Organisers of the 2012 supreme Maori farming award - the Ahuwhenua Trophy - are hoping for a strong entry from dairy farmers from all over New Zealand.
The trophy recognises and celebrates business excellence in sheep, cattle and dairy farming.
It's open to both individually owned Maori farming properties as well as those managed by trusts and incorporations.
Project manager for the event, Allan Frazar, says eligibility for the competition alternates each year between sheep and beef farmers and dairy farmers.
He says previous winners such as Dean Nikora, who runs a large dairy farming operation in Hawke's Bay, have made a big contribution to the primary sector.
Mr Frazar says a real bonus of the competition is the detailed analytical feedback entrants receive from the judges as to how well their business is performing.
Entries close in the last week of January.
