Horticulture has joined the prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy competition.

At the end of May, the winner of the Ahuwhenua Trophy for the top Māori sheep and beef farm will be announced at a gala dinner in Gisborne.

Good Māori farms shouldn’t just be pigeon-holed as good Māori farms, they should just be recognised as top farms globally.

“The huge turnout to our field day has blown me away.”

The East Coast of the North Island features prominently in this year’s Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award for Sheep and Beef.

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.

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.

About 700 people in late May attended a gala awards night in Whangerei, to see Omapere Rangihamama Trust farm, near Kaikohe, awarded the Ahuwhenua Trophy.

Prime Minister Bill English says in most regions Maori now have the potential to become the largest long-term investors.