“There is bugger all Māori in farming, and this award helps us unite and celebrate the Māori out there who can farm,” says Tangaroa Walker, winner of 2012 Young Māori Dairy Farmer of the Year Award.
“There is bugger all Māori in farming, and this award helps us unite and celebrate the Māori out there who can farm,” says Tangaroa Walker, winner of 2012 Young Māori Dairy Farmer of the Year Award.
The Young Māori Dairy Farmer of the Year
competition is open to Māori aged 16-25 years who are employed on a dairy farm
and currently enrolled in or have completed a National Certificate in
Agriculture Level 3 or higher in the last year.
Applications are open until 14 February 2014, and the application form is
available from http://www.ahuwhenuatrophy.maori.nz/young.php
Tangaroa encourages young Māori dairy farmers to get involved in the upcoming 2014 awards. He says it can fast track farming careers, “Shortly after the competition, I was asked to move from a farm management position and into a contract milking position.”
“The competition process was easy. It’s great because it puts you in a good headspace about where you’re going and what actually matters. Sometimes farming is just a job, but this competition asks you about your goals, your plans, how you’re helping your community and the people around you,” says Tangaroa.
The 2014 Young Māori Dairy Farmer of the Year Award is sponsored by Primary ITO, Allflex, and Te Tumu Paeroa (on behalf of the Māori Soldiers Trust). Its aim is to empower young farmers and encourage their personal development and growth.
“Agribusiness is incredibly important for Māori and all New Zealand, and farming offers a lot of opportunity for our young people,” says Te Tumu Paeroa CEO, Jamie Tuuta. “Farmers like Tangaroa are the future of agribusiness. We are very pleased that we now have an award that recognises them, and supports them in their future career.”
The winner will be announced at the prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy BNZ Māori Excellence in Farming awards dinner in Tauranga, June 2014.