A total of 452 entries have been received in the 2016 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards – a result described as 'pleasing” given the economic climate within the industry.

The awards have also undergone significant change for the 2016 awards programme, with entry criteria changing for all three competitions, resulting in two of the competitions sporting new names.

The Waikato region received the most entries with 58 in total, with 44 coming from the Bay of Plenty. Natasha and Brett Grindrod, pictured, won the 2014 Bay of Plenty Sharemilker/Equity Farmers award. Photo: File.

'Given this we are really happy with the result and we are pleased with the balance of entries across the three competitions,” says general manager Chris Keeping.

There are 119 entered in the Share Farmer of the Year competition, 164 entered in the Dairy Manager of the Year competition and 169 entered in the Dairy Trainee of the Year competition.

Entrants will first compete in one of 11 regional competitions being held throughout the country in February and March next year.

The 33 winners of those competitions will progress to the national finals in May next year.

Chris says the entry numbers are down on the 539 received last year, and are the lowest received since 2010.

'The regions have worked very hard to attract the entries and are rapt with the quality of entrants and that all three competitions will be run in all 11 regions,” says Chris.

'A really positive factor is that there is a good balance between the three competitions in that the entry numbers in each competition are much more even than they have been in the past.

'This means that some of our changes have produced one of the results we were after.

'There will still need to be some tinkering as the awards programme continues to evolve, but overall we are very happy with the result given the changes and economic climate.”

The Waikato region received the most entries with 58 in total, with Southland following with 54 entries. Canterbury/North Otago, Central Plateau and Bay of Plenty received 46, 44 and 42 entries respectively.

More information on the awards can be found at: www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz