B+LNZ congratulates the 2025 Ahuwhenua Trophy Finalists: Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust, and Tawapata South Māori Incorporation Onenui Station.
Finalists were announced at Parliament on 19 February by Minister Todd McClay. B+LNZ Māori Agribusiness staff and kāhui (advisory) members were there to celebrate the news first-hand.
Charles Taituha, B+LNZ’s Pouhere Rautaki Ahuwhenua Māori (Māori Strategy and Relationship Lead) says the two sheep and beef farming entities are shining examples of excellence in Māori agribusiness.
“Ahuwhenua Trophy is an extremely prestigious event on the Māori Agribusiness calendar, it has the ability to showcase not only the present-day achievements but the expansive journey they have had to go through to just get to this point.
“Many stories start with bringing together whānau and continue with that them now and into the future. These two examples showcase exactly that tenacity to thrive under immense challenges and work through as a whānau to build a future for their whenua and shareholders.
“We wish both Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust and Tawapata South Inc all the very best for their upcoming Fieldays and final judging round,” he says.
B+LNZ is proud to sponsor the prestigious award that celebrates excellence and innovation in Māori farming.
Below is a short overview of the two farming operations – read an in-depth profile of each farm on the official website.
Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust
Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust manages the Ngaiotonga A3 block, situated an hour’s drive north of Whangārei, nestled in the heart of Whangaruru. It’s whenua is bordered by the Te Moananui a Kiwa to the east and Whangaruru Harbour to the west. Totalling 1,100ha of coastal hill country, it consists of 360ha of effective farmland, 297ha of forestry, and 443ha of native forest and wetlands.
With the support of MBIE (PGF), farming consultants AgFirst, and additional tautoko (support) from Te Puni Kōkiri, Ministry for Primary Industries and Northland Regional Council, the Trust launched its whenua restoration programme. Investment from these agencies enabled the Trust to embark on a complete farm turn around, including 60ha of gorse removal, a 40km network of water pipe supplying 450 micro toughs, 57km of fencing and cell systems, and a new farm roading system. In June 2020 the trust purchased its first heard of 188 steers and set itself the goal of owning a million-dollar herd by 2025 – a target it achieved in 2023 with the support and mahi of its new Farm Manager. The Trust’s wetlands are kainga to endangered birds including the Mataku (Bittern) and the Pāteke (Brown Teal duck). A native replanting programme is also underway to support the taiao after years of neglect.
The Ahuwhenua Trophy field day will be held Thursday 3 April.
Tawapata South Māori Incorporation Onenui Station
Tawapata South, trading as Onenui Station, is a Māori incorporation located at the tip of the Māhia Peninsula, Hawke’s Bay. Spanning 3,476 hectares, the whenua includes 1,700 hectares of effective farmland and 836 hectares under a Ngā Whenua Rāhui Kawenata. Onenui Station is a sheep and beef farming unit wintering 15,000 stock units, including 6,000 breeding ewes, 600 breeding cows, replacements, and trade cattle. The farm finishes 75% of its sheep and 36% of its cattle, with the remainder sold store. The station comprises 350 hectares of productive flats, with the balance classified as North Island steep hard hill country.
Tawapata South was incorporated under the Māori Affairs Act 1953 on 21 July 1967 and is governed by a Committee of Management that provides strategic oversight, balancing sustainable farming while upholding its values centring around ensuring the wellbeing of their land, water, and people.
A major development project, initiated in 2016, is reclaiming 1,046 hectares of scrubland for productive use, aligning with the 2006 environmental plan. Erosion-prone areas are managed through fencing, native planting, and long-term sustainability initiatives.
The Ahuwhenua Trophy field day will be held Thursday 10 April.
About the Ahuwhenua Trophy
The Ahuwhenua Trophy is the most prestigious award for Māori agriculture. The objective was and still is to encourage Māori farmers to improve their land and their overall farming performance with an emphasis on sustainability.
On a three-year rotational basis, the Trophy is competed for by Māori farmers and growers in the sheep and beef, dairy and horticultural sectors. The 2025 competition is for sheep and beef.
The 2025 winner will be announced at the awards dinner held on Friday 6 June 2025 in Palmerston North.
Read more on the official website.