DIA awards

Taranaki dairy farm manager Martin Keegan, winner of the 2025 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards Farm Manager of the Year, shares how entering the competition became a turning point in his career. Farming alongside his fiancée’s family and managing 246 cows on 94 hectares, he’s built a system focused on stock health, efficiency, and people.

In this episode, Anne Lee speaks with Martin about awards night, his three national merit awards for leadership, financial planning, and livestock management, and the lessons that followed. They also discuss communication, workplace culture, and his message to other farmers considering entering: “You’ve got everything to gain and nothing to lose.”

With a strong family history in dairy farming, Kirwyn Ellis always envisioned himself putting his own stamp on the industry. Words & Photos Sheryl Haitana.

Northland academic Kieran McCahon has been putting his farm systems knowledge to the test on his family farm. The winner of this year’s Dairy Manager of the Year wants to help the industry find solutions to future challenges. Words Sheryl Haitana.

Courageous is the word Will Hinton uses to describe his partner Kali Rangiawha. It was Kali’s brave decision to go contract milking 200 cows by herself when she was pregnant and with their two-year-old in tow, which has led them to where they are – the 2024 Share Farmers of the Year. Words Sheryl Haitana. Photos Brad Hanson.

The Dairy Industry Awards took place in Queenstown last weekend, and host Sheryl Haitana takes the opportunity to talk to those leading the way in the dairy sector. Guests include: Will Hinton & Kali Rangiawha, Share Farmers of the Year; Kieran McCahon, Dairy Manager of the Year; Kirwyn Ellis, Dairy Trainee of the Year.

The trophy for the National Share Farmer of the Year has gone home to the Mighty Manawatu this year and the National Dairy Manager of the Year has its first Northland manager engraved on it.

The theme of the farming community supporting each other was one echoed by many of the finalists at the New Zealand Dairy Industry Award in Auckland on Saturday, May 13. By Claire Ashton.

Jack Symes - Canterbury/North Otago Dairy Manager of the Year. By Anne Lee.

Nicole Barber - Southland/Otago Dairy Manager of the Year. By Karen Trebilcock.

Matthew & Kortne Snedden - Northland Share Farmers of the Year. By Delwyn Dickey.