A new competition aimed at promoting excellence in farm business activities has been launched covering the Central Districts region of the North Island.
Paul Olsen, a beef and cropping farmer from Opiki in southern Manawatū, is chairman of the committee organising the Wairere Central Districts Red Meat Farm Business of the Year.
"There used to be a similar type of competition in Manawatū a few decades ago that went into recess," Olsen said.
"However, competitions in both the Wairarapa and Tararua regions have been going strongly for a number of years and really getting a following. They're becoming a focus of those interested in promoting good people doing good things on their farms, particularly in the sheep and beef industry.
"The dairy industry has long had its very successful format for similar-type competitions. A group of us started talking about it and saying how we thought it would be great if the Central Districts could have something similar."