Hawke’s Bay – is the winner of the 2023 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower competition.
Two of the farms are in the East Coast region of the North Island and the other from the Far North.
Mangaroa Station is in the Ruakaituri Valley, about an hour's drive north west of Wairoa, and is typical hill country with almost no flat land. The 1,506ha farm is owned by Bart and Nuku Hadfield who run 6,200 Romney Perendale ewes, 2,000 replacement ewe lambs and 70 rams. They also run 500 Angus breeding cows and 400 heifers.
Paua Station is located about 80km north of Kaitaia and 40km south of the top of New Zealand's Cape Reinga. It is owned by the Parengarenga Incorporation which is based in the small community of Te Kao. Paua Station consists of 2,430ha of easy rolling coastal sand country on which are run 2,800 mainly Angus cattle and 7,000 sheep.
Maranga Station is a typical East Coast hill country sheep and beef property and lies about 30km south west of Gisborne and is owned by Marty and Janice Charteris. The station consists of 850ha (effective) on which are run 6,000 Romdale sheep and 1,200 Angus cattle plus 600 goats, which are mustered annually.
The chairman of the Ahuwhenua Trophy Management committee, Kingi Smiler says all three farms are worthy finalists who have demonstrated a commitment and determination to create successful farming operations that will not only benefit them but also their whānau.
