August 02, 2019
Government funding boost as Ahuwhenua embraces horticulture
Government funding for the Ahuwhenua Trophy will increase as the competition expands to include horticulture.
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says Te Puni Kōkiri and the Ministry for Primary Industries will be platinum sponsors of the Excellence in Māori Horticulture Award in 2020.
Part of the sponsorship will include 12,000 tree seedlings supplied by the Minginui Nursery, and made possible through the One Billion Trees Programme.
Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta told delegates at today’s Horticulture New Zealand conference in Hamilton that Māori are now major players in the horticultural sector, producing at least 10 percent of the annual kiwifruit crop, as well as avocados and berries as rapidly expanding crops.
A new cup has been crafted for the event, identical to the ones for the dairy, and sheep and beef competitions, which are copies of the original cup designed by artist Charles Goldie.
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