increase font size
Nick Bertram.
Animal activist organisation SAFE, which exposed former 2020 Share Farmer of the Year Nick Bertram’s unsavoury social media history, has responded with glee to his title being revoked.
Read: 2020 SFOTY loses title, refused to hand over voluntarily.
Bertram – alongside his wife Rosemarie – was awarded the title on Saturday July 4. By Thursday July 9, SAFE had sent to media outlets Bertram’s history of unsavoury social media comments, including calling cows “bitches” and talking about the cruel methods he uses towards his cows.
Despite apologising on Thursday, Bertram’s title was stripped the following day.
SAFE has applauded the decision – albeit with some caveats.
"The NZDIA has done the right thing, and we’re glad to see Bertram has been held to account over his actions,” SAFE chief executive Debra Ashton gloated.
“He should take this as an opportunity to right his wrongs and show that he takes animal welfare seriously,"
However, Ashton claimed NZDIA award organisers “should have done their homework” in the first place."
"We live in the digital age where all of our online actions are taken as a reflection of our character,” she added. “It was no secret what Bertram was posting on social media and it should have been taken into account."
DairyNZ chief executive Campbell Parker says the industry-good organisation is proud to be an ongoing industry partner of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, providing judging expertise and facilitating field days.
As the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards night unfolded, it became evident that Waikato’s Thomas and Fiona Langford were the frontrunners for the biggest prize of the night – the 2025 Share Farmers of the Year award.
Tasman sharemilkers Warric and Rachel Johnson haven't let the 2006 milk payout crash put them out of business.
Bay of Plenty’s top share farmers Andre and Natalie Meier are no strangers to the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards winning circle.
OPINION: Results of regional New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) are trickling in but there's a worrying trend emerging.
The Good Carbon Farm has partnered with Tolaga Bay Heritage Charitable Trust to deliver its first project in Tairāwhiti Gisborne.
Education union NZEI Te Riu Roa says that while educators will support the Government’s investment in learning support, they’re likely to be disappointed that it has been paid for by defunding expert teachers.
The Government says it is sharpening its focus and support for the food and fibre industry in Budget 2025.
A European Union regulation ensuring that the products its citizens consume do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation worldwide threatens $200m of New Zealand beef and leather exports.
A long-acting, controlled- release capsule designed to protect ewes from internal parasites during the lambing period is back on the market following a comprehensive reassessment.
Healthcare appears to be the big winner in this year's budget as agriculture and environment miss out.
OPINION: Last week's announcement of Prime Minister’s new Science and Technology Advisory Council hasn’t gone down too well in the…
OPINION: At its recent annual general meeting, Federated Farmers’ Auckland province called for New Zealand to withdraw from the Paris…
