Awards recognise outstanding Waimakariri farmers
Waimakariri farmers who have excelled in environmental stewardship, technological innovation and cooperative spirit were recognised at the inaugural Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) Shareholder Excellence Awards held in Rangiora on Tuesday 18 March.
WIL’s CEO Brent Walton says the awards are designed to acknowledge and recognise shareholders taking action to improve the environment, using technology to mitigate risk and being positive role models in the local community.
“We have many positive initiatives taking place on our shareholders’ farms and these often go unrecognised. We wanted to celebrate what our farmers are doing to demonstrate guardianship of the land for future generations while also giving back to the wider community.”
Brian and Rosemary Whyte of Swannanoa won the 2025 WIL Shareholder Excellence Award for Environmental Stewardship. Brian and Rosemary’s award was accepted on their behalf by grandson Josh Roberts and daughter Bex Roberts.
Brian and Rosemary Whyte of Swannanoa received the 2025 WIL Shareholder Excellence Award for Environmental Stewardship for taking positive action to improve and enhance the environment. Brian and Rosemary were the first shareholders to sign up for WIL’s greenhouse initiative. The cooperative assists landowners to purchase a greenhouse to grow their own native seedlings on-farm and provides technical support for identifying which areas of their farm are most suitable for biodiversity improvement projects.
Over the past three years, Brian and Rosemary have grown over 2000 seedlings at a greenhouse on their farm. With help from Swannanoa School, they have planted a 1.2-kilometre section of Burgess Stream which flows through their property. Brian has particularly enjoyed growing native broom from seed gathered from plants growing along his front boundary fence and seeing this thrive at the planting site, while former teacher Rosemary has loved having local children involved in the project.
Swannanoa brothers Andrew and Peter Gilchrist received the 2025 WIL Shareholder Excellence Award for Technological Innovation. Andrew received the award on behalf of both brothers.
Swannanoa brothers Andrew and Peter Gilchrist received the 2025 WIL Shareholder Excellence Award for Technological Innovation. Through their farming operation and agricultural contracting business, Andrew and Peter have continuously implemented new technology such as the variable rate application of N-fertiliser which allows N to be applied extremely efficiently, while reducing environmental risks.
This technology benefits not just WIL shareholders who use Andrew and Peter’s business for liquid N application but also the wider Waimakariri District who use their agricultural contracting services.
Rochelle and Geoff Spark received the 2025 WIL Shareholder Excellence Award for Cooperative Spirit.
Oxford farming couple Geoff and Rochelle Spark received the 2025 WIL Shareholder Excellence Award for Cooperative Spirit. They host the annual Oxman triathlon as a way of supporting the local community and fostering positive connections between rural and urban residents who participate in the sporting event. They also made their irrigation lake available to recreational and sporting organisations during the Covid19 lockdown when indoor venues were unable to be used for water sports training.
In their farming operation, Geoff and Rochelle invest time and energy in developing their staff and ensuring that they progress in the agricultural industry. The couple are supportive and active WIL shareholders who embody its cooperative spirit through the actions they take on farm and in the community.
