The second largest private farming organisation in New Zealand is Atihau-Whanganui Incorporation, it farms 100,000 acres from Ohakune to the Whanganui River.  The majority of shareholders of Atihau have tribal affiliations to Ngati Rangi.  The Iwi and the Incorporation supported the development of training for young Maori in the region and offered their full support in our 2011 funding application.

Our Awhiwhenua Farm School is based at the Nga Mokai Marae, south of Ohakune with the Te Ati Hau Trust in conjunction with Atihau-Whanganui Incorporation (AWHI).

Eight trainees were selected for the first year and were offered scholarships through AWHI in year one, and the Te Ati Hau Trust supported by the Atihau-Whanganui Farming Incorporation in year two.

Chair of Atihau-Whanganui Incorporation, Mavis Mullins, said “One of the aspirations our ancestors passed on to us was to create training and employment opportunities” and goes on to say “AWHI is proud and happy with the growth and development of the partnership”.

Below is an image of 2013 Te Ati Hau Cadets (Jackson and Christian) on the front cover and featured article for the Young Country magazine.

Awhiwhenua