Judges Of The 2012 Ahuwhenua Trophy Named

09.1.12 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Judges Of The 2012 Ahuwhenua Trophy- BNZ Māori Excellence In Farming Dairy Competition Named

The judges for this year’s prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy - BNZ Māori Excellence in Farming Dairy competition have been announced.

The finals judges are Doug Leeder (Chief Judge), Stephen Veitch (BNZ), Tafi Manjala (DairyNZ), Paul Klee (Fonterra). (BIO’s)

The first round judges are Peter MacGregor (Independent), Paul Radich (Fonterra), Paul Bird (DairyNZ):, Duncan Matthews (BNZ). (BIO’s)

The Chief Judge, Doug Leeder, is encouraging more Māori landowners to put their businesses on the line and reap the rewards which include great feedback, supported by free entry to DairyBase and DairyNZ on-farm analysis.

“The Ahuwhenua Trophy - BNZ Māori Excellence in Farming Dairy competition is a great way of growing your business,” he says.

‘With entries closing on Friday, 27 January 2012 there is still time to enter, so get hold of an entry form and send it off – there’s all to gain and nothing to lose.”

A long-time Bay of Plenty dairy farmer and former Chair of the “industry good” organisation, Dairy InSight, Doug Leeder has a strong interest in supporting sound governance practice within the sector. He has been Chief Judge of the Ahuwhenua Dairy competition since 2006.

There are two judging rounds in Ahuwhenua Trophy - BNZ Maori Excellence in Farming Dairy competition. First round judges will assess all entrant farms before the three finalists are chosen, and later assessed, by the finals judges.

Entrants will be tested on a range of factors based on the efficiency with which the property is farmed relative to its potential. These include effective governance and management, attention to environmental excellence and recognition of nga tikanga Maori (cultural practices) relevant to a farm business enterprise.

Entry forms are available from all offices of Te Puni Kōkiri and the Māori Trustee or from Joan Nathu, Nathu 04 803 2851 or email: joan.nathu@maoritrustee.co.nz
Copies of the entry form are available on: www.ahuwhenuatrophy.māori.nz andwww.māoritrustee.co.nz.

Initial judging for the competition will take place in March 2012. Field days will be held on the properties of the three finalists in April and May and the winner of the Ahuwhenua Trophy BNZ Māori Excellence in Farming Dairy Competition will be announced at a Gala Awards dinner to be held at the SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre on 8 June 2012.Tickets for this event are available from Joan Nathu 04 803 2851 or email: joan.nathu@maoritrustee.co.nz

The Ahuwhenua Trophy is the premier award for Māori in agriculture. It acknowledges and celebrates business excellence in the New Zealand pastoral sector and is open to Māori farming properties either owned individually, or managed by Māori Trusts and Incorporations in New Zealand.

Each year it alternates between beef and sheep farms and dairy farms. This is the fourth year since the competition was revived in 2003 that entrants will compete for the Ahuwhenua Trophy for excellence in Māori dairy farming.

BNZ is the Platinum Sponsor for the Award. Gold sponsors are Fonterra, DairyNZ and Te Puni Kokiri. Silver sponsors are AgResearch, AgITO, PGG Wrightson and Ballance Agri-Nutrients. Bronze sponsors are Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Allflex, AFFCO, BDO, Māori Trustee, LIC , Re:Gen and Polaris. Sponsor support will also be supplied by Tohu Wines, FOMA, Landcorp, Agrecovery and Ecolab.

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