The Taupo based Waipapa 9 Trust has won the prestigious 2010 Ahuwhenua Trophy at the Bank of New Zealand Maori Excellence in Farming competition for its outstanding dairying operation.

Waipapa 9 Trust Chairman Dawson Haa, who accepted the trophy from the Governor General at the  Awards night dinner in Taupo on Friday in front of 650 attendees, said their success is an example of the increasing sophistication and strength of the Maori farming

"All New Zealand farmers should know that Maori farmers are increasingly well educated and they are striving for excellence. They believe in modern technology, strategic planning and business growth and if they see that the farmer next door is getting more for his product than they are, they want to know why," he said.

The Waipapa 9 Trust runs a substantial agribusiness of 6500 hectares, with 3,000 dairy cows and land in forestry, sheep and beef production.

Between the late 1990s and 2009, the Trust acquired a number of adjoining farms. These acquisitions enable the growth of the Trust to accelerate throught greater ability to leveragea nd develop their land-based businesses alongside commercial developments.

Its 1200 shareholders are of Raukawa and Ngati Tuwharetoa descent.

Overall, Maori dairy farmers own about 100 million shares in Fonterra .