Date 9 Mar 2012
Time 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location Sir Woolf Fisher Arena

Auckland Hauraki Dairy Awards

 

Finalists in the 2012 Auckland Hauraki Dairy Industry Awards have been announced following the completion of preliminary judging last week.

Regional convenor Paul Mahoney says competition for the final six placings was tight. “We had 16 Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year entrants, 11 Farm Manager and 18 Dairy Trainee entrants, all vying for the top six places in their category to progress to the final round of judging.”

Mr Mahoney says the region’s competition has grown in the past few years, with record sponsorship this year ensuring that $75,000 in cash and prizes will be presented to the region’s winners.

“The success of the region’s awards has also meant we’ve had to switch venues to cater for the number of people wanting to attend the awards dinner.”

He expects more than 350 people will be at the gala dinner on March 9 at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in South Auckland.

Finals judging will take place from February 21-23 to decide the winners of the 2012 Auckland Hauraki Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year titles.

“Feedback from the judges has been that the future of the industry is in safe hands. They have been really impressed by the calibre of entrants, what many of them have achieved already in their dairying careers and their enthusiasm for the future,” Mr Mahoney says.

The finalists are:

2012 Auckland Hauraki Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year

  • Bryce & Rosemarie Costar, (Onewhero)
  • Dave Dean (Mercer)
  • Dimitar Kolarov & Svetla Kolarova (Glenbrook)
  • Carl & Julia Marquand (Paerata)
  • Michael & Claire Newson (Ngatea)
  • Scott & Alicia Paterson (Paeroa)

2012 Auckland Hauraki Farm Manager of the Year

  • Phillip Boshoff (Ngatea)
  • Aaron & Michelle Croucher (Huntly)
  • Tara Fisher (Ngatea)
  • Paul & Amy Koppens (Pukekohe)
  • Tim Parsons (Paeroa)
  • Warrick & Jessica Smith (Paeroa)

2012 Auckland Hauraki Dairy Trainee of the Year

  • Ethan Anderson (Ohinewai)
  • Kylie Dunlop (Mercer)
  • Daniel Hitchcock (Ngatea)
  • Matt Palfrey (Huntly)
  • Paul Webber (Mercer)
  • Liam Zander (Paeroa)

The Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ,LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and RD1, along with industry partner AgITO.

The Auckland Hauraki competition is also supported by regional gold sponsors Bayleys Real Estate, Bell-Booth Ltd, Blackmand Spargo, Franklin Vets, Milk Bar, Nick Hoogeveen & Assocaites, NRM & Viterra NZ, Silver Fern Farms, TelstraClear Pacific, Thames Farm & Industrial Supplies, and silver sponsors Case IH, Flint Contracting, Formula Challenge Racing, Graeme Wright Transport, JJ Mangan Contracting, QCONZ, SD Nicholson Contracting, Trevor Williams Contracting, and Triple Jump.

Tickets to the Auckland Hauraki Dairy Industry Awards Dinner cost $80 and can be obtained from Bronwyn Ward on 07 824 2189.

For more Information you may visit www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz or contact:

Paul & Stacey Mahoney
Auckland Hauraki Convenors
Ph 07 867 7337 or 027 265 2660
E psmahoney@xtra.co.nz