| 73 nzdairy New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards » SKMoore Ltd Breiton’s partner Te Anahera Hongara-Atkins and his son, Cairo Tuwairua. Kim Bowden Breiton Tuwairua didn’t grow up on a farm, despite his koro owning a farm when he was a real youngster. The 21-year-old hails from the Bay of Plenty, and his whakapapa connects him to the land he works. “My marae is on Matahi Valley Road, Piripari Marae..my waka is Mataatua and my maunga is Maungapohatu...my roots connect me all the way back to Tuhoe and this land.” That connection shapes how he thinks about the job. “I have a strong connection back to my environment,” he says. “I’m looking to leave it better than the way I found it, for generations to come, so we all have beautiful lands to provide for us.” It’s that outlook, alongside some sharp on-farm performance in his first full season, that earned him recognition as Dairy Trainee of the Year for the Bay of Plenty region at this year’s dairy industry awards. Breiton is 2IC on a 140-effective-hectare, 400cow operation at Waimana, running a mixed-breed, mixed-age herd. “My day-to-day is pretty straightforward,” he says. “Morning milking at five o’clock, cups on, then straight out to shut the cows up and into feed-out. We’re feeding PK and maize at the moment, then a bit of maintenance and afternoon milking.” He’s only been in this role for just under a year, and he is already being encouraged towards full management. Breiton grew up in Tauranga, came home to Whakatane, and found his way into farming in 2021 when a cousin managing at Sisam and Sons offered him a start. The Covid-19 pandemic had closed other doors, and he took the chance. “I never looked back, really,” he says. He spent time trying other things - labouring, working as a hammer hand in his father’s subcontracting crew - but farming pulled him back. In June 2025, he took a position at a Waimana property, arriving as a farm assistant. His employer asked quickly whether he’d be willing to step up to the 2IC role. He said yes. “I just took the opportunity and ran with it.” Already being encouraged towards full management The step up hasn’t been without its learning curves, and pasture management was the sharpest one. “It was a real eye-opener for me,” Breiton says. “Our job revolves around grass, and how much a cow gets in a certain area.” People management has also been something to learn and develop. “I was not only thinking about the jobs that need to be done for myself, but also the farm assistant, who’s currently having his first year.” Modelling pathways for those who might come after him is important. “That’s something I’m really pushing forward in my community - to open up opportunities for younger people to come through,” Breiton says. “Hopefully it’s an inspiration for a lot of young people that want to become farmers around Waimana.” Meanwhile, the pathway ahead for Breiton is clear. “The next step for me is management,” he says. “My own manager has been a great mentor to me…he’s looking to get me into a manager’s role.” FARMit Accountants are proud to support SKMoore Ltd (07) 307 7245 team@farmit.net.nz www.farmit.net.nz GOLD PARTNER Company Restructures Succession Planning Financial Accounts Tax Planning Equity Partnerships Budgeting and Forecas�ng Proudly Supporting SKMoore Ltd Peter Rust 027 634 3622 Dan Benjamin 021 599 087 Whakatane 0800 77 88 99 2 Mill Road, Coastlands Stainless steel – fabrication and welding Design Supply Install Steve King 027 4095 0054 Will King 027 615 7922 Robbie Hall 027 807 1312 * * Feed systems * Frost protection * Animal health * Detergent * Rubberware & Consumable * Trenching service c1107kwKing Milking & water systems specialists since 1988 Main Street, Edgecumbe Ph 07 304 9640 anytime King Farm Services Ltd
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