Entries open for 2026 NZ Dairy Industry Awards
Entries are open for the 2026 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA).
General manager Chris Keeping says the launch events provide an opportunity to find out more information about the awards and which competition they are eligible to enter.
Entries in the New Zealand Share Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions will be accepted online at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz from Thursday, October 20.
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra Farm Source, Honda Motorcycles, LIC, Meridian Energy and Ravensdown, along with industry partner Primary ITO
Not every region is holding a launch event, with Canterbury choosing to have a big prize for their region’s Early Bird entries instead, explains Keeping.
“If you enter the Canterbury regional awards before November 9, you’re in the draw to win a helicopter ride with Richie McCaw! I’d be quite keen to win that myself!”
MKeeping says the first regional launch event will be held in Taranaki on Friday, October 14, in FarmSource stores in Waverley and Waitara, while launch events in other regions will be held over the next two weeks.
The launch events are typically a lot of fun and provide an opportunity to meet other potential entrants, organisers and sponsors and to learn about the awards from past entrants. They functions are very social, are all free to attend and are at a time that makes it easy for farmers to attend.
More information on the launch events is available at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz
Details of the regional launch events:
Auckland/Hauraki: October 26 6.30pm Farm Source Ngatea
Auckland/Hauraki: October 27 6.30pm Farm Source Pukekohe
Waikato: October 20 7.00pm Farm Source Morrinsville
Bay of Plenty: October 20 11.00am Farm Source Edgecumbe
Bay of Plenty: October 27 11.00am Farm Source Opotiki
Bay of Plenty: November 4 11.00am Farm Source Te Puke
Central Plateau: October 21 6.30pm Rugby Club Reporoa
Taranaki: October 14 12.00pm Farm Source Waverley and Waitara
Taranaki: October 21 12.00pm Farm Source Hawera and Opunake
Manawatu: October 20 7.00pm Willowpark Tav Palmerston North
Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa: October 18 6.30pm Farm Source Dannevirke
Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa: October 20 6.30pm Memorial Club Caterton
Southland/Otago: October 20 11.00am Telford Dairy Unit Balclutha
Southland/Otago: October 26 6.30pm Top Pub Winton
