Ballance

Ballance Farm Environment Awards

The Ballance Farm Environment Awards is an annual awards programme run by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust. The Awards celebrate farmer and grower achievement and showcase good practice, enabling the sharing of positive farming and growing stories with all audiences.

Being part of the awards programme is a positive way to receive feedback on your business, help identify your strengths and learn from others who are passionate about the food and fibre sector.

The 2025 BFEA Regional Supreme Winners

Northland Regional Supreme Winner

An unwavering commitment to excellence sees Whangārei beef farmers take out the Regional Supreme Award at the Northland Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Rob and Mandy Pye of Mangere Falls Farm in Kokopu, Whangārei have been named Regional Supreme Winners at the Northland Ballance Farm Environment Awards, recognising an exceptional balance between profitability, environmental stewardship and farm efficiency.

Horizons Regional Supreme Winner

A legacy of leadership and dedication to farming earns the Cousins family of Hiamoe Farm the Regional Supreme Award at the Horizons Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

The Cousins family of Hiamoe Farm in Feilding have been named Regional Supreme Winners at the Horizons Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Palmerston North.  Hiamoe Farm has come a long way since the original 149ha sheep and cattle farm was bought by the Cousins family in 1919.

Bay of Plenty Regional Supreme Winners

Te Puke kiwifruit growers Blair Dyer and Steve Atkinson take out the Regional Supreme Award at the Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Blair Dyer and Steve Atkinson of Kiwi Heights in Te Puke have been named Regional Supreme Winners at the Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards. The Atkinson family has owned the property for more than 50 years, with kiwifruit vines planted in 2006. Since 2020, third-generation farmer Blair Dyer has been managing the kiwifruit crop, working closely with the Atkinsons to gradually transform more land into thriving orchards while preserving its natural ecology.

Canterbury Regional Supreme Winner

Holistic approach to sustainability sees Pukatea Dairy Farms take out the Regional Supreme Award at the Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Stuart Neill of Pukatea Dairy Farms has been named the Regional Supreme Winner at the Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Christchurch, recognising his exceptional commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship and ethical farming practices.

Auckland Regional Supreme Winners

An innovative, data-driven approach sees South Auckland growers take out the Regional Supreme Award at the Auckland Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Peter and Michelle Pan of Healthy and Fresh have been named Regional Supreme Winners at the Auckland Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Ellerslie. This family-owned company was established in 2008 and has grown into a major supplier of fresh produce and ethnic food to supermarkets across New Zealand.