The DNA of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) has once again been strengthened with LIC signing up as a national sponsor for another three years.

The herd improvement co-operative has confirmed its support and sponsorship across the regional and national awards through to 2028.

LIC has also added an impressive GeneMark Genomics prize to the pool for the national winner of the LIC Animal Wellbeing Recording and Productivity Award.

NZDIA General Manager Robin Congdon says it’s exciting to see sponsorship packages include such valuable services and technology as part of the prize pool. 

“The GeneMark Genomics prize is a fantastic addition to LIC’s extensive prize package at our national awards programme and will give our winner the opportunity to test all of the dams and replacement animals in their herd  – regardless of herd size.

“LIC’s commitment to the awards shows their leadership in supporting the next generation of farmers on their journey as they build their own herd of cows.”

LIC Chief Executive, David Chin says the co-operative is honoured to continue the long-standing involvement with the awards. 

“Along with celebrating excellence in dairying, the awards give us the opportunity to connect with the next generation of dairy leaders, to share ideas and to learn from each other, ultimately helping to strengthen our sector.”

NZDIA Trust chair Paulette Johns was heartened to see LIC sign on again as sponsors and to add such a valuable prize to the table.  

“LIC has been associated with the awards for many years and we are ever grateful for their support which allows the awards to go from strength to strength,” she says.  

“The addition of the genomics prize forwards our goal of continuing to uplift the industry through improvement on farm, as we support the next generation of herd and farm owners. 

“DNA testing provides accurate data to accelerate improvement in your herd and business, and this genomics prize from LIC is a generous and usable award that will benefit anyone who wins it.” 

National sponsors play a vital role in cementing the ongoing success of the awards programme, she says.

“The awards programme is a celebration of our national dairy sector and our national sponsors enable us to continue to shine a spotlight on the innovation, skill, and leadership within the industry.” 

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors ASB, CowManager, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Honda, LIC, and Trelleborg, along with industry partners Fonterra, DairyNZ and MediaWorks.

Entries open for the 2026 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards on 6 October with registrations of interest able to be made now at dairyindustryawards.co.nz

An announcement on the date and location of the 2026 National Awards gala dinner is expected by the end of August.

For any further information please contact Sheryl Haitana, 021 239 1633