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Anthony and Danelle Kiff were named the Share Farmer of the Year winners at the Central Plateau Dairy Industry Awards annual awards last night.
The awards were held at the Rydges Rotorua.
The Kiffs, who contract milk 580 cows on the Tauhara North #2 Trust’s 230ha Tokoroa property, won $15,390 and four merit awards.
The family lifestyle and opportunity for progression initially drew the couple to the dairy industry and they loved the “sense of community within the industry,” a statement from the awards said.
“There are many aspects of farming to love, including the networking, being outdoors and watching our staff progress.
“We’d like to start a relief management service to help others to have a break off-farm, mentoring, or temporary management during times of mental stress.”
2025 Central Plateau Share Farmers of the Year, Anthony and Danelle Kiff.
The couple believed upskilling and continuous training were strengths of their business and both have achieved PrimaryITO levels 1,2 and 3 and Livestock Production Level 5, and are currently studying towards the diploma.
Their future farming goals included continuing to grow equity and farm ownership.
Runners-up in the Central Plateau Share Farmer of the Year competition were Ben and Sherie Hayes who won $8565 in prizes and one merit award.
The couple are 50/50 sharemilkers for MF & CB Dempsey Trust Partnership, milking 340 cows on the 144ha Kakahi property.
Third placegetter in the Share Farmer category was awarded to Petrus and Mariette de Klerk who are contract milking on Roger Garland’s 220ha, 620-cow Mangakino property.
They won $4990 in prizes and three merit awards.
The winner of the 2025 Central Plateau Dairy Manager of the Year competition was Jas Singh Mander, a farm manager for Pāmu Farms of New Zealand’s 800ha, 2000-cow farm at Reporoa.
He won $8865 and two merit awards.
Growing up in India, he is a fourth-generation farmer and proud of the 600-year farming heritage in his family.
2025 Central Plateau Dairy Manager of the Year Jas Singh Mander.
“My parents raised me in the countryside and looking at green grass, hills and trees makes me happy.”
He identified learning English as a challenge he has overcome, as well as racism and bullying.
“Adjusting to a new culture was one of my biggest challenges, and then I met so many good people in the industry which helped me grow my farming style.”
The 35-year-old is proud of his management of a large farm and lifting production.
“When I took over it was a poor-performing farm with a high empty rate. Every year production has increased and it has become one of Pāmu’s most profitable farms within 19 dairy units.
“My staff coming to work with a big smile in the morning makes my day. I love to do, what I do.”
Runner-up in the Dairy Manager category was Kiki Ritmeester, an assistant manager on Pukerua Farm Ltd’s 72ha Reporoa property, milking 171 cows. She won $4590 in prizes and two merit awards.
Third placegetter was Cooper Corrigan, a first-time entrant who is farm manager on Mark and Janet Seymour’s 176ha, 500-cow Atiamuri farm.
The 2025 Central Plateau Dairy Trainee of the Year was Cameron George, a farm assistant on Richard Webber’s 510ha, 1000-cow Marotiri property.
He won $6640 in prizes and two merit awards.
Runner-up was Carl Donnell, a farm assistant on Andrew Kusabs’ 142.3ha, 412-cow farm in Rotorua. He won $2490 in prizes while third place went to 20-year-old farm assistant Claire Swindell who works on Robin Broderson’s 151ha, 350-cow Reporoa property.
She won $1800 in prizes.
2025 Central Plateau Dairy Trainee of the Year Cameron George.
The Central Plateau Dairy Industry Awards winners' field day is on April 3 at 10am at Tauhara North No 2 Trust, 2470 Old Taupo Rd, Kinleith, Tokoroa, S/N Fonterra 78088, where Share Farmers of the Year, Anthony and Danelle Kiff, are contract milking.
Also presenting at the field day will be the region’s Dairy Manager of the Year, Jas Singh Mander and Dairy Trainee of the Year, Cameron George.
