NORTHLAND DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

March 8, 2026

The winners of the 2026 Northland Dairy Industry Awards were announced at the annual awards dinner held at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort in the Bay of Islands on Saturday evening.

The title of 2026 Northland Share Farmer of the Year was awarded to Daniel and Zara Colgan, with Cole Henwood winning the Northland Dairy Manager of the Year and Hayden Lupton taking out the 2026 Northland Dairy Trainee of the Year.

This year’s Northland Share Farmers of the Year are equity partners in a 200ha farm at Kaiwaka, milking 400 cows.

Daniel owns 25% equity and Zara 24% alongside Daniel’s parents who own 51%.

The couple are most proud of being able to increase the production on the farm by 19% while creating a more sustainable farm operation and having high staff retention.

“Work life balance is very important to us and we ensure we live by this as well as ensuring our staff have good balance too. It is very important because when you feel in balance, you are happy to go to work, and show more care and pride in what you do. It impacts your whole life.”

Daniel, 33, also won the 2020 Auckland/Hauraki Dairy Manager of the Year while working as a 2IC on a 1000 cow farm at Mercer. He left that job to buy into the Kaiwaka farm.

Zara, 30, a former primary school teacher, has fully embraced the dairy farming life and has started her own private tutoring business.

The couple are excited to be raising their one-year-old daughter Ellie in an environment they are proud of, on land they are responsible for looking after.

The judges said “Daniel and Zara demonstrate outstanding leadership within their community and the wider dairy industry. They actively promote farming in a positive light, and provide hands-on educational experiences for local school children via their farming planting initiative”.

The couple won $9,000 in prizes on the night along with four merit awards.

Runner-up in the Share Farmer category is Karla and Greg Flintoff. Karla, 35, and Greg, 36, are contract milking 700 cows for Grae and Lou Roberts on 230ha at Ruatangata.

Karla (nee Frost) entered the Dairy Industry Awards in 2014 and 2015 and won 2015 Northland Dairy Manger of the Year and placed third at the nationals.

“It’s been 11 years since I last entered the awards, and I still have regular contact with mentors, farmers and industry specialists that I have met along the way. These relationships are invaluable. We are strong believers that farmers learn best from other farmers, and we are grateful to still be learning from farmers we have met throughout this process.”

The couple are working to expand and diversify their farming business to find ways to build equity and buy their own farm.

Karla also tutors all the Primary ITO courses in Northland, which she has done this for the past six years.

The couple won $6,000 plus four merit awards on the night.

Note: Due to the minimum number of finalists not being reached, Northland Share Farmer and Dairy Manager entrant scores were benchmarked against the national average, with data collated from the 10 other regions. Merit awards and placings were only presented where entrants achieved the required benchmark level.

The 2026 Northland Dairy Manager of the Year title was awarded to Cole Henwood.

Cole is farm manager for Ken and Mary Finlayson, milking 650 cows on their 305ha farm at Whangarei.

“As a fourth generation dairy farmer, farming has always been a part of my life.

“One of my biggest achievements was successfully taking over management of a 1200-cow farm at 20 years old.”

Judges said “Overall, Cole displayed confident dairy management capability and professionalism, reflecting a well-run operation and a manager ready for the next level”.

Cole won $6,160 in prizes together with three merit awards.

Runner-up in the 2026 Northland Dairy Manager is Sarah Thorne, farm manager for Matthew and Kortne Snedden at Kerikeri.

Sarah manages 400 cows peak on a 98ha, System 5 operation.

It’s the first time Sarah has entered the Dairy Industry Awards and she wanted the opportunity to network but also to get feedback and learn about her own skills and knowledge.

“Milk is not made in the cowshed. I have learnt a lot about pasture and I really enjoy doing that well.”

Sarah won $2,555 for her second place and took home one merit award.

The winner of the 2026 Northland Dairy Trainee of the Year followed his wife’s footsteps into entering the dairy industry and now the Dairy Industry Awards competition.

Hayden Lupton, 29, is farm assistant for Greg McCracken, milking 400 cows on 175ha at Wellsford.

Hayden went dairy farming when he first had to step into his wife’s gumboots. He covered Michaela’s role on the farm while she went on maternity leave.

“My wife Michaela (nee McCracken) has entered trainee twice and manager once (Northland Dairy Manager runner-up in 2025), so I have been to a few of the awards. I decided to put myself out there.”

Judges said “Hayden showed exceptional practical and technical skills. It was clear he has a passion for livestock and the industry overall. It was evident he has knowledge in what is happening on farm and not afraid to ask why”.

The couple have sold their house to have equity to buy a herd and go sharemilking next season.

Hayden won $6,000 in prizes on the night along with three merit awards.

Runner-up in the Dairy Trainee category is Brittany Overy. The 25-year-old is farm assistant for Ian Douglas at Whangarei, milking 950 cows on 320ha.

Brittany moved from Auckland and an office job to Whangarei and found a job working on farm.

“I love working with animals and raising them from day one. I feel like my job has a clear purpose, producing a necessary product that benefits everyone.”

Brittany won $1,530 and one merit award.

Third place in the 2026 Northland Dairy Trainee is Rico McLean who won $1,255.

Rico is farm assistant for Bruce Paton at Ruakaka, milking 720 cows on 307ha.

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

The Northland Dairy Industry Awards Field Day will be held on 25 March, 2026 at 344 Gibbons Road, RD2, Kaiwaka 0573. Fonterra S/N 11002.

Further details on the winners and the Field Day can be found at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz

Results of the 2026 Northland Dairy Industry Awards:

2026 Northland Share Farmer of the Year

Winner – Daniel & Zara Colgan

Runner Up – Karla & Greg Flintoff

2026 Northland Dairy Manager of the Year

Winner – Cole Henwood

Runner Up – Sarah Thorne

2026 Northland Dairy Trainee of the Year

Winner – Hayden Lupton

Runner Up – Brittany Overy