| 55 nzdairy New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards » Daniel and Zara Colgan Daniel and Zara up production by 19 per cent Emma Bailey Improving their farms production by 19 per cent has seen Daniel and Zara Colgan named the 2026 Northland Share Farmers of the Year. Their win was announced at the 2026 Northland Dairy Industry awards dinner held at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort in the Bay of Islands in April. The couple are equity partners in a 200ha farm at Kaiwaka, milking 400 cows. Daniel owns 25 per cent equity, Zara owns 24 per cent alongside Daniel’s parents who own 51 percent. They live on farm with their one-year-old daughter Ellie. Zara said the win was a pleasant surprise especially as it was their first time entering in the share farmer category. The couple are most proud of being able to increase the production on the farm by 19 per cent while creating a more sustainable farm operation and having high staff retention. “We were quite pleased to win the environment sustainability and leadership prizes.” Farming in Northland has its unique challenges, Daniel said. “The weather can definitely throw you, 600mls of rain one month and nearly zero the next month. “Our farm is quite hilly, but we are making it work - it was quite a good season. The winter and spring were really wet so it didn’t brown off over summer, it was definitely better than last year.” Zara said they put a lot of effort into improving the property. They have put in five kilometres of fencing around the waterways and fixed up the effluent system. “We prioritised a lot of re-grassing and optimised the feeding and improved the breeding.” Thirty-year-old Zara was previously a primary school teacher before they moved to Kaiwaka and has since started her own private tutoring business alongside busy farming life. Zara said the win was a pleasant surprise especially as it was their first time entering in the share farmer category. “I tutor kids from primary school to high school, so it ranges from reading to algebra to essay writing” Balance for the family and their staff is really important. “Work life balance is very important to us and we ensure we live by this as well as ensuring our staff have good balance too. It is very important because when you feel in balance, you are happy to go to work and show more care and pride in what you do. It impacts your whole life,” she said. “We make sure everyone’s time off is their own and that they take breaks during the day. “ Daniel, 33, also won the 2020 Auckland/Hauraki Dairy Manager of the year while working as a 2IC on a 1000 cow farm at Mercer. He left that job to buy into the Kaiwaka farm. The judges said the couple demonstrated outstanding leadership within their community and the wider dairy industry. “They actively promote farming in a positive light and provide hands-on educational experiences for local school children via their farming planting initiative.” The couple won $9,000 in prizes on the night along with four merit award; the DairyNZ - People and Culture Award, Federated Farmers Leadership Award, LIC - Animal Wellbeing, Recording and Productivity Award and the Barfoot & Thompson Kerikeri Environmental Sustainability Award. “Our farm is quite hilly, but we are making it work - it was quite a good season.” Wanting Better Ask for PARKER AGLIME for your next application! Soil Fertlity? MOBILE: 027 935 3540 EMAIL: TREVOR@PARKERLIME.CO.NZ BUSINESS ADVISORS AND CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS Smart accounting for all landscapes Proud to be associated with Daniel and Zara Colgan 09 238 0699 | www.u2rca.co.nz | Pukekohe | Waiuku facebook.com/KaiwakaMotorcycles MOTORCYCLES 09 431 2127 info@kaiwakamotorcycles.co.nz
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