The 2025 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards winners and finalists represent a group of people who are acutely aware of environmental issues and the dairy industry’s role in farming responsibly, with use of technology and data interpretation driving environmental benefits through improved systems.
In front of more than 620 people at Mt Maunganui’s Baypark Stadium on Saturday night, Thomas and Fiona Langford from Waikato were named the 2025 New Zealand Share Farmers of the Year, Martin Keegan from Taranaki became the 2025 New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year and Pieter Van Beek from Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa was announced the 2025 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year.
Tom and Fiona Langford also won the CowManager Experience cow monitoring system for two years, while Waka Dairies from Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa were the recipients of the Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award.
This year, two new awards were introduced - the Fonterra & ASB First Farm Award and the ASB Alumni
of the Year Award - to celebrate and reward those continuing to contribute to the dairy industry.
Braden and Brigitte Barnes (Canterbury/North Otago), Cameron and Margaret Bierre (Waikato) and Reece and Natasha Cox (Central Plateau) each received the Fonterra First Farm Award, with Steve and Amy Gillies from Waikato winning the ASB Alumni of the Year award.
All winners receive prizes from a pool worth over $900,000, which drives implementation of best practice and provides winners with the means to invest in the dairy industry and secure the pathway to farm ownership for some of our best farmers.
2025 New Zealand Share Farmers of the Year
Share Farmer category head judge, Steve Canton from DairyNZ says Tom and Fiona Langford impressed the judges with their overall excellence across the board.
“Tom and Fiona are very focused on the detail,” he says. “They both come from corporate lives and they have brought that experience into a lot of their systems and processes.”
Fiona holds a Masters in Dietetics and Tom a Bachelor of Food Science (Hons). They both began work in the Fonterra Technical Graduate Programme, with Fiona moving to Melbourne to work in the Nutritional’s team and Tom working with the Fonterra Nutrient Management team.
Both have a Masters in Dairy Science and Technology which they completed during their time in the Fonterra programme.
Fiona (34) has completed the Fonterra Governance Development course, trained as a DIY AB technician and both she and Tom (33) have completed lameness training.
The first-time entrants are equity partners and contract milkers for Marian and Jos van Loon on their 262ha, 1090-cow farm.
The judges noted that Fiona and Tom are constantly looking to learn and have very strong awareness around the financial aspects of their business.
Fellow judge Robert Ervine from Rangiotu, says prior to meeting Fiona, Tom had never been on a farm. “They came back to a family farm and their community and have really got involved.”
The Langfords are involved in several roles in the community, including Putaruru Athletics Club, Puketurua Hall Committee, Putaruru Rangers FC, South Waikato Environment Initiative, their local playcentre and Te Waotu SSG.
Judge Duncan Bayes noted Fiona and Tom had good initiatives to drive positive staff culture, including supplying healthy and nutritious breakfast food and fruit, alongside an air fryer and microwave.
“They will step in quickly if a staff member is beginning to feel burnt out and are focused on culture and flexibility and creating a healthy work environment.”
To win the national title and in excess of $38,000 in prizes, the first-time entrants demonstrated strengths in all areas of farming and also won six merit awards: the DairyNZ People & Culture Award, the Federated Farmers Leadership Award, the Honda Farm Safety, the Health & Biosecurity Award, the Ecolab Environmental Sustainability Award, the Trelleborg Sustainable Pasture Award, and the ASB Business Performance Award.
Fiona and Tom also won the CowManager Experience Award, which is two years of free cow monitoring with a
CowManager system.
The panel were impressed by their current use of data, demonstrating a deep understanding and strong utilization of technology on the farm.
They showed real passion and a complementary team dynamic, working together seamlessly. The missing piece identified was effective monitoring, which will now complete their data utilization and optimize their farm’s performance.
The panel noted Fiona and Tom are not only analyzing data, but they’re also continuously seeking improvements, with a high focus on sustainability factors.
The judges noted all National Share Farmer finalists were very strong across the board and are acutely aware of the importance of farming responsibly, with regards to both environmental issues and animal welfare management.
“The use of technology and data interpretation is driving environmental benefits through improved systems that reduce the footprint.
It’s extremely positive to see such dedication to these issues within the industry. If that’s a sign of who’s coming through the industry, it’s in good hands.”
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors ASB, CowManager, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda, LIC, and Trelleborg, along with industry partners DairyNZ and MediaWorks.
The Runners-up in the Share Farmer of the Year competition are Canterbury/North Otago farmers Richard and Nikita Grabham who the judges describe as having brilliant systems on a large, split-calving farm.
“They have analysed what they do carefully and have very strong systems in place to see consistent results and repeatable processes.
They have a very strong team in place but they are still very hands-on and really complement each other well.”
The couple are contract milking on Geoff Baker’s 420ha, 1450-cow Ashburton property. They won the LIC Animal Wellbeing, Recording and Productivity Award and over $20,000 in total prizes.
West Coast/Top of the South couple Warric and Rachel Johnson placed third in the Share Farmer category, winning the Ecolab Total Farm Hygiene & Innovation Award, the Ballance Excellence Interview & Communication Award and nearly $12,000 in prizes.
They are contract milkers for Phil & Jocelyn Riley on their 375ha, 1100-cow Tapawera property.
The judges say the Johnsons understand the challenges of living and working in an isolated community and the importance of keeping their team happy, motivated and engaged.
“Warric says he knows he’s done his job well when he hears his staff laughing in the shed.”
2025 New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year
The 2025 New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year is Martin Keegan from Taranaki, who has been on a quick journey into the dairy industry and has committed to extensive learning and taking on every learning opportunity he can.
Head judge Janine Swansson from DairyNZ noted Martin excelled across all aspects of the farm with high-level knowledge and excellent practical farming skills.
Raised on a dairy farm, Martin trained as a diesel mechanic and spent ten years working in New Zealand and Canada as a field service technician specialising in tractors and harvesting equipment.
The judges said Martin is very conscientious, with great attention-to-detail and a thirst for learning.
“We think he loves his cows as much as his tractors!”
The judges note that Martin has learnt a vast array of skills across all levels of farming in his first season dairy farming.
“We were impressed with his attention-to-detail across animal welfare and how highly he values them – he was so detailed on every aspect and learning about mastitis management, breeding and reproduction.
“His hunger to learn is outstanding,” noted judge Ken Short. “It’s pretty cool for the future of the industry.”
The first-time entrant won the DairyNZ People & Leadership Award, the CowManager Livestock Management Award, the Personal Planning & Financial Management Award and over $16,000 in prizes.
The judges were impressed with Martin’s financial acumen and his commitment to “doing the right thing to do for the environment.”
“All the finalists are aware of environmental sustainability – they don’t see it as an option, it’s just part of their everyday farming business.”
The Dairy Manager Runner-up, Thomas Lundman from Bay of Plenty, won over $8,000 in prizes and three merit awards – the Fonterra Dairy Management Award, the Craigmore Environmental Sustainability Award and the DeLaval Sustainable Pasture Award.
The judges describe Thomas as a well-rounded farmer who is passionate about the industry, his family and his animals, with excellent attention-to-detail.
“He was really clear about what his employers are trying to achieve and his role in contributing to that,” they said. “Thomas understood the financials of the System 5 farm, and his management of pasture and feed was outstanding – he really knows his numbers.”
The judges were also impressed with Thomas’ use of DairyNZ benchmarking to analyse how the farm is performing.
The 27-year-old is farm manager on Michael and Linda Mexted’s 135ha Whakatane farm, milking 530 cows.
Thomas grew up on a dairy farm and worked as a tour guide and team leader for the Te Anau Glowworm caves, greeting over 140,000 people per year, before beginning in the dairy industry in 2020.
“Thomas has a sparkle in his eye and it’s clear he just loves what he’s doing.”
George Dodson from Canterbury/North Otago placed third and won over $6,000 in prizes. He is farm manager on Andrew and Hayley Slater’s 113ha, 440-cow property at Darfield.
The judges noted that George understands his core strengths and is actively involved in promoting the industry.
2025 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year
The 2025 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year was awarded to Pieter Van Beek from Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa who is described by the judges as an insightful young man who was able to clearly articulate his goals and ability to achieve them.
The Dairy Trainee judges say Pieter has a good knowledge of the industry and looks to older farmers for career advice and mentorship. “He soaks up their advice like a sponge,” says judge Frank Portegys from DairyNZ.
“He was able to communicate clearly around industry issues and the impact of some of those,” says head judge Johanna Wood from Manawatū. “He has a broad knowledge and he’s a hard worker.”
The first-time entrant is farm assistant on Wilfred and Rachel Van Beek’s 120ha, 330-cow farm at Greytown.
The 18-year-old is a third-generation New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards entrant, following in the footsteps of his parents and grandparents.
Pieter won the Ecolab Personal Growth & Development Award and the Communication & Industry Involvement Award along with over $10,000 in prizes.
The judges say the Dairy Trainee national finalists are an engaging group of young farmers and come from a variety of backgrounds.
The Dairy Trainee Runner-up, Emma Blom from Southland/Otago won over 6,000 in prizes.
She is farm manager on Blomventures Ltd 200ha Balfour property, milking 300 cows.
Before beginning work on-farm, Emma attended Lincoln University and holds a Bachelor in Environment and Society.
During semester breaks, Emma experienced time on a 2,500 goat milking farm in the Waikato, several dairy farms, Wilkins Farming and a summer internship with MPI.
The judges were impressed with Emma’s contribution and involvement in her community, especially her work as a New Zealand Scout Leader, which takes her off-farm for an hour and a half each week.
Third placegetter is Alex Diprose from Waikato who is 2IC on Colin and Jackie Dixon on their 167ha Horotiu property milking 460 cows.
Alex won over $3,000 in prizes and the DairyNZ Practical Skills merit award through his strong practical skills and knowledge.
Growing up on a dairy farm, Alex obtained a Diploma in Audio Engineering while co-founding a software company to support himself during study before returning to home to try his hand at farming.
The judges noted Alex’s knowledge of farming across a wide range of topics and demonstrated his practical skills to a very high level.
2025 Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award
Waka Dairies, represented by Michael Phillips, Russell Phillips and Andrew 'Bubbles' Evans in Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa, were named the 2025 Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award recipients during the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards Gala dinner on Saturday night and received the John Wilson Memorial Trophy.
The prestigious award was created to recognise and celebrate dairy farmers who demonstrate leadership in their approach to sustainability and who are passionate about the four pillars of Responsible Dairying – people and community, finance, environment and animal welfare.
“We had the privilege of visiting three exceptional national nominees for this year’s Award,” says head judge Pete Morgan.
“Each demonstrated a strong connection to their community, a proactive approach to managing their environmental footprint, and a clear sense of purpose driving their farm operation.”
“Waka Dairies operate a highly progressive, future-focused business that achieves outstanding performance across all areas of the farm.
Their operation sets a benchmark for the sector—showcasing a broad, integrated approach to sustainability and excellence in dairying.”
2025 ASB Alumni of the Year Award
This new Award is a collaboration between ASB and NZDIA to specifically encourage and reward NZDIA Alumni who have made significant contributions to the programme and the industry.
The ASB Alumni of the Year Award (AAOTY) is open to NZDIA Alumni who have been entrants in the past seven years and are no longer eligible to enter the Dairy Manager of the Year or Share Farmer of the Year categories.
Steve and Amy Gillies from Waikato are the inaugural winners of the ASB Alumni of the Year award and win up to $1 million of ASB Business term lending fixed at 1% per annum for three years.
The Gillies were 2018 Waikato Share Farmers of the Year and achieved third place in the Nationals that year.
Since their win, they have made ongoing significant contribution to NZDIA regional success, together with strong community engagement and the judges say their story is one of hard work and pushing boundaries.
“Their drive and willingness to take on risk, backed by clear risk management strategies has seen them progress to herd owning and then purchasing their first farm in 2022,” said the judges.
“This independent achievement has been the result of hard work, perseverance and a very complementary skill set.
Winning this award will have a significant impact on their business, enabling them to continue their contribution and progression within the dairy industry.”
The judges said all three finalists were deserving of the award, with very different and impressive backgrounds.
“It’s very heartening to see how each of the finalists embraced their previous Dairy Industry Awards achievements and have continued to give back.
Their involvement in the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards has given them confidence and encouragement to get to where they are now.”
2025 Fonterra & ASB First Farm Award
The Fonterra & ASB First Farm Award (FFA) is a collaboration between ASB, Fonterra and the NZDIA Trust, which aims to remove barriers to farm ownership by offering to help the best in the industry successfully transition into farm ownership, ensuring good succession to ownership and the future of the dairy industry.
Each winner receives up to $1 million of ASB Business Term Lending fixed at 1% per annum for three years, along with a Fonterra launch package that includes $20,000 of Farm Source account credit to drive productivity and sustainability, mentoring, and additional support to help them successfully transition into ownership.
The 2025 Fonterra & ASB First Farm Award winners are:
Braden and Brigitte Barnes – Canterbury/North Otago
Cameron and Margaret Bierre – Waikato
Reece and Natasha Cox – Central Plateau
The judges were particularly impressed with the calibre of entrants in the inaugural ASB Fonterra First Farm Award.
Each finalist exemplified that the dream of owning a first farm is not only achievable but built upon a foundation of determination, hard work, and resilience.
Their ambitious goal-setting, ability to forge enduring relationships, and commitment to continuous personal development were remarkable.
Their partnership approach to challenges and opportunities showcased a mindset of collaboration and adaptability.
Their unwavering family values, deep love for the land, and dedication to their communities were truly exemplary—serving as an inspiration to us all.
Visit www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz for more information on the awards and winners.
MAJOR WINNERS AND PLACEGETTERS AND MERIT AWARD WINNERS
2025 SHAREFARMER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Thomas & Fiona Langford – Waikato
Runner up: Richard & Nikita Grabham – Canterbury/North Otago
Third: Warric & Rachel Johnson – West Coast/Top of the South
2025 DAIRY MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Martin Keegan – Taranaki
Runner up: Thomas Lundman – Bay of Plenty
Third: George Dodson – Canterbury/North Otago
2025 DAIRY TRAINEE OF THE YEAR
Winner: Pieter Van Beek – Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa
Runner up: Emma Blom – Southland/Otago
Third: Alex Diprose – Waikato
2025 FONTERRA RESPONSIBLE DAIRYING AWARD RECIPIENTS
Waka Dairies – Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa (represented by Michael & Russell Phillips)
2025 ASB ALUMNI OF THE YEAR AWARD
Winner: Steve & Amy Gillies – Waikato
2025 FONTERRA & ASB FIRST FARM AWARD (there are three equal winners)
Braden & Brigitte Barnes – Canterbury/North Otago
Cameron & Margaret Bierre – Waikato
Reece & Natasha Cox – Central Plateau
2025 SHARE FARMER OF THE YEAR MERIT AWARDS
DairyNZ People & Culture Award Thomas & Fiona Langford
Ecolab Total Farm Hygiene & Innovation Award Warric & Rachel Johnson
Federated Farmers Leadership Award Thomas & Fiona Langford
Honda Farm Safety, Health & Biosecurity Award Thomas & Fiona Langford
LIC Animal Wellbeing, Recording and Productivity Award Richard & Nikita Grabham
Ecolab Environmental Sustainability Award Thomas & Fiona Langford
Trelleborg Sustainable Pasture Award Thomas & Fiona Langford
ASB Business Performance Award Thomas & Fiona Langford
Ballance Excellence Interview & Communication Award Warric & Rachel Johnson
CowManager Experience Award Thomas & Fiona Langford
2025 DAIRY MANAGER OF THE YEAR MERIT AWARDS
DairyNZ People & Leadership Award Martin Keegan
CowManager Livestock Management Award Martin Keegan
Fonterra Dairy Management Award Thomas Lundman
LIC Interview Award George Dodson
Craigmore Environmental Sustainability Award Thomas Lundman
DeLaval Sustainable Pasture Award Thomas Lundman
Personal Planning & Financial Management Award Martin Keegan
2025 DAIRY TRAINEE OF THE YEAR MERIT AWARDS
Ecolab Personal Growth & Development Award Pieter Van Beek
DairyNZ Practical Skills Award Alex Diprose
Best Video Award Caleb Smith
Federated Farmers General Farming Knowledge Award Ros McCann
Communication & Industry Involvement Award Pieter Van Beek
