The latest in Bay of Plenty farming ventures is showing Maori economic growth is gaining momentum, according to the head of a local farming excellence committee.

Local school students welcome visitors to the field day hosted by Ahuwhenua Trophy finalist Ngati Awa Farms Ltd - Ngakauroa Farm near Awakeri.

Chairman of the Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee, Kingi Smiler, made the comments during the final fieldays in the prestigious 2014 Ahuwhenua Trophy BNZ Maori Excellence in Farming Award hosted by Ngati Awa Farms Ltd - Ngakauroa Farm near Awakeri, were annouced on Wednesday.

Putauaki Trust, also a finalist, hosted an open day at its Himiona Farm near Te Teko on March 11.

Together with the third finalist Te Rua o Te Moko Ltd near Hawera in Taranaki, they now await the announcement of the trophy winner at the awards dinner in Tauranga on Friday June 13.

Kingi says there has been huge interest in the field days hosted by the three finalists from a wide range of people in the agri-business sector keen to see their successful operations.

'We have had a good response from other Maori including representatives of Whanau trusts, local farmers and financial and farm advisors.

'Many of the people who attended the field days travelled long distances to see these potential winners of the Ahuwhenua Trophy,” he says.

Kingi says the collaborative model used by all the finalist in this year's awards shows that Maori are taking on board the legacy of the founder of the trophy, the late Sir Apirana Ngata, who in his role as Minister of Native Affairs, helped small Maori Whanau trusts to consolidate their blocks into more economic farms.

'What is happening now is a continuation and extension of that philosophy with the leadership coming from within the whanau.

'The good news is that others are going to be following suit because these ones here were started five or six years ago.

'I think this will just continue to gather momentum and certainly it will be a major encouragement to the overarching strategy for Maori economic growth. Both government and Maori are keen to see these strategies developed regionally and getting much greater momentum, and I can only see that accelerating over time,” he says.

Kingi says the publicity around the Ahuwhenua Trophy Award has helped lead to greater recognition of the contribution that Maori agribusiness plays in the overall economy of New Zealand.

BNZ is the Platinum Sponsor for the award. Gold sponsors are DairyNZ, Fonterra, the Ministry for Primary Industries, Te Puni Kōkiri and Te Tumu Paeroa. Silver sponsors are AgResearch, Primary ITO, PGG Wrightson and Ballance Agri-Nutrients. Bronze sponsors are Allflex, AFFCO, BDO, Ecolab, LIC, the Federation of Māori Authorities and Polaris.

Sponsor support is also supplied by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and Tohu Wines.

Himiona Farm near Te Teko, owned by the Putauaki Trust, is a finalist in the Ahuwhenua Trophy BNZ Maori Excellence in Farming Award.

A formal welcome is extended to guests at the field day hosted by Ahuwhenua Trophy finalist Putauaki Trust Himiona Farm near Te Teko.