Maori sheep and beef farmers who enter the 2011 Ahuwhenua Trophy BNZ Maori Excellence Awards will gain invaluable advice from some of New Zealand's most experienced and successful farmers, says Whangara Farms chairperson Ingrid Collins.

Whangara Farms is the current holder of the Ahuwhenua Trophy for Excellence in Sheep and Beef Farming.

Ingrid says by simply entering the competition proved beneficial.

'We received robust, objective and honest feedback from the judges and we were able to implement changes which really improved our performance.

'You can't get that kind of knowledge from a textbook or website.”

Even though sheep and beef farmers are currently operating in a tough financial environment, Ingrid says Maori farmers have a fundamental advantage because they take an intergenerational view of their business.

The Ahuwhenua Trophy is the premier award for Maori in agriculture.

It acknowledges and celebrates business excellence in the New Zealand pastoral sector and is open to Maori farming properties either owned individually, or managed by Maori trusts and incorporations in New Zealand.

The competition, which has both historic and contemporary prestige dates back to 1932 when it was first established by Sir Apirana Ngata.

It was relaunched in 2003 to take account of the changing face of Maori farming and the increasing importance of Maori incorporations and trusts in the sector.

Each year it alternates between sheep and beef farmers and dairy farmers; this year the competition is for Maori sheep and beef farmers.

Entrants will be tested on a range of protocols based on the efficiency with which the property is farmed relative to its potential, effective governance and management of the farming enterprise.

While financial performance is an important part of the judging criteria judges are also required to take into account conditions that affect financial performance such as drought and market returns.

Entries for the 2011 Ahuwhenua Trophy BNZ Maori Excellence Awards close January 28, 2011.