{"id":64872,"date":"2023-06-13T13:49:06","date_gmt":"2023-06-13T01:49:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.farmersweekly.co.nz\/?p=64872"},"modified":"2023-06-13T13:49:07","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T01:49:07","slug":"taranaki-grower-wins-maori-ags-top-prize","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.farmersweekly.co.nz\/people\/taranaki-grower-wins-maori-ags-top-prize\/","title":{"rendered":"Taranaki grower wins M\u0101ori ag\u2019s top prize"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>\n

Hawke’s Bay\u2019s Grace Rehu was named Ahuwhenua Young M\u0101ori Grower of the year at the Ahuwhenua Trophy awards held in Tauranga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twenty-one-year-old Rehu, Rangit\u0101ne, Taranaki, is a leading hand for Turners and Growers in Puketapu, Hawke\u2019s Bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other two finalists in the competition were Alix Te Kere, Ng\u0101ti Kahungunu, Ng\u0101ti Tu, Ng\u0101ti Maru, and Ng\u0101ti Maniapoto and Erica Henare, Ng\u0101ti Kahungunu, Ng\u0101ti Maniapoto. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was the first time in the history of the event that three w\u0101hine M\u0101ori were selected as finalists. To mark the occasion, each received  $5000 from Te Tumu Paeroa in addition to other prizes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rehu said being part of the competition was an amazing experience and opportunity but she could not have done it without the support of the two other finalists by her side. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said she was pushed into entering the competition without really knowing what was involved. But as her participation in the competition evolved, she fell in love with the kaupapa and kept on going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Aaron Hunt, one of the judges, said the industry is in good hands with these three w\u0101hine toa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of the judging process the finalists attended an intensive three-day study tour designed to provide a range of insights, inspiration and experiences across the horticultural sector. This included a trip to Zespri, a visit to Matakana Island to see Whai Orchard, a kiwifruit operation, Opure ra Trust, an avocado orchard, and a berry orchard that is a joint venture with five M\u0101ori trusts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll three finalists are amazing. The growth in them over the course of the judging programme was phenomenal. They were all taken out of their comfort zone over the course of the study tour, but all of them took in absolutely everything,\u201d Hunt said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said Rehu demonstrated the three values of the judging criteria: Manaakitanga \u2013 looking after others, Wh\u0101naungatanga \u2013 engagement, and Mana Motuhake \u2013 being authentic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Grace Rehu of Rangit\u0101ne named Ahuwhenua Young M\u0101ori Grower of the year.\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":64873,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"Grace Rehu was named Ahuwhenua Young M\u0101ori Grower of the year. Photo: Alphapix.nz","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[48],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t