Entries have opened for two awards in the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards programme, aimed at helping young farmers progress to farm ownership.

The ASB alumni of the year award together with the Fonterra & ASB first farm award (FFA) give the winners a financial advantage in their farm ownership journey.

These awards extend the scope of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) programme from supporting dairy trainees right through to the people who are purchasing farms and are the succession story for the sector, NZDIA general manager Robin Congdon said.

“The continuation of these two awards is significant to the NZDIA programme providing clear and valuable pathways for progression within the industry.

“NZDIA’s mission is to support and celebrate excellence in the New Zealand dairy industry and these awards strengthen our ability to recognise excellence at all stages of people’s dairy career.”

Winners of the 2025 ASB alumni of the year award Steve and Amy Gillies say access to 1% interest funding from ASB has launched their farming business leaps ahead.

The couple won the 2018 Waikato share farmers of the year and achieved third place at the Nationals and went on to purchase a 97ha farm at Te Awamutu in 2022.

Entering the alumni of the year was a further opportunity for the couple to assess their finances and have another conversation about their goals, Amy said.

“Winning the award and being able to work with ASB has helped our budget immensely – we’ve had access to great rural managers who have looked at our business with fresh eyes.

“It’s also given Steve and I the window to think about our next step. We really want to be able to buy a second farm and be in a position where we can comfortably employ a 50-50 sharemilker – we want to be in that position to pay it forward and give the next people coming through the industry an opportunity.

“Winning this award means we are a step closer to that goal now.”

The ASB alumni of the year 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 award was 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, are not yet ready to purchase their first farm, or already own one.

Entrants were judged by representatives from ASB and NZDIA, with the winner of up to $1 million of ASB business term lending fixed at 1% per annum for three years also announced at the National Gala Dinner in Rotorua on May 9.

The Fonterra & ASB FFA was a collaboration between ASB, Fonterra and the NZDIA Trust.

The award aimed to help the best in the industry successfully transition into farm ownership, ensuring good succession to ownership and the future of the dairy industry.

The award was open to people who have previously entered the NZDIA.

There would be three FFA winners, each receiving up to $1m 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.

Winners would also be announced at the NZDIA National Gala Dinner in Rotorua.

“These awards are about backing ambition and helping the next generation of farmers take that critical step toward farm ownership,” ASB general manager rural banking Aidan Gent said.

“At ASB, we’re proud to partner with NZDIA and Fonterra to provide financial support and expertise that make farm ownership more achievable, ensuring a strong future for New Zealand’s dairy industry.”

Anne Douglas, group director Fonterra Farm Source, agreed.

“Supporting new farm owners helps build a more resilient dairy sector that’s well-placed to grow and adapt for generations to come.

“Fonterra is pleased to be a part of an initiative that backs emerging farmers and we’re looking forward to working with the next group of winners and helping them through those crucial early years of farm ownership and beyond.”

Entries for the 2026 Fonterra & ASB first farm award and the ASB alumni of the year award close March 9.

For more information or to enter these awards visit dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

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