Our partnerships
Driving purposeful change is a joint effort. We leverage our sector’s expertise, connections, and strengths. Through our partnerships, we expand our knowledge and utilise our resources to meet the needs of New Zealand dairy farmers.
Our collaborative partnerships amplify the impact of DairyNZ and our partners for the sector, into areas which bring the greatest benefit. They help us to deliver our industry-good efforts to develop and promote better farming practices, encourage and support farmers and reduce duplication , while maintaining our credibility and independence.
Some examples are outlined below:
Milk processors
We collaborate with milk processors across New Zealand to identify opportunities for joint initiatives - whether it's co-hosting events for farmers, co-investing in research, or working together on key policy matters. We also connect with milk processors through Dairy Partners (where we work together to align on key sector messages and reporting). Our regional teams maintain close connections, ensuring we engage with farmers in the most effective and meaningful ways, for example, hosting farm systems training for milk processor teams.
Research organisations
Research is an important part of DairyNZ and we value the strong relationships that we have with research organisations and Universities, both in New Zealand and internationally. Ultimately, we work with research organisations (among others) with a focus on anticipating future challenges and opportunities, ensuring every research investment delivers insights and tools that create real value for farmers.
Read more about our researchWider sector partners
We’re committed to supporting farmers by working alongside key organisations across a wide range of agricultural and horticultural sector organisations. These relationships create significant opportunities to work together, share knowledge, and develop solutions. By collaborating across sectors, we help ensure farmers have access to the best tools, insights, and support, now and into the future.
Dairy Women’s Network
A trusted not-for-profit organisation, Dairy Women’s Network (DWN), began when founder Hilary Webber saw that while women played an important role in dairy, they were almost invisible in the industry. Over the years, DWN has expanded to serve all people passionate about dairy farming, delivering events and initiatives to help members learn and connect. DairyNZ is a proud founding partner of DWN, having worked closely alongside them since their inception in 1998.
Learn moreAhuwhenua Trophy – Maori Excellence in Farming Award
The Ahuwhenua Trophy acknowledges and celebrates excellence in Māori agribusiness, an integral part of New Zealand’s economy. The trophy is awarded to exceptional business owners, alternating each year between the sheep and beef, horticulture and dairy sectors. DairyNZ proudly sponsors the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award, which comes with a $5,000 prize and study and leadership opportunities for the finalists.
Learn moreBallance Farm Environment Trust
NZ Farm Environment Trust recognises farmers and growers who are championing sustainable management practices and environmental leadership at the annual Ballance Farm Environment Awards. The DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award recognises dairy farmers who demonstrate a strong commitment to managing, protecting, and enhancing their environment.
Learn moreNZ Dairy Industry Awards
At all levels of the sector and across the country, dairy farmers are working to improve their businesses, farming sustainability and the dairy industry overall. We’re proud to participate throughout the NZ Dairy Industry awards programme to recognise New Zealand’s great dairy farmers.
Learn moreNZ Young Farmers
Young people are critical to our sector for the long-term future of dairying and to remain world-leading. DairyNZ is proud to partner with NZ Young Farmers, a non-profit organisation focused on connecting, nurturing and empowering young people throughout rural communities. Weaved into the fabric of the food and fibre sector, Clubs are a place to develop leadership skills and career pathways, network with like-minded people and make friends for life.
Learn moreNZIPIM
The NZ Institute of Primary Industry Management is a membership-based organisation of rural professionals, accessing the platform to develop agribusiness capability and knowledge base.
Learn moreSMASH
SMASH is run by a group of New Zealand dairy farmers with a passion for the industry and want a strong and sustainable future for dairy farming. They achieve this mainly by running events throughout New Zealand, providing farmers with opportunities to gain knowledge and skills which they can apply to their own farming businesses. DairyNZ supports with funding, event delivery and facilitation.
Learn morePasture Summit
Pasture Summit events and activities are organised and run by farmers, for farmers to bring together a positive community of farmers, securing the future of pastoral dairy food production and vibrant, sustainable farming communities. It is supported by dairy industry research and DairyNZ with funding and content development, presenters and facilitators.
Learn morePartnering with DairyNZ
DairyNZ supports industry partners, initiatives and community activities which show a clear benefit to New Zealand dairy farmers. We offer financial and non-financial support, including administration, judging, presenting and facilitating.
