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.

East Coast Regional Supreme Winners

A commitment to continuous improvement earns Simon and Lou White of Ludlow Farms the Regional Supreme Award at the East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards

Simon and Lou White of Ludlow Farms in Ōtāne have been named Regional Supreme Winners at the East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Hastings. The White’s arable, sheep and beef finishing farm spans 1,015ha (900ha effective), with the business’s resilience and success built on a foundation of diversification and innovation. Five generations of the White family have farmed on land around Ōtāne, with Simon and Lou taking over the running of Ludlow Farms in 2007.

Greater Wellington Regional Supreme Winners

Diverse Ponatahi farming operation takes out the Regional Supreme Award at the Greater Wellington Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Mark and Susannah Guscott of Glen Eden Farms in Ponatahi have been named Regional Supreme Winners at the Greater Wellington Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Carterton this evening. Over their 20 years at the helm of Glen Eden Farms, the Guscotts have successfully diversified the business into sheep, beef, arable farming, carbon and tourism, all while prioritising environmental sustainability and enhancing biodiversity across the 1,434ha (1,270ha effective) property.

Waikato Regional Supreme Winner

Young Raglan dairy farmer named Regional Supreme Award at the Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Tor Pedersen of Broomore Farm in Raglan has been announced as the Regional Supreme Winner at the Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards at Lake Karapiro. Broomore Farm is owned by Tony and Shona Pedersen and has been in the Colgan-Pedersen family since 1967. The farm runs 250 dairy cows on 100ha, with an additional 50ha used as a support block. The remaining land is a mix of exotic and native trees, including significant areas of untouched or regenerating native bush.

Taranaki Regional Supreme Winner

Balancing productivity and sustainability sees Huinga dairy farmer named Regional Supreme Award at the Taranaki Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Brendan Attrill of Caiseal Trust in Huinga has been announced as the Regional Supreme Winner at the Taranaki Ballance Farm Environment Awards in New Plymouth. Brendan is the third generation on the Huinga dairy farm, where he milks 350 cows across the 163ha (142.86 effective) property, taking a holistic approach that balances environmental stewardship with profitability

Southland Regional Supreme Winner

Strong vision and environmental values sees Awarua deer farmer take out the Regional Supreme Award at the Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Cam Nelson of Nelson Farming Company has been named the Regional Supreme Winner at the Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Invercargill. Since purchasing the 164ha (148ha effective) property in 2003, the Nelsons have transitioned the farm from being a 50:50 sheep and deer operation to exclusively farming deer. They now run 250 mixed-age stags, 400 breeding hinds, 180 R2 velvet stags and 180 R2 hinds that are sold in-calf.

Otago Regional Supreme Winners

Environmental stewardship and community involvement sees Matakanui Station take out the Regional Supreme Award at the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Tracy and Andrew Paterson of Matakanui Station in Omakau have been announced as the Regional Supreme Winners at the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Mosgiel. Spanning 5,300ha (4,000ha effective), Matakanui Station was bought by Andrew’s grandfather in 1958, with Tracy and Andrew working there since 2001 and taking over ownership in 2014. They have since transformed the farm with significant investment in irrigation, fencing and pasture development, while also restoring wetlands and improving water quality monitoring.