Susan O'Regan Appointed New Chair of QEII National Trust
Minister of Conservation Hon Tama Potaka has appointed Susan O'Regan as Chair of the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (QEII) for a three-year term.
For the first time in the competition's history, two of this year's winners are already Halter customers, after the company invited existing farmers to apply alongside new customers for the first time.
Halter says the two customer winners were recognised for the results they've achieved and the way they've put the technology to work on-farm.
A Nationwide Field
The six winners span the length of New Zealand, from hill country beef operations in the Waikato, Rangitikei and Southland, to dairy farms in Taranaki, Southland and North Canterbury.
Halter says the decision to grow this year's field to six winners, after opening applications to existing customers for the first time, was a way to give back to the farmers who have been on the journey with the business so far - recognising them alongside new customers rather than choosing between the two.
The company says the expanded list reflects a business that wants to celebrate not just farmers coming on board, but the ones already achieving standout results and shaping where Halter goes next.
The 2026 Winners
Nick & Kath Riley — Waikato (Beef, existing Halter customer)
Everyday hill country farmers with succession on the horizon, Nick and Kath have been Halter customers for just over a year.
Since coming on board, they've lifted pasture utilisation, improved live weight gain and sheep production, and are tracking a 4:1 return on their Halter investment.
Their One Year Free win will help fund a water infrastructure project shaped directly by the insights they've gathered through Halter.
Adam McManaway — North Canterbury/Kaikoura (Dairy, existing Halter customer)
Adam had been a Halter customer for just three months when recent Kaikoura flooding hit his farm, washing out boundary fences and blanketing much of his pasture in sediment.
With significant feed to bring in this year to get back near his usual pasture performance, Adam plans to use Halter to closely track pasture recovery and make fast, informed decisions about where and how he grazes his herd as the farm rebuilds.
Marty & Sophie Keegan — Taranaki (Dairy)
Marty runs the day-to-day of the farm solo, sharemilking on Sophie's family farm in Taranaki while Sophie works full time off-farm.
A trained mechanical engineer and 2025 Dairy Manager of the Year, he brings a numbers-driven approach to every part of the operation, from calving to cashflow.
The couple are working toward farm ownership and are already heavily invested in the future of dairying in North Taranaki.
Katie & Grayson Cooper — Rangitikei (Beef)
Katie and Grayson recently completed succession on the family farm, taking over with their young family in tow.
Farming tough hill country, they're focused on lifting production without adding extra labour, and see untapped potential in the property.
Their plans include growing their cattle stocking rate and shifting further into cattle, guided by data at each step.
Bernadette & Alistair Hunt — Southland (Beef)
Farming in Southland since the early 2000s, Bernadette and Alistair have built a reputation as "renovators of the land," turning a rundown farm into a thriving, profitable operation.
Having recently purchased a second block, they're set to grow their herd to 400 head, with a clear strategy for what they want Halter to help them achieve.
Hayden Smith & Isla Pringle — Southland (Dairy)
At just 26, Hayden and Isla recently bought their first farm after four years sharemilking on the property, reaching farm ownership well ahead of schedule.
Named Share Farmers of the Year for their region in 2025, the pair are data-driven, focused on pasture utilisation on a farm where 30 percent of the land regularly floods, and active advocates for young farmers entering the industry.
Why The Expanded Field Matters
Halter says this year's expanded list reflects the breadth of farmers it works alongside, from those just starting their Halter journey to long-standing customers achieving standout results.
Farms affected by extreme weather, families navigating succession, and young farmers stepping into ownership all feature among this year's winners — underlining, according to Halter, the range of challenges New Zealand farmers are tackling and the role technology can play in helping them through it.
