The 2011 Ahuwhenua Trophy for Maori Excellence in Farming competition finalists have been announced.

This year the competition is looking at sheep and beef farmers.

Last year’s winner of the Dairying Trophy, Waipapa 9 Trust from west of Taupo, is one of the finalists.

The East Coast is represented by Pakihirio Farms near Ruatoria, home of the ancestral Ngati Porou mountain, Hikurangi.

And from Auckland’s west coast, the third finalist is Otakanini Topu, which runs from Muriwai Beach to the southern end of the Kaipara Harbour.

The winner will be announced on June 3 after field days held on each of the farms over the next month.