‍Supreme Award – Māori Sheep & Beef Farming

Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust, based out of Whangaruru on East Coast Northland, earned top honours by revitalising over 1,100 ha of whenua into a robust bull-finishing farm. Once disconnected and underutilised, the block now supports a thriving 1,200-strong bull operation, managed through innovative cell-grazing techniques and vital infrastructure upgrades including:

• 450 grazing cells across pāmu with a dynamic watering network
• 40 km waterline feeding 480 micro troughs, and extensive road-building
• 57 km fencing to protect native wetlands and forests
• Eradication of invasive gorse and wildlife threats, restoring mānuka forest and native bird habitats (such as pāteke and matuku)  

Driving this transformation, the Trust collaborated with key partners—MBIE’s Provincial Growth Fund, BNZ, AgFirst, Te Puni Kōkiri, MPI, Northland Regional Council, and local iwi leadership such as Hūhana Lyndon and Morris Pita  

Sat 3 April ‘Field Day Recap’: Over 200 people attended a field day at Ngaiotonga Marae, with pōwhiri and 4WD farm tours to view the transformation firsthand  

This achievement is about more than farming—it's a reclaiming of whakapapa, land care, and intergenerational taonga.

2025 Young Māori Farmer of the Year

Coby Warmington (Te Mahurehure, Ngāpuhi), recognised for his leadership at Waima Topu Beef, brings mana and purpose to the field. Since starting as a shepherd in 2021, Coby advanced to farm manager by 2023, contributing to community, whānau and perseverance in his mahi.

Why These Wins Matter to Te Tai Tokerau

They celebrate the resilience of local whānau reversing historical loss (land alienation dating back to the 1950s) .

They showcase our innovative farming, blending tikanga, sustainability, and profitability.

They galvanise rangatahi, inspiring the next generation to take up the mantle for whenua and community.