Whangara Farms begins field days

THE first of the field days as part of the Ahuwhenua Trophy Te Puni Kokiri Excellence in Maori Farming competition takes place at Whangara Farms on Thursday April 4.

The farms and Kiriroa Station at Motu are two of the three finalists in the awards.

Field days will be held at all three properties as part of the judging process.

The field day at Eugene and Pania King’s Kiriroa property is on April 18.

Both field days will be open to the public and provide an opportunity for the finalists to showcase their properties.

The Ahuwhenua Trophy is the most prestigious award for excellence in Maori farming and was inaugurated in 1933 by the renowned Maori leader, Sir Apirana Ngata and the Governor General at the time, Lord Bledisloe.

“The objective was and still is to encourage Maori farmers to improve their land and their overall farming position as kaitiaki,” a spokesman said.

Whangara Farms is a partnership of three Maori Incorporations, Whangara B5, Pakarae A and other blocks and Tapuwae Whitiwhiti.

“Our day will start at 8.30am next Thursday at Whangara Marae, ahead of a powhiri at 9am and morning tea,” said Whangara Farms board chairperson Ingrid Collins.

“We will leave the marae at 10.30am to start the farm tour at Pakarae Station, then move on to Whangara B5 Station.”

“The staff will be speaking about the infrastructure, feed production, stock management and environmental matters during the tour,” Mrs Collins said.

The tour heads back to the marae at 1pm for a presentation by Te Puni Kokori.

The field day concludes with a barbeque and refreshments from 3.30pm.

“We would absolutely like other farmers to come and see what Whangara Farms is all about,” Mrs Collins said.

“We would like the public to see why the farms have been chosen as finalists in the Ahuwhenua competition.”