Sustainability and Stewardship Awards recognise dairy farmers who demonstrate a commitment to managing, protecting and enhancing their environment.
The DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award at the 2025 Ballance Farm Environment Awards has showcased some of the best of New Zealand dairy farming.
The winners’ work included educating students on the importance of sustainable farming, transforming a treeless farm, and significantly reducing nutrient and sediment loss.
DairyNZ chief executive Campbell Parker said the awards are a great opportunity to share the stories of farmers who are innovating and running sustainable and profitable farm businesses.
“New Zealand dairy farms are constantly evolving, and having a sustainable dairy sector is critical to our country’s economic success and wellbeing.”
It focuses on positive, long term and environmentally sustainable on-farm actions.
Most of the DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Awards 2025 winners took out multiple awards in their regions. This includes Stuart Neill of Pukatea Dairy Farms, who won the Canterbury Regional Supreme Award, Tor Pedersen from Broomore Farm who won the Waikato Regional Supreme Award, and Brendan Attrill from Caiseal Trust who won the Taranaki Regional Supreme Award.
As regional supreme winners Neill, Pedersen and Attrill will be considered for the Gordon Stephenson Trophy, to be presented at the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust’s National Showcase in Wellington in June.
The DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Awards 2025 winners are:
Northland: Maria Puig and Mauricio Castellano – Maulen Partnership & Northland College Farm, Kaikohe. The farm acts as a platform for inspiring the next generation to take on the challenges of sustainable agriculture.
Auckland: Troy and Karin Everson – Hermanus, Rodney. The couple were recognised for turning their treeless farm into a thriving natural environment while also improving soil conservation and health and safety.
Waikato: Tor Pedersen – Broomore Farm, Raglan. Enhancing water quality is at the heart of every management decision on the farm. This commitment is delivering tangible results, with the farm’s participation in a NIWA water quality monitoring initiative confirming excellent stream health, highlighted by the presence of freshwater mussels and koura.
Horizons: Michael Phillips, Oliver Sandbrook and Andrew Evans – Waka Dairies, Dannevirke. The farm exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to dairy farming, prioritising environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and continuous improvement.
Canterbury: Stuart Neill – Pukatea Dairy Farms. The farm was recognised for its holistic approach to sustainability, integrating environmental, financial, and social considerations into every aspect of the business.
Otago: Francois and Shelley Tillard – Clydesdale Dairy, Windsor. The Tillards have worked tirelessly to improve their farm’s sustainability with a focus on efficiency and innovative irrigation solutions key to their success.
Taranaki: Brendan Attrill – Caiseal Trust, Huinga. The highly productive dairy farm prioritises environmental stewardship with end-to-end farm sustainability and environmental practices at the forefront of all farming operations.
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