Taranaki trust carries day in dairying

Te Rua o Te Moko chairman Dion Maaka accepts the trophy at the Tauranga awards night.

Taranaki trust Te Rua o Te Moko Ltd has won the Ahuwhenua Trophy BNZ Maori Excellence in Farming Award for Dairy.

Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples made the announcement last Friday at an awards dinner in Tauranga attendedby more than 850 people, including Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.

The trophy was presented to Te Rua o Te Moko chairman Dion Maaka by Sir Jerry.

Mr Maaka was also presented with a replica of the trophy by Mr Guy and received the winner's medal from Bank of New Zealand chief executive Anthony Healy.

The trust also receives about $40,000 in prizes donated by sponsors.

Te Rua o Te Moko was one of three finalists in the competition; the others being Putauaki Trust, Himiona Farm, and Ngati Awa Farms, Ngakauroa Farm, both near Whakatane.

Southland sharemilker Wiremu Reid won the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Dairy Farmer of the Year Award.

The fourth-generation dairy farmer grew up in Whangarei and moved south with his partner, Bettina, in 2009.

Since then the young couple have been building up their equity, making many sacrifices along the way, hoping to reach farm ownership by 2020.

The couple are in their first season 50/50 sharemilking 1150 cows in Ranfurly with the support of Mr Reid's parents.

Runners-up were 50/50 Waikato sharemilker Joshua MacDonald and Southland herd manager James Matheson, of Gore.