Two farms from the North Island east coast and one from Central Hawkes Bay are the finalists in this year’s Ahuwhenua competition for the top Māori sheep and beef farm.

The three finalists in this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy for the top Māori sheep and beef farm have been announced.

Māori sheep and beef farmers are being urged to enter the Ahuwhenua Trophy, Te Puni Kōkiri Excellence in Māori Farming Award 2019 for Sheep and Beef.  

Rotorua-based Onuku Māori Lands Trust scooped the 2018 Ahuwhenua Trophy BNZ Māori Excellence in Farming Award for dairy. 

Moyra Bramley was born in 1933, the year Sir Apirana Ngata and Lord Bledisloe inaugurated the Ahuwhenua Trophy to recognise excellence in Maori farming — now Ms Bramley has at least a 50/50 chance of winning that trophy.

About 130 people turned out to a field day at a Hokitika dairy farm, a finalist in this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy competition. 

Māori farms near Rotorua and Hokitika are the finalists in this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy for dairy. 

Māori farms near Rotorua and Hokitika are the finalists in this year’s Ahuwhenua trophy for dairy. 

Landcorp is to sponsor the Ahuwhenua Trophy, which recognises excellence in Maori dairy and sheep and beef farming.

Massey University has signed as a sponsor of the Ahuwhenua Trophy, awarded annually to the country’s premier Māori farmer.