Geoff Maber Awarded ONZM for Lifetime Contribution to New Zealand Agribusiness
Waikato agribusiness leader Geoff Maber has been appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours.
Based on the Centurion series launched in 2012, the Saxon will work where there are high volumes of residue from previous crops or in established cover crops.
The series comes in 3m and 4m working widths and carries over a lot of the seed delivery, placement and consolidation features of the Centurion; but it has a key difference -- Great Plains Turbo coulter discs.
This set-up has a good slicing action with minimal disturbance. Each disc is set to operate in-line with trailing double-disc openers, their unique profile creating a friable seedbed 30-50mm wide into which the seeds are planted.
Both machines use the same 3000L capacity hopper also found on the Centurion series, although an upgrade to 4000L is available for the 4m model. Spacing on the 3m models can be set at 167mm over 18 rows, or narrowed down to 125mm spread over 24 rows; the 4m model can be set to the same spacings over 24 or 32 rows.
Hydraulic down-pressure helps maintain an even depth in all soil types, and accuracy is ensured by a rail that transfers weight to the coulters and press wheels, whilst keeping everything parallel to the ground.
Seed distribution is via injection moulded distribution heads, with optional tramline shut off and blockage monitors, and the system is said to be variable rate application ready. Seed calibration is easy, selected from the cab.
