increase font size
Neil Bateup
Waikato dairy farmer Neil Bateup, made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in the New Year 2026 Honours list, says he’s grateful for the award.
The award, which comes on top of an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit bestowed in 2018, is for his work with the Rural Support Trust.
But Bateup says he’s only part of a team made up of “lot of other people”.
“There are a lot of good people in the organisation which I have been fortunate to lead,” he told Rural News.
Bateup chaired the national Rural Support Trust for eight years. Her stepped down two years ago. He remains chair of Waikato Rural Support Trust, a post he has held for 21 years.
Bateup believes the Rural Support Trust is a very important organisation for the rural sector.
“We have something out there to support farmers when they run into tough times,” he says.
While there is much more awareness about the organisation compared to two decades ago, Bateup believes there are many people who don’t know they could turn to it for support.
“I think we can build that awareness across the country.”
Bateup lives on his farm at Ohinewai. He has a 50/50 sharemilker who milks 670 cows.
Recently awarded in the New Years Honours List for Services to Agriculture and Governance, well known dairy farmer Lloyd Downing has become an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM).
Among this year’s Primary Industry NZ (PINZ) Awards finalists are rural New Zealanders who advocate for pragmatic regulation and support stressed out farmers.
Shocked and humbled were Grahame Webber's overriding emotions when he learned he was to be recognised in the 2025 New Year Honours.
While it has been a great spring and summer for farmers, soil moisture levels in the Waikato are now plummeting as the dry February starts to bite.
Hauraki Coromandel farmer Keith Trembath was recently awarded the title of Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in recognition of his contributions to public service, agriculture, and education.
Winning four of the big categories at the 2026 New Zealand Cheese Awards feels special, says Meyer Cheese general manager Miel Meyer.
Local cheesemakers are being urged to embrace competition from imports but also ensure their products are never invisible in the country.
Ireland's Minister of state for Agriculture says it’s hard to explain to Irish farmers the size and scale of NZ farms.
Dairy farming in New Zealand offers career progression and this has motivated 2026 Central Plateau Share Farmers of the Year Navdeep Singh and Jobanpreet Kaur.
A partnership between Canterbury milk processor Synlait and the world's largest food producer, Nestlé, has been celebrated with a visit to a North Canterbury farm by a group including senior staff from Synlait, the Ravensdown subsidiary EcoPond, and Nestlé's Switzerland head office.
Canterbury milk processor Synlait is blaming what it calls "a perfect storm" of setbacks for a big loss in its half year result for the six months ended January 31, 2026.
OPINION: If you ask this old mutt, the choice at the next election isn't shaping up as a contest of…
OPINION: A mate of yours says we're long overdue for a reckoning on what value farmers really get for the…
