Awhi for Whānau
SHEPHERDESS STORY
WRITER: CHEVON HORSFORD (NGĀTI HINE, NGĀTI WHĀTUA, NGĀTI WAI, TE RARAWA, NGĀTI HINEMANU, TE ARAWA)
PHOTOGRAPHER: HANNAH BAKER
They say if you want something done well, you ask a busy woman. Chevon Horsford, 31, is the epitome of this; her days are brimming with responsibilities as she studies, works, raises her family, helps run a farm and strives to better Māori wāhine representation in governance and agriculture. Here, she shares with Shepherdess, in her own words, her hunger to better support her whānau and their aspirations, whilst working at the front as a leader for future generations.
I have been born with such a rich whakapapa that carries a natural obligation to fulfil the aspirations of my tūpuna for our whenua.
I was born and raised in a small Northland town colloquially known as ‘Tuna Town’ and ‘Mo Town’ but officially called Moerewa. At home and school I was immersed in Māori culture and language. I went to Te Kōhanga Reo, then kura kaupapa, and finished my schooling years in a mainstream classroom. Even though I grew up in town, I spent a lot of time on my grandparent’s farms where they farmed beef and sheep, then dairy. Now, many are back to beef and sheep. I didn’t realise that I took this part of my heritage for granted until I was 23 years old, when I met a farmer who would later become my husband. He’s now been my husband for fourteen years.
Benson and I are contract milking 230 pure Jersey cows once-a-day in Puhipuhi, 31 kilometres north of Whangārei. We have four tamariki; Flynn, 12, Lachlan, 8, Aubree, 6, and Kallum, 4. We manage all the day to day operations of both the dairy farm and nearby support unit.
I am currently completing a Bachelor of AgriCommerce, majoring in Economics and minoring in Māori Agribusiness, with Massey University. I’ve previously done some study at Primary ITO.
Greater hunger to learn more in the governance space of both western and Māori world views was because I put my hand up to awhi our whānau. As I continue paddling my waka, I am picking up more roles both in hapū and the industry such as the likes of B+LNZ, an associate director on a Māori dairy farm in the Waikato, a trustee on Ahuwhenua Trusts, and supporting local and regional farming community groups. These include Agri-Women’s Development Trust (Wāhine Māia Wāhine Whenua), Te Pūtea Whakatupu Alumni/FOMA Hei Rata Whakaruruhau (Victoria University of Wellington) Māori governance and leadership, New Zealand Young Farmers, and a collective of Ngāti Hine whenua Māori entities made up of all primary industry businesses.
Checking the Jersey cows on the dairy farm, Totara Dairy.
I have also just taken on a fulltime role off farm where I continue to serve our people in local government at Northland Regional Council. As Kaiāwhina Kaupapa Māori – Māori Technical Officer my role is to liaise between iwi/hapu and regional council in the Māori relationships and resource consent teams.
Māori women have a long history of involvement in the agricultural industry, historically in the supportive roles. As I became more interested in farming I saw few, if any, Māori farmers in governance roles. This is where my journey began as wāhine Māori in farming - or ‘Gucci Māori farmer,’ as my cousin calls it.
I became more involved in my hapū engagements, elected onto a marae committee as a trustee and assisting our hapū trust who administers our whenua with my expertise and knowledge of agriculture. I don’t have a role per say but I awhi our whānau with their Māori agribusinesses as an unofficial consultant within Ngāti Hine. I am secretary and a trustee for our Tau Henare Marae, in Pipiwai.
There are times I find myself the only Māori or wāhine Māori in the room or at the decision table. So, life as a rural wāhine Māori is hard at times but also so rewarding, with opportunities not only for myself but for more wāhine. I am creating and navigating opportunities and pathways for our whānau to be more effective on their whenua; whether it’s managing the operations or administrating their businesses. There has been historic trauma as consequence of progression among our whenua Māori. Wāhine are just as equal to our business partners, but as history tells us wāhine supported whānau on farm or in their homes where being around the table still meant contributing to decision making. I bring a Māori perspective which places more significance on the environment and social outcomes then just financial outcomes.
Chevon & her family live on the dairy support unit, not far from Totara Dairy.
Our whānau is our number one priority. Our farm system and business flexibility fits our whānau well and helps cater to the time I am away for work, industry and hapū roles. I am lucky I can take our tamariki to meetings and the benefit is that they get to be on the marae, be surrounded by their aunties and uncles, and also appreciate their whakapapa and whenua.
I was surrounded and lived in te aō Māori growing up, and it is what I bring my tamariki up with; while not in total immersion, but with te aō Māori principles and with te reo Māori language. My parents live in Australia, but as I am from here, I have lots of extended whānau close by, and friends who step in when needed. Our tamariki continue growing up with so many cuzzies.
Every day is different. I could be waking up at 4.30am for cups on, as it’s herd testing and we all need to be there, or dropping our tamariki off at the cowshed because I need to catch an early flight to Wellington. Most mornings it’s a 6.30am wake up (usually by Mr 4 getting in morning cuddles) before our day starts with school lunches being made, breakfast time, packing school bags, then getting myself ready for work and out the door by 8.15am. Kura is 25 – 30 minutes away, but we are lucky kindy is across the road from school and both are on my way to work.
I work 9.00am to 5.00pm, five days a week. I also run a side business called tāKAI; selling beeswax wraps and t-shirts with te āo Māori incorporated throughout. I do everything, from waxing products, marketing, designing and selling online.
Benson does the after kura pick-ups and sport activities. I get home to dinner cooked or waiting for me to cook. I get to spend time with our tamariki, help on farm when needed or put on more casual clothes ready for a monthly meeting of my voluntary roles outside work. Some nights, it’s straight from work to meetings that can be short or more likely pulling into our drive way well and truly after our tamariki have gone to bed.
I often get asked how do I find the time or fit everything in. It’s a matter of distinguishing between wants and needs, important and urgent. It may not seem like we live a balanced life, however our time together as a whānau isn’t in big annual holidays or grand gestures. Our happy moments for ourselves are spent together on farm, at Saturday sports, with the extended whānau at our bach or just at home chilling. I’m lucky that my husband shares the same vision and provides tautoko for our whānau. Without that, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do.
Chevon with her husband & tamariki, from left to right Flynn, Chevon, Lachlan, Aubree, Benson & Kallum.