Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective wins 2026 Ahuwhenua Trophy

Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective has been named the winner of the 2026 Ahuwhenua Trophy — New Zealand’s most prestigious award for excellence in Māori horticulture.

As Zespri’s largest Māori shareholder, the collective has grown its combined asset value beyond $130 million since 2018, reflecting the strength of kotahitanga as a commercial force in action.

CEO Charles Russell says the team is proud of the achievement and honoured to stand alongside fellow finalists Otama Marere and Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust. The collective’s whakataukī, ‘one orchard at a time’, guides its approach, with a strong focus on exercising mana motuhake and rangatiratanga while drawing on generations of connection to the land.

The award was announced at the Ahuwhenua Trophy awards dinner in Whangārei, attended by more than 700 representatives from across the primary sector, government and Māori communities.

Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee Chair Nukuhia Hadfield acknowledged the high calibre of this year’s finalists, noting that while all set a remarkable benchmark, Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective stood out for what they represent for Te Ao Māori and the wider sector.

Now in its 93rd year, the Ahuwhenua Trophy celebrates excellence in Māori agribusiness. The 2026 finalists included Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective (Te Puke), Otama Marere Trust (Paengaroa), and Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust (Kerikeri).

Public field days held earlier in the year attracted hundreds of visitors across Northland and the Bay of Plenty.

Growers heading to Fieldays can view the Ahuwhenua Trophy in person on Thursday, from 12–2pm, and meet CEO Charles Russell.

Learn more about the Ahuwhenua Trophy - Excellence in Māori Farming and Horticulture here.