“Ahuwhenua – A History of Māori Farming” by Danny Keenan was launched by the Minister of Māori Affairs Dr Pita Sharples

In 1933: the New Zealand Wars were still a living memory for many Māori who had endured warfare, the loss of loved ones and alienation of millions of hectares of whenua. The Great Depression hit hard, farm incomes dropped below zero, the export sector was almost decimated and 40% of Māori men were unemployed.

Those that weren’t unemployed relied on cash incomes typically from seasonal labouring.

Most Māori land holdings were too small to farm or of poor quality with multiple owners. Māori had gone from tribal landowners to seasonal labourers within a generation. It was then that Māori Affairs Minister Sir Apirana Ngata acted, founding collective land development schemes and launching the Ahuwhenua Cup with Lord Bledisloe.

By 2013 or 80 years later: Māori are the largest natural grouping of pastoral farmers, farming 720,000 hectares worth more than $7.5 billion, owners of 100 million+ Fonterra shares. The Māori owned Miraka factory is powered by geothermal energy sourced from a Māori power company. Just west of Taupō, 61-years-ago the visionary elders of Tūaropaki amalgamated land titles so they could collectively develop resources. Savvy, strategic, diversified investments have seen their asset base – horticulture, sustainable farms, telecommunications and geothermal power - shoot up from $45 million to more than $600 million in a decade.

The Māori Economy, or Taniwha Economy, is worth $37 billion and it’s on the rise. Tainui and Ngāi Tahu – the first to settle their Treaty grievances have grown their asset base from $170 million to nearly $750 million each. 80-years after Sir Apirana and Lord Bledisloe launched the Ahuwhenua: Māori are reaping the benefits of their foresight and leadership.

Books like Ahuwhenua – A History of Māori Farming are important because it is us telling our own stories to our mokopuna who, like us, read about their tīpuna, the challenges they faced and how they overcame them with scholarship, foresight, innovation and determination.

AHUWHENUA: Celebrating 80 Years of Māori Farming

Launched at the 2013 Federation of Māori Authorities (FOMA) Conference at the Hastings Town Hall, the book marks years of research by historian Dr Danny Keenan. Covering the competition’s history, Ahuwhenua is set against a background of Māori land development policies over the past 80 years. Launched in 1933 by Māori Affairs Minister Sir Apirana Ngata and Governor General Lord Bledisloe, the competition is recognised for boosting environmental sustainability, farming excellence and intergenerational investment. Launched 50 years before the mainstream Young Farmer of the Year, Ahuwhenua trophy management committee chair Kingi Smiler says: "Māori farming and its significant contribution to the New Zealand economy has, until now, been an untold story." He said the Ahuwhenua legacy instills in all Māori a sense of immense pride and self-belief in their achievements, and provides the impetus to their current leaders and rangatahi to follow.

Caption: Kingi Smiler, Dr Pita Sharples and Dr Danny Keenan at the Ahuwhenua Book Launch.