23 April 2025 New grad has big dreams for Māori agribusiness

He first caught the farming bug at his grandparent’s lifestyle block in Kāwhia as a kid. Now Harris is about to graduate with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Lincoln University’s upcoming graduation.

Harris was one of our inaugural Tihi Kahuraki scholars, awarded to outstanding students who are actively involved within kaupapa Māori whether it be at an iwi, hapū, marae, hāpori or whānau level. He has a deep passion for his heritage and dreams of combining agricultural science with Māori land values.

"I’m really keen on getting involved in the Māori agribusiness space. I really want to see farmers succeed, and encourage tauira Māori to get involved in the industry to make a long-lasting positive impact."

A lot of people in the industry "really have the science nailed," he says, but there’s space for a deeper connection between scientific knowledge and the connection to the land.

"I think there’s a lot of opportunity for young Māori people who are interested in ag and have a connection with whānau and iwi to get out there and help everyone."

Harris has always been interested in agriculture, ever since feeding the cows and getting outdoors at his grandparent’s place, but only discovered a passion for science during his final years of high school. He found what he covered in chemistry class could relate to what he did on the farm.

Harris lives in Ngāruawāhia, a small town in the Waikato region, and is of Waikato and Ngāti Maniapoto descent. He always knew he wanted to study at Lincoln, and now plans to find a way to give back to those who supported him.

"You do all this learning, not to help yourself but so you can give back to others and put them forward."

Since finishing last year, Harris has taken a step back from academic studies to deepen his understanding of Te Ao Māori, with the hope of helping him better connect his academic knowledge to his heritage and to help him better advocate for Māori.

He feels fortunate to have found his purpose and encourages everyone to pursue what drives them forward in life.

"If you have the will and the passion, don’t let anything else stop you."

Harris is a quintessential example of how our Tihi Kahuraki scholars can enrich our university and country. We’ll be celebrating alongside him on Friday the 9th of May. Congratulations and ngā mihi.