Hemoata Kopa, originally from Matawaia, Northland, who works as a general shepherd on Pukemiro Station just out of Dannevirke, was a finalist again in the 2017 Young Maori Sheep and Beef Farmer of the Year competition recently at the Ahuwhenua Awards in Whangarei.
Hemoata Kopa, originally from Matawaia, Northland, who works as a general shepherd on Pukemiro Station just out of Dannevirke, was a finalist again in the 2017 Young Maori Sheep and Beef Farmer of the Year competition recently at the Ahuwhenua Awards in Whangarei.
The winner of the 2017 Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer Award is Jordan Biddle, 21, Ngati Pahauwera, who is a shepherd on Pihanui Station, south of Wairoa, owned by Ngati Pahauwera.
The announcement was made by Jamie Tuuta, Chief Executive of Te Tumu Paeroa at the Ahuwhenua Trophy awards dinner inWhangarei recently.
More than 700 guests including the Prime Minister, the Minister for Maori Development, other parliamentarians and representatives of the Maori King were in attendance.
The other two finalists in the competition were 21 year old Dylan Ruki-Fowlie, Te Atihaunui a Paparangi, who works as a general shepherd on Tawanui Station, south of Raetihi, and Hemoata Kopa, also 21, of Ngapuhi (Matawaia) who works as a general shepherd on Pukemiro Station just out of Dannevirke.
The Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer Award was first held in 2012 and is designed to recognise talented up-and-coming young Maori farmers. It is also intended to encourage young Maori to make farming a career choice and to showcase to prospective employers the talent pool that exists within Maori.
Since its inception, the event has created interest within and outside Maoridom and has given finalists and winners a huge sense of pride and achievement.
All have gone on to greater things since winning this event.
Lead judge Peter Little says it is never an easy task to select a winner from three finalists given the pool of young Maori, who in a short space of time are making great progress in their careers in agriculture.
Peter Little says Jordon Biddle exemplified all that is good about young Maori who are making successful careers in the primary sector.
He says Jordon has shown great commitment to his work, excellent leadership and will do a great job as a role model for other young Maori contemplating a career in the agribusiness sector.
Peter Little says every day there are new opportunities opening up for young Maori as new land is brought into production and other land improved.
He says the training undertaken by the finalists has helped them establish themselves in good jobs and provided an excellent platform from which they can progress to senior positions within the industry.
