Waiapapa 9 wins Ahuwhenua

A fast-growing Taupo dairy business has won the 2010 Ahuwhenua Trophy for Maori Excellence in Farming.

Waipapa 9 Trust runs 3000 cows on three blocks, as well as forestry, sheep and beef operations, on behalf of 1200 Raukawa and Ngati Tuwharetoa shareholders.

Chief judge Doug Leeder says the three finalists were of an exceptionally high standard, and the final choice came down to the quality of governance and vision, and whether they were likely to achieve to their strategy.

Mr Leeder says the Ahuwhenua trophy is providing valuable learning and mentoring opportunities for Maori farmers.

HUNTLY MARAE LOOKING TO CREATE FUTURE WITH GENESIS

The five marae from the Huntly area have signed an agreement with Huntly Power Station operator Genesis Energy which could lead to education and training opportunities for rangatahi.

The generator has had an at times strained relationship with tangata whenua since the station was built in 1973.

Waahi kaumatua Taitimu Maipi says the memorandum of understanding points the way forward.

Taitimu Maipi says Genesis will help the marae on developments and on Tainui’s efforts to clean up the Waikato River.

EEL FISHERS LOOK TO FARMING

Iwi, commercial eelers and scientists are united in seeing eel farming as the way forward for the industry.

John Hohapata-Oke from Ngati Awa Fisheries, who chaired a national hui on the fishery in Whakatane last week, says both the native long and short fin eel populations are under threat because of over-fishing and changes to habitat.

He says there is good potential to develop eel farms and use any excess to repopulate the wild stock.

The hui decided form a national association to tackle industry issues.

ALL FARMERS CAN BENEFOT FROM CONTEST

The chief judge for the Ahuwhenua Trophy for Maori Excellence in Farming competition says all Maori farmers can benefit from taking part.

Waipapa 9 Trust won this year’s trophy for the way it has built up a 3000-cow herd alongside sheep, beef and forestry operations on a number of blocks near Taupo.

Doug Leeder says the benefits come not just from the $40,000 in prizes but the advice and mentoring that comes during the judging process.

He says the competition highlights Maori success.

Next year the Ahuwhenua trophy will be given for sheep and beef operations

KIORAHI A BETTER BLUEPRINT THAN BASEBALL

A Rotorua lawyer says it makes more sense to use Maori rather than American values in reforming the criminal justice system.

Annette Sykes from Ngati Pikiao says the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill passed into law last week is based on failed policies from the United States.

She says the idea of three strikes, that people should be given extremely long sentences after their third conviction for a violent or sexual crime, comes from the American game of baseball.

“You know we had out own games based on quite different values. If you look a kiorahi, the key thing is to protect the most vulnerable on the field, which is really the Maori approach to those who offend of who confront problems in their lives by causing harm to themselves and others,” Ms Sykes says.

She says the three strikes law is likely to increase the percentage of Maori in the prison population.

PUAKA MATARIKI STARTS EARLY IN DEEP SOUTH

As winter tightens its grip on the South Island, Te Waipounamu is starting Matariki earlier than Te Ika a Maui.

Gina Huakau, the Dunedin City Council's Puaka Matariki coordinator, says because Matariki can't be seen as far south as Dunedin, Puaka is the star cluster used to mark the Maori new year.

She says a range of events is planned for children and families, starting with stargazing at Beverly Begg Observatory tonight.

Two shipping containers have been parked in Dunedin's Octagon and turned into a gallery and theatre for short films and documentaries.