Innovators and advocates among 2025 PINZ Awards finalists
Among this year’s Primary Industry NZ (PINZ) Awards finalists are rural New Zealanders who advocate for pragmatic regulation and support stressed out farmers.
Southland drystock farmer Bernadette Hunt has scooped the 2020 primary industry’s leadership award.
The award, presented last night at the 2020 Primary Industries conference dinner in Wellington, recognises Hunt’s commitment to advocating for farming, particularly given her efforts to highlight the challenges farmers face nationwide measuring up to the government’s new freshwater regulations.
"Bernadette has the rare combination of having a clear vision of what’s right and wrong, being able to articulate a strong message and bring others on the journey. She absolutely leads by example," Federated Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland said.
The Outstanding Contribution award, sponsored by Massey Ferguson and presented by chief executive Peter Scott, went to Beef and Lamb’s Rob Davison.
Other awards presented:
Science and Research Award, sponsored by Yashili: won by Plant and Food Research, for the Future Orchard Planting System.
Team Award, sponsored by Eagle Technology: Bioforce, Avian Empire and Tegel Foods, for Poultry Defender.
Innovation and Collaboration Award, sponsored by Norwood: Plant and Food Research, for Modular Harvesting System.
Industry Champion Award, sponsored by Federated Farmers: Wayne Langford and Siobhan O’Malley for ‘Meat the Need’
Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard thanked the sponsors for their support of the awards.
Three New Zealand agritech companies are set to join forces to help unlock the full potential of technology.
As the sector heads into the traditional peak period for injuries and fatalities, farmers are being urged to "take a moment".
Federated Farmers says almost 2000 farmers have signed a petition launched this month to urge the Government to step in and provide certainty while the badly broken resource consent system is fixed.
Zespri’s counter-seasonal Zespri Global Supply (ZGS) programme is underway with approximately 33 million trays, or 118,800 tonnes, expected this year from orchards throughout France, Italy, Greece, Korea, and Japan.
Animal owners can help protect life-saving antibiotics from resistant bacteria by keeping their animals healthy, says the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
According to analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA), New Zealand red meat exports reached $827 million in October, a 27% increase on the same period last year.

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