Massey University signs up to sponsor the Ahuwhenua Trophy

Omapere Taraire & Rangihamama Trust were named as the winners of this years Ahuwhenua Trophy on 26 May 2017.

Massey University Vice Chancellor, Professsor Jan Thomas says the signing of an agreement to be a sponsor the Ahuwhenua Trophy is symbol of the emphasis that her university is placing on Maori.

Massey University has signed up to be a Silver Sponsor of the prestigious award which is now in its 86th year. The competition alternates between dairy and sheep and beef and the next competition in 2018 is for dairy.

Professor Thomas says Massey University has now strategically declared that it is a Treaty of Waitangi led organisation which she says is in the interests of the University and of Aotearoa New Zealand.

"We want to lead in that future and contribute to New Zealand as best as we can as a university. So in everything we do, in every rock we lift up, in every policy that we examine, in every strategy we have, we will be looking at it through a Maori lens," she says.

Professor Thomas says it is great to sign the sponsorship with Ahuwhenua and says she hopes that there will be other projects that come up which the Ahuwhenua team and Massey University can work on collaboratively for the benefit of Maori.

"It is a sweet spot for Massey University that aligns with our strategy," she says.

Ahuwhenua Trophy management committee chairman, Kingi Smiler says it is a privilege to be associated with Massey University.

He says Sir Apirana Ngata and Lord Bledisloe who inaugurated the trophy in 1932 were men with strong and successful interests in agriculture.

"The vision for Massey University as articulated by Professor Thomas fits absolutely with the vision and values of Sir Apirana Ngata and Lord Bledisloe," he says.

Kingi Smiler says it is great to have Massey University as a member of the Ahuwhenua Trophy whanau and says he looks forward to working with Professor Thomas and her staff at the University.

*Entries for the competition close on November 24 and entry forms and other details are at www.ahuwhenuatrophy.maori.nz. Media can contact Peter Burke: 021 224 2184 / peterb@actrix.co.nz.