May 22, 2015
Women win places in Ahuwhenua finals
Wahine are to the fore in the year’s Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer awards.
22-year old Hannah Wallace, who is working on a sheep and beef farm near Wairoa, and Porangahou-based Hemoata Kopa, 19, are up against Taane Hubbard, 19, who is at Gladstone in the Wairarapa.
They’re first female finalists since the competition started.
Lead judge Peter Little of Te Puni Kokiri says all this year’s applicants had made a commitment to the land as a career choice and completing a course of study.
He says it’s not easy for 16, 17 and 18 year olds to decide to move to another part of the country, pursue a career, and commit to the training required to achieve their ambitions.
Those that hadn't come from a farming background had experienced agriculture as part of high school Gateway programmes or taster courses at Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre.
The winner will be announced at the Ahuwhenua Awards Dinner in Whanganui next Friday..
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