FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11 April 2017
NEW ZEALAND DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARD FINALISTS PREPARE FOR JUDGING
The 33 finalists in the 2017 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards won’t be taking a break over Easter – they will be too
busy preparing for the final round of judging which gets underway on 22 April.
The finalists represent 11 regions and will compete for prizes worth more than $190,000 and the honour of winning either
the 2017 New Zealand Share Farmer of the Year, 2017 New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year or the 2017 New Zealand Dairy
Trainee of the year title.
General Manager Chris Keeping says the 33 finalists are the cream of the crop from the 424 entries received, and it was
a hard-fought battle.
“The feedback was that the calibre of entrants in all regions was outstanding, making the judges’ job very difficult. It
is very clear that the New Zealand dairy industry is in good health with passionate farmers, managers and trainees with
positive attitudes leading the way.”
“It was fantastic to attend all 11 regional finals and feel the excitement of the wins and see the journey each finalist
has taken, both professionally and personally. There is a real mix of age, farming experience and career backgrounds but
all have the confidence to handle the next level of judging as they head towards the national finals.”
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated
Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles, LIC, Meridian Energy, New Zealand Farm Source and Ravensdown, along with industry
partner Primary ITO.
The 11 finalists in the New Zealand Share Farmer of the Year competition consist of 10 sharemilkers and one contract
milker. They oversee herds ranging from 225 cows to 800 cows and have varied career backgrounds including a past
accountant, an adventure tourism guide and a qualified mechanic.
The New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year finalists include three females amongst the 11 finalists who are aged between
23 and 38 years and work on farms with herds ranging from 325 cows to 1340 cows.
There is a sole female amongst the 11 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year finalists. Five finalists are employed as
Farm Assistants, three as Herd Managers, two as Second-In-Charge and one Assistant Manager.
The winner will be announced at a black tie awards dinner at SkyCity in Auckland on Saturday May 6. Tickets to the
dinner can be purchased online at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.
2017 New Zealand Share Farmer of the Year finalists:
Northland Niall & Delwyn McKenzie, 38 & 36, 50% sharemilkers 230 cows, Kaiwaka
Auckland-Hauraki Fraser & Amber Carpenter, 32 & 33, 50% sharemilkers 180 cows, Papakura
Waikato Phillip van Heuven, 30, 50% sharemilker 230 cows, Tirau
Bay of Plenty Cameron & Margaret Bierre, both 30, 24% sharemilkers 800 cows, Whakatane
Central Plateau Carlos & Bernice Delos Santos, both 30, 50% sharemilkers 300 cows, Ngakuru
Taranaki Dion & Jo Bishell, 42 & 36, 50% sharemilkers 470 cows, Hawera
Manawatu Jarrod & Nikki Greenwood, 33 & 30, sharemilkers 320 cows, Palmerston North
Hawkes Bay-Wairarapa Rob & Shiralee Seerden, 45 & 44 years, contract milk 225 cows, Norsewood
West Coast-Top of the South Jon & Vicki Nicholls, 39 & 37, sharemilkers 470 cows, Murchison
Canterbury-North Otago Christopher & Siobhan O’Malley, both 34, sharemilking 515 cows, Ashburton
Southland-Otago Russell & Tracy Bouma, 40 & 37, sharemilking 762 cows, Clydevale
2017 New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year finalists:
Northland Greg Imeson, 34, farm manager 510 cows, Hukerenui
Auckland-Hauraki Rachael Foy, 24, assistant manager 500 cows, Te Kauwhata
Waikato Euan McLeod, 35, farm manager 380 cows, Taupiri
Bay of Plenty Hayden & Linda McCartie, 35 & 38, farm managers 710 cows, Whakatane
Central Plateau Anthony Kiff, farm manager 1180 cows, Reporoa
Taranaki Shaun Neal, 23, farm manager 325 cows, Auroa
Manawatu Hayley Hoogendyk, 28, farm manager 600 cows, Rongotea
Hawkes Bay-Wairarapa Kenny Henderson, 37, farm manager 330 cows, Woodville
West Coast-Top of the South Jack Raharuhi, 24, farm manager 1150 cows, Westport
Canterbury-North Otago Kerry Higgins, 32, farm manager 1340 cows, Hororata
Southland-Otago Ann Linton, 25, assistant manager 800 cows, Gore
2017 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year finalists:
Northland Blake Anderson, 19, farm assistant, 420 cows, Kaiwaka
Auckland-Hauraki Alexander Voysey, 23, dairy production manager, 600 cows, Ngatea
Waikato Kobus Liebenberg, 23, herd manager 420 cows, Ohaupo
Bay of Plenty Hayden Goodall, 24, herd manager 750 cows, Matata
Central Plateau Taylor Macdonald, 20, 2IC, 470 cows, Reporoa
Taranaki Tim Bonner, 23, assistant manager, 800 cows, Kapuni
Manawatu Stephanie Walker, 22, farm assistant, 840 cows, Foxton
Hawkes Bay-Wairarapa Brandyn Beale, 21, herd manager, 350 cows, Dannevirke
West Coast-Top of the South Clay Paton, 23, 2IC, 450 cows, Wakefield
Canterbury-North Otago Ben Haley, 24, farm assistant 1100 cows, Ashburton
Southland-Otago Ben McLean, 22, farm assistant 980 cows, Lumsden
ENDS