16 | nzdairy DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS » Kiffs Agventures Ltd Their passion for developing people is clear Aimee Wilson Investments in geothermal electricity led to purchasing farms and the trust was then able to offer scholarships and grants to whanau. For all your Agricultural Contracting needs www.sansonagriculture.co.nz 027 277 7993 2 Satco Drive, Tokoroa PH. (07) 886 6413 TOTAL ANIMAL CARE FOR THE SOUTH WAIKATO 75 Tirau Street, Putaruru PH. (07) 883 3018 109 State Highway 30, Whakamaru PH. (07) 882 8685 FARM ANIMAL SERVICES • SMALL ANIMAL SERVICES • DAIRY RESOURCES Need support on yours? Give us a call for a free consultation on howwe could help you. 44 Te Heuheu Street Taupo | 07 376 1700 info@strettons.co.nz | facebook.com/strettons Proud to be supporting the Ki family on their farming journey Te Awamutu 2WVÞTWTW ĤVQTQJCPIC Danelle and Anthony Kiff’s ‘people first’ philosophy has earned them the Share Farmer of the Year title for the Central Plateau region in 2025. The couple manage the Tauhara North No 2 Trust’s dairy farm at Tokoroa, and milk 580 cows on the 230ha iwi-owned property. Judges were inspired by their passion for developing people, “their commitment to fostering growth is evident through their willingness to open the farm gate to all comers…” Their commitment in the wider community was also recognised, and when Anthony needed a day off to go fishing, he takes the whole team. The couple are looking at establishing a relief management service for the dairy industry in New Zealand, to take the pressure off teams when there were staffing or mental health issues. “It’s about having that knowledgable person to train staff or take over the management,” Anthony said. With the industry becoming more ‘high tech’ nowadays, having people that understood traditional analogue systems was important to get the important jobs done, “and being able to think for themselves.” Judges were impressed with their foresight, and also the flexibility within their own team for looking after one another when a staff member needed time away to meet family obligations. That, and having a minimal environmental impact on the land, by only interfering with the pasture when absolutely necessary - whilst also installing ‘above’ best practice animal welfare. The couple believed upskilling and continuous training were strengths of their business and both have achieved Primary ITO levels 1, 2 and 3, 4 and now studying Livestock Production Level 5 - to complete the Diploma. They also place huge value on their health and safety systems on farm, and lead a culture of pre-empting risk rather than reacting to accidents. This meant staff carried personal locator beacons and always wore steel capped boots - all supported by the farm owners. Being of Ngati Tahu - Ngati Whaoa descent, and a direct descendant of the land owners, Anthony has been given many opportunities in his recent career. Tauhara North No 2 Trust was owned by the Ahuwhenua Lands Trust to provide positive outcomes for descendants of the original owners of the block. Investments in geothermal electricity led to purchasing farms and the trust was then able to offer scholarships and grants to whanau. The Tokoroa dairy farm was purchased by the trust in 2016 and the couple started as dairy managers in 2018. Anthony was raised on the marae by his nan and koro in Reporoa, who were rural contractors, and then he met Danelle, whose parents were spray contractors. He’s no stranger to dairy industry awards - after being named Dairy Manager of the Year for the district in 2017, and the couple were runnerup + third in the 2019 and 2020 Share Farmer of the Year awards. Danelle said winning awards had opened up a lot of opportunities for them, putting them in a position to hopefully purchase their own smaller farm in about three years time. Anthony and Danelle Kiff. “their commitment to fostering growth is evident through their willingness to open the farm gate to all comers…”
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