84 | nzdairy DAIRY SERVICES » Northland Dairy and Lifestyle Specialists Building relationships and supporting local farmers Lauren and Grant Mirabito. Kelly Deeks A strong service ethos and a long-term commitment to the dairy sector are shaping the future of Northland Dairy and Lifestyle Specialists (NDLS), with Kerikeri-based operators Lauren and Grant Mirabito focused on building relationships and supporting local farmers for the long haul. The couple took over the business in 2025, continuing the region’s long-standing association with the globally recognised DeLaval brand. DeLaval has supported New Zealand farmers for more than 100 years, and NDLS has installed and serviced local sheds for decades. Many sheds in the region have been installed or maintained through the business over the past 25 years, creating a strong foundation built on trusted relationships and technical expertise. Today NDLS works with about 157 dairy farms from Cape Reinga to Kawakawa. With multiple farm owners, managers, and sharemilkers involved, Lauren estimates they maintain relationships with close to 300 people across the district. “We’re a small community and that matters,” Lauren says. “We like knowing our customers personally and making sure they feel comfortable picking up the phone whenever they need help, knowing we’ll respond.” That philosophy underpins the business’s 24/7 service model. Whether it is a breakdown at 5am, urgent repairs during peak milking, or a part needed late at night to keep operations running, Grant is the one on the tools responding when farmers need support. Recently, a farmer called late at night needing a critical component to milk the following morning. Grant sourced the part from another local farmer, collected it around midnight, and was on farm at 3am getting the part installed before dawn. “They couldn’t miss a milking,” Lauren says. “That’s just part of the job when farmers are relying on you.” Over time, the business has become a trusted point of contact for many Far North farmers when something in the shed needs sorting. A key feature of NDLS is its mobile shop service. Mobile shop operator Erica Tappenden makes regular rounds delivering spare parts and other shed essentials directly to farm gates. She helps farmers stay stocked with the products they use regularly, while others simply text their orders to avoid a trip into town. While services like this are becoming less common, the Mirabitos say it remains an important part of how they support local farmers and something they will continue offering. NDLS installs and services milking systems, works across all makes and models, and regularly retrofits components into existing plants to improve performance or extend the life of equipment. Certified annual and bi-annual milking machine testing helps farmers stay compliant while making sure their plant is milking efficiently and looking after cow health. The team also works across effluent systems, water pumps, filtration, and reticulation, supporting dairy farms across a wide range of shed and water systems. Recent work alongside Pa Hill, a local Ayrshire stud milking three herds, reflects the hands-on approach. Pa Hill recently held a demonstration at the Kaitaia A&P Show. NDLS supplied the mobile milking machine, delivering and collecting it to help reduce the farmers ‘to-do’ list. “Gavin and Bronnie are proud of their Ayrshires, which are unique in our area, and we are proud to support them,” Lauren says. Looking ahead, the Mirabito’s want NDLS to continue being a trusted point of contact for farmers, for whatever they need. www.maclon.co.nz Maclon is pleased to support Northland Dairy and Lifestyle Specialists and proud to be a supplier of high quality water reticulation products. 11 Anderson Street, Morrinsville • (07) 889 0933 • admin@waikatodes.co.nz 20+ years experience of Dairy Ef uent Systems and Repairs Doda Pumps | Hi-Tech Stirrers & Hydrants | Dallai Fittings | Effluent Parts INSTALLATION SERVICE REPAIR Waikato NZ Supplier of DODA pumps, Hitech Stirrers and Hydrants. We carry a comprehensive range of Dairy E uent parts and ttings designed to provide a robust and trouble free operation. Engineered To Last Pumps “We have built great relationships with other local contractors in the area and often help coordinate jobs or refer trusted contractors, saving our farmers time on research and ringing around. “For us, it’s always been about people. We enjoy helping farmers and building relationships. When you care about people first, good service naturally follows. At the end of the day, farmers want someone they can rely on. If something breaks, they need to know someone will answer the phone and show up.” For more information, visit ndls.co.nz, call 021 533 916 or email admin@ndls.co.nz Residential | Commercial | Rural North Island 0800 424 333 South Island 0800 660 010 sales@taylor-purification.nz | www.taylor-purification.nz • Water Filters & Cartridges • Point of Use & Whole House • UV Systems, Lamps & Spares • Coolers, Bubblers & Chillers • Reverse Osmosis • Water Softeners • Specialist Treatment Systems • Tanks, Control Heads & Media
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