The chair of two large Maori land incorporations is calling on Pakeha farmers to consider taking on Maori farming students during the school holidays.
Mavis Mullins chairs the Aohanga Incorporation on the northern Wairarapa coast and the Atihau-Whanganui Incorporation along the Whanganui River, as well as being a director with her husband of Paewai-Mullins Shearing Ltd.
She recently spoke at a Future Farmers conference in Wellington and told farmers about the importance of getting Maori and young people back into the industry.
Ms Mullins challenged all the farmers in the room to employ more Maori farming students during the school break.
She says it's about opening doors and encouraging young people to work the land, and about getting them excited about the farming sector.