West Otago Farmer Luke Kane Wins Rabobank 2026 Prize
West Otago dairy farmer Luke Kane has been awarded the 2026 Rabobank Dr John Morris Business Development Prize.
The Carr Family Foundation, through its Rural Health & Wellness Programme, continues to take preventative healthcare directly to rural events and community gatherings, helping overcome barriers such as geographic isolation, workforce shortages, and limited access to health services.
Between 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, the programme has reinforced its commitment to improving health outcomes for rural New Zealanders, by completing over 700 preventative heath checks across rural communities across the country, that in turn, facilitated more than 100 referrals to GPs during the year, identifying individuals with elevated blood pressure and other health concerns that may otherwise have gone undetected.
Carr Family Foundation chairperson Stacey McKerchar said the programme continues to demonstrate the importance of making healthcare accessible within rural communities.
“Preventative healthcare can have a significant impact on long-term wellbeing outcomes. By taking health services directly to where people live and work, we are helping rural New Zealanders access support that might otherwise be difficult to obtain.”
Throughout the year, the Foundation attended a wide range of agricultural events, field days, and community gatherings across the country, providing health education, wellness advice, and free health assessments. A major milestone during the year has been the development of a nationwide network of highly skilled nurses who support the programme, enabling the Foundation to expand its reach and deliver services across an increasing number of rural communities.
Along the way, the Foundation has also experienced strong growth in donor support, with machinery distributor Kubota joined the programme as a Gold Donor, alongside silver donors Ansley & Associates and Nutrien Ag. Their support, alongside Platinum donor Carrfields and Silver donor Chemist Warehouse, together with contributions from community donors and supporters, has helped strengthen the programme’s impact.
“Growing support from businesses and individuals who share our vision is enabling us to reach more people and make a greater difference in rural communities,” said McKerchar.
Looking ahead, the Foundation plans to further expand the programme, with a longterm goal of operating two mobile wellness vans with both nurses and doctors available to increase access to preventative healthcare services throughout New Zealand.
initiatives, the Foundation continues to support rural communities through sponsorships and community partnerships, including a new long-term sponsorship agreement with the EA Networks Centre in Ashburton and its ongoing support of Westpac Trust Helicopter.
