PRESENTATION OF AHUWHENUA TROPHIES

Te Ao Hou, June 1961, Page 64

PRESENTATION OF AHUWHENUA TROPHIES by T. WAETFORD The presentation of the Ahuwhenua Trophies on April 12th of this year took place at Rangiahua, Kaikohe, North Auckland, on the farm of Mrs Mihi Stephens, who, together with her sister Mrs Harata Tipene, won the dairy section of the competition. As there was a continual steady drizzle throughout the ceremony, the presentation took place in the Te Aroha Maori meeting house. After the official party, which consisted of the Minister of Maori Affairs, the Hon. J. R. Hanan, Mrs Hanan, Mr Logan Sloane, M.P. for Hobson, Judge Porter, representing the Tai Tokerau Maori Land Court, and officers of the Department of Maori Affairs, were seated,bouquets were presented to Mrs Hanan. This was followed by prayers by Archdeacon P. Tipene. Mr Hone Heke Rankin, a Ngapuhi chief, together with Lt.-Col. J. C. Henare, gave speeches of welcome and the latter introduced the winners and all place-getters of the competition to the official party and to the large gathering. A reply, referring to this year's two winners, by Mr Sloane contained the remark that “it was not the first time that North Aucklanders had put it across the farmers with their more economic farms from the South.” It has been the second time that Mesdames Stephens and Tipene have won the dairy section, having claimed it before in 1954. As well as this remarkable achievement, they were placed third in the competition in 1946. They are the only ones in the country to attain this unique feat. Mr Watchman Waaka, of Otaua, Kaikohe, winner of the sheep and cattle section, on the other hand, has shown himself as a first-class worker. He has demonstrated perseverance and initiative on his very large farm of 1029 acres, which he works on his own. A returned serviceman, Mr Waaka has won honours before as a Maori All Black. This then, as great an honour in itself, is overshadowed by a greater honour—that in winning the Ahuwhenua Trophy. The Hon. Mr Hanan congratulated the winners and all place-getters. To have had the winner of one section of the Ahuwhenua Trophy Competition located in the Rangiahua district would surely have been distinction enough, but for the winners of both the dairy and sheep and cattle sections to hail from the Kaikohe area was a double distinction. Other place-getters who travelled from as far south as Rotorua to receive their medallions and certificates from Mr Hanan were as follows: Dairy Section: Mr W. R. Mangu, Tapu-Waeroa sub-tribe, Ngati-Porou tribe, Otorohanga, King Country, second equal with Mr J. W. Hedley, Ngati-Rawhea sub-tribe, Ngati-Paoa tribe, Te Hoe-o-Tainui, near Morrinsville, Waikato. Sheep and Cattle Section: Mr P. Raroa, Te Urunga-o-Te Ra sub-tribe, Ngati-Porou tribe, Pukawa, King Country, second, and Mr A. Whata, Ngati-Pikiao sub-tribe, Arawa tribe, Rotoiti, near Rotorua, third.