Puketapu wahine wins Māori farming award

Meet Chloe Butcher-Herries (Ngāti Mahanga, Waikato-Tainui), the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer of the Year

Added 3 years ago

By Brenda Newth

Puketapu wahine wins Māori farming award

Puketapu beef farmer Chloe Butcher-Herries (Ngāti Mahanga, Waikato-Tainui) has won the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer of the Year award, announced last Friday at the awards dinner, held at the Pettigrew Green Arena, Taradale.

Chloe Butcher-Herries says the win means a hell of a lot.

“It’s still sinking in, really. I was up against two massive Tane, very good farmers. I had no idea I was going to win it. We had a three day study tour here in Hawke’s Bay, and jeepers we all did so well with that I knew it was going to be a hard decision for the judges.

“So to be up on stage and for my name to be called out I was shocked, honoured, humbled, and proud. To be the young Māori farmer of the year is an absolute honour.

“Makita (my wife) and I are both in the primary sector and like to be challenged, and we know our future is bright so we are grabbing every opportunity that is coming our way.”

And as for what’s next? Chloe says: “A good employer (Chloe works for Robert and Helen Pattullo and Newstead Farm) makes a good employee; managing a sheep and beef business and supporting our rangatahi (younger) people into the industry will be a great step into the future.”

Robert Pattullo returns the compliment, saying: “For her to come through and win the Young Maori Farmer Award has confirmed what an outstanding young person she is. Newstead Farm has been privileged to have Chloe as part of our team for nearly five years now and in recent times has taken a leadership role which she has excelled at.

“She is a quietly confident high achiever, completing Primary ITO course papers and learning te reo in her spare time. Chloe also has time to involve herself in our local community, being active in the Ahuriri Catchment Group and keeping abreast of wider industry affairs. Her real strength is her affinity with young people who may be considering a career on the land who she mentors and supports.”

The Ahuwhenua Young Māori Famer Award was inaugurated in 2012 for young Māori working in the agricultural sector. It is for people who have or are working in the sheep and beef industry. Butcher-Herries beat out the other 2022 finalists Puhirere Te-Akainga Tamanui Tau and Rameka Eli Edwards, to take out the award.