Tuesday, 17 June 2025 11:55

Coby Warmington wins 2025 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award

Written by Peter Burke

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Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer Award winner Coby Warmington with his partner Holly Millan.

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.

The announcement was made by the Maori Trustee, Dr Charlotte Severne at the Ahuwhenua awards dinner held in Palmerston North.

This competition was inaugurated in 2012 and is designed to recognise up-and-coming young Maori in the pastoral and horticulture sectors.

The other finalists in the 2025 competition were Grace Watson and Puhirere Tau.

Warmington says he was extremely surprised and happy at receiving the award. He says he entered the competition with the objective of looking to broaden his comfort zone and challenge himself socially and mentally and said that is exactly what happened.

Severne says Te Tumu Paeroa is proud to sponsor the competition which is a celebration of the achievements of inspirational young Maori farmers thriving in the agrisector, all while championing in the sustainability of the whenua. She says the awards continue to showcase the development of young Maori leaders and announced that each of the finalists would receive a $5,000 cash scholarship with the winner receiving an additional $5,000.

Lead judge Sam Vivian-Greer representing Te Tumu Paeroa says once again all three finalists had shown a passion and love for the sheep and beef sector and had made significant achievements in their respective roles.

The Chair of the Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee Nukuhia Hadfield says all finalists displayed a great passion for the whenua and a desire to take their careers to new heights and into leadership roles.

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