Auckland Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Celebrate the people and places behind the Ballance Farm Environment Awards, from past winners and regional contacts to the farms and sponsors shaping your region.

Key dates.

Entries Open

Now for 2027

Entries Close

31 October 2026

Finalists announced

February 2027

Awards Event

TBC

2026 Open Day

27 May, 2026

Current and past BFEA winners.

2026 Auckland Regional Supreme Winner

Donald & Kirsten Watson

Donald & Kirsten Watson

Morelands Pastoral
  • Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award
  • DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award
  • Hill Labs Agri-Science Award
  • Norwood Farming Efficiency Award
  • Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award
Read their story

2026 Award Recipients

David & Di Chamberlin

South Ponui
  • Ministry for the Environment Biodiversity Award
Read their story

Luke & Jasmine Franklin

Franklin Farm
  • Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award
  • Rabobank Agri-Business Management Award
  • FMG Risk Management Award
Read their story

Peter John, Michelle Hildreth and Jordan Hildreth

PJ & M Hildreth
  • Auckland Council Water Quality Enhancement Award
Read their story

Phil & Jenny Grainger

Kahurere Ridge
  • NZFET Innovation Award
  • NZFET Climate Recognition Award
Read their story

2025 Auckland Regional Supreme Winner

Peter and Michelle Pan 

Peter and Michelle Pan 

Healthy and Fresh
  • Auckland Regional Supreme Winner 2025
  • Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil and Nutrient Management Award
  • Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award
  • Hill Labs Agri-Science Award
  • Norwood Farming Efficiency Award
  • NZFET Innovation Award
Read their story

2025 Award Recipients

Chris and Greta Harris

Chritas Wood 
  • Auckland Council Water Quality Enhancement Award
Read their story

Deb Crump

ASB MAGS Farm
  • NZFET Climate Recognition Award
Read their story

James and Stephanie Kellow

Lighthouse Station Farm
  • NZFET Biodiversity Award
Read their story

Troy and Karin Everson

Hermanus 
  • Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award
  • DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award
  • Rabobank Agri-Business Management Award
Read their story

2024 Auckland Regional Supreme Winner

Peter Rensen

Peter Rensen

Utopia Nurseries
  • Auckland Regional Supreme Winner 2024
  • Hill Labs Agri-Science Award
  • Rabobank Agri-Business Management Award
  • NZFET Innovation Award
Read their story

2024 Award Recipients

Kathy and Craig Maxwell

Paparimu Valley Farm
  • Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award
Read their story

Matt Wech and Ana Sevilla

Matt Wech Family Trust
  • NZFET Biodiversity Award
  • Auckland Council Water Quality Enhancement Award
Read their story

Sam Waugh

Donald’s Farm
  • Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award
  • Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award
  • DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award
  • DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award
Read their story

2023 Auckland Regional Supreme Winner

Brett & Fenella Wheeler

Brett & Fenella Wheeler

BFG Kiwi Ltd
  • Auckland Regional Supreme Winner 2023
  • Hill Laboratories Agri-Science Award
  • Norwood Farming Efficiency Award
  • NZFET Innovation Award
Read their story

2023 Award Recipients

Allan Fong & the Fresh Grower family

The Fresh Grower
  • Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award
  • Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award
  • Rabobank Agri-Business Management Award
Read their story

Mark and Emilie Muir, George Flavell and Jenny Hinton

MG Muir Ltd
  • Auckland BFEA Heritage Protection Award
Read their story

Sue Meszaros and Karyn Maddren

Streamland Suffolks
  • Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award
  • NZFET Biodiversity Award
  • Auckland Council Water Quality Enhancement Award
Read their story

2022 Auckland Regional Supreme Winner

Rick & Shirley-Ann Mannering

Rick & Shirley-Ann Mannering

Waytemore Farms
  • Auckland Regional Supreme Winners 2022
  • DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award
  • Hill Laboratories Agri-Science Award
  • Massey University Innovation Award
  • Auckland Council Water Quality Enhancement Award
Read their story

2022 Award Recipients

Atiu Creek Regional Park

Auckland Council
  • Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award
Read their story

Rob & Rachel Cashmore

Cashmore Farms
  • Cashmore Farms
Read their story

Shane & Jenny Hood and Kevin & Gill Adshead

Mataia Farm & Manaia Properties
  • Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award
  • Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award
  • Norwood Agri-Business Management Award
Read their story

2020 Auckland Regional Supreme Winner

Mathew & Sarah Bolton

Mathew & Sarah Bolton

Oete Goat Farm
  • Auckland Regional Supreme Winner 2020
  • Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award
  • Hill Laboratories Agri-Science Award
  • Massey University Innovation Award
  • Norwood Agri-Business Management Award
Read their story

2020 Award Recipients

Alan & Khim Hellyer

Mahoenui
  • Auckland BFEA Farm Stewardship Award
Read their story

Garry Hewson, Laura Wallis & Dene Noonan

Te Rau Puriri
  • Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award
  • Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award
  • Synlait Climate Stewardship Award
  • Auckland Council Water Quality Enhancement Award
Read their story

Celebrating stewardship across Auckland.

Auckland

Peter Rensen

Utopia Nurseries
View their story
Auckland

Friends of Te Wairoa Catchment 

View their story
Auckland

Sam Waugh

Donald’s Farm
View their story
Auckland

BFEA storytelling inspires community catchment

View their story
Auckland

Allan Fong & the Fresh Grower family

The Fresh Grower
View their story
Our regional partner

Auckland Council

Backing the Awards locally to connect urban and rural communities for better land stewardship.

The Ballance Farm Environment Awards began in the Auckland region in 2015, acknowledging Auckland’s large rural constituency on both the northern and southern sides of the city as an important part of the regional economy.

Auckland region’s northern boundary spans from South Head across to just south of Mangawhai, stretching out to Great Barrier Island.  Its southern boundary encompasses Waiuku, Pukekohe and reaches across to the Firth of Thames.

Water quality is a priority for the Auckland Council, and as such they sponsor the Water Quality Enhancement Award, acknowledging excellence in land management practices and nutrient management.

View website

Auckland region awards.

Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award

This Award focuses on the management of soil and nutrients. A strong understanding of nutrients and nutrient budgeting is demonstrated. The impacts of nutrients and management practices on both soil fertility as well as surface and ground water are understood and well managed.

Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award

This Award is focused on the all-important people side of the farming and growing business. It recognises the importance of staff management, succession, community involvement, health and safety and other practices associated with people management and wellbeing.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award

This Award recognises the livestock farmer who demonstrates a commitment to long-term land and animal stewardship. It considers sustainable use of land, labour and capital resources, with livestock well cared for and stock class and type managed appropriately to the land contour and soil type.

DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award

This Award recognises dairy farmers who demonstrate a strong commitment to managing, protecting and enhancing their environment. It focuses on sustainable on-farm actions that show high standards of environmental care and sustainable use of the land, stock, labour and capital resources.

FMG Risk Management Award

This award recognises those who have identified and proactively managed any risks that could negatively impact their business to minimise the likelihood or severity of those risks. This covers all aspects of people management and farm planning, including business and financial risk management.

Hill Labs Agri-Science Award

This Award recognises excellence in the use of science and monitoring to optimise productivity and minimise environmental impacts. A good understanding of soil, water, plant and crop protection should be demonstrated, with supporting measurement and monitoring in evidence.

Ministry for the Environment Biodiversity Award

This award recognises the biological diversity of the farming and growing business. It acknowledges the mahi of both the present and past guardians (Kaitiaki) of the land that have created an environment that encourages and allows biodiversity to thrive.

Norwood Farming Efficiency Award

This Award recognises the farmer or grower who is actively focused on resource use efficiency. It takes into account different types of efficiency such as equipment or fuel efficiency or precision agriculture and recognises those who are making data driven decisions to determine resource use.

Rabobank Agri-Business Management Award

This award recognises how farmers and growers manage a successful, sustainable farm business, including the use of business plans, benchmarking and succession planning. It also acknowledges engagement with industry professionals and networks that support long-term business sustainability.

Auckland Council Water Quality Enhancement Award

This Award is given in recognition of a conscious awareness of the link between land management practices and water quality. The recipient will excel in one or more of the following areas; nutrient management, soil conservation and riparian management.

Auckland BFEA Farm Stewardship Award

The recipient of this award demonstrates excellence in farm stewardship, possibly by protecting or enhancing a special place, or by using sustainable management practices.

Regional coordinator.

Lisa Kendall
027 501 8645
auckland@bfea.org.nz

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