Manaakitanga

Developing people in the workplace is at the heart of our service. We do this by offering a wide range of programmes across the primary industries which are related to supporting our communities. 

Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer or Grower Award

This award was inaugurated in 2012 and is designed to recognise the achievements of young Māori in the farming and horticultural sectors.

It is run in a three-year cycle, where young Māori involved in sheep and beef, horticulture and dairy are recognised.

The competition has proved to be very popular and has attracted high quality entrants. Many winners and finalists have been studying with Primary ITO. 

It is run in conjunction with the senior Ahuwhenua Trophy. 

Primary ITO has been a proud supporter of the Young Māori Farmer/Grower Award since its inception whether that be through sponsorship, judging or simply via the support of our Training Advisers encouraging their learners to enter the awards.

While we are taking a break from sponsorship in 2026, we still firmly believe in the value of this awards programme, and we hope to be able to support this initiative into the future.

See the recent winners of the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer/Grower

Click here to enter!

2024 winner Ben Purua

Adding value to remote Māori communities: Tū Te Ngana Hau – The Breath of Endeavour

Tū Te Ngana Hau (The Breath of Endeavour) was a 2-year pilot programme based on the Whanganui Awa.

The programme developed a relationship with the local community and consulted with the villages on the awa about what we could do together.

Tu Te Ngana Hau focused on allowing the community to get knowledge and skills within their local area. Education could be formal or informal, and could come from sources inside and outside the community.

 The results prove a bespoke approach works, complementing a desire of Māori communities to be self-determining as they know best. In the videos below, those involved in the programme explain success in their own words.

Tū Te Ngana Hau brochure

[pdf, 5.1 MB]

Final research report

[pdf, 3.3 MB]

The kaupapa of the Tū Te Ngana Hau programme is described here by those who were involved.

Hear the community speak about their aroha for living on the Whanganui Awa, and what's great about the programmes resulting from Tū Te Ngana Hau.

He waka eke noa

Te Rautaki Whakarōpū Māori is a representative network of Māori in industry training. We formed the network to help the sector develop strategies to support Māori, whānau, hapū, marae and iwi.

The vision of Te Rautaki Whakarōpū Māori is Māori engaging and thriving in industry training. The network’s goal is to champion a ‘by Māori for Māori’ approach.