Waipapa 9 Trust is the winner of the BNZ Maori Excellence in Farming Award, the Ahuwhenua Trophy, for its sheep and beef operation.

The trust is also the holder of the Ahuwhenua Trophy for dairy farming – making the trust the first farm operator to hold both premier awards.

Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand and other dignitaries, including Deputy Prime Minister Bill English and Maori Party leader Dr Pita Sharples present the Ahuwhenua Trophy to the Waipapa 9 Trust.

Each year the competition alternates between beef and sheep farms and dairy farms, with it this year for sheep and beef farmers.
Accepting the trophy on behalf of his staff, board and shareholders at the awards night, trust chair Dawson Haa said their success was due to a great team and good governance.
'I hope our historic win encourages other Maori farmers to make the most of their land and to know that with a great team, hard work and a commitment to improving the land for future generations excellence in farming is within their grasp.”
Sir Anand Satyanand presented Dawson with the trophy before an audience of 580 people at an awards dinner held in Rotorua over the holiday weekend.
The competition chairman, Kingi Smiler, describes Maori farmers as an economic force to be reckoned with.
'Waipapa's extraordinary success is indicative of the strength, and systematic growth, of the Maori agribusiness sector.”
The Waipapa 9 Trust administers 6537 hectares of land northwest of Taupo, a mix of ancestral lands and land purchases made between 1997 and 2009.
The judges said they were impressed by farm operational strategies and policies and an implementation plan that is being executed with precision and passion.

Judge's farm facts:

· Farm surplus of $345/ha, well above average for the land class, and enhanced by a consistently good gross farm income.
· Lambing at 125 per cent is above the class average, and significant for a farm with over 6000 ewes.
· A knowledgeable and experienced farm manager working with a tight and capable professional team that includes an accountant, farm supervisor, and, when necessary, external auditors.