Plans are in place for a protest outside Mercury Baypark this weekend as Tauranga hosts the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards National Gala dinner.
The gala will be taking place on Saturday night in as a celebration of farmers who are recognised as the best in the industry and take their role of kaitiaki of the land seriously, holding the welfare of their animals as utmost priority, said a statement from the Dairy Industry Awards organisers.
However, in a post on the Greenpeace's community platform, The End Big Dairy coalition said “there is nothing to celebrate”.
The coalition plans to protest outside Baypark from 12pm onwards.
The protest is against dairy industry practices.
In response to protest plans, the NZDIA said it “understands people have a right to peaceful protest”.
“NZDIA are aware of planned protests at the Awards and consider this action hugely disappointing,” said the awards organisers.
“The Awards drive best practice in dairy farming and focus on important future issues such as environmental sustainability and animal welfare. Safety is the priority for all attendees and protestors.
“The Awards programme focuses on driving understanding of the issues within dairying and what is best for New Zealand as a whole, including all the environmental issues and impact surrounding it.”
The categories, which include Share Farmer of the Year, Dairy Manager of the Year, Dairy Trainee of the Year and Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award promote and recognise best practice and drive what is important to the future of dairying in New Zealand.
New awards
This year, two new awards will be introduced – the Fonterra & ASB First Farm Award and the ASB Alumni of the Year Award.
The Awards encourage up-and-coming farmers to understand what best practice looks like and focuses on the issues that are important for the future, including environmental sustainability and animal welfare, and recognises those farmers doing well in this field.
The young farmers progressing through the industry hold these values high and take their learnings and understanding of best practice with them through their farming careers.
More information on the Awards can be found at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz
7 comments
Get a real job
Posted on 07-05-2025 08:20 | By tia
It's about time these protesters got a real job and left the hard working New Zealander's to make money for the country.
they hate the Dairy Industry
Posted on 07-05-2025 15:27 | By Mein Fuhrer
but these virtuous clowns are happy to consume toxic, chemically enhanced, ultra processed, plant based, fake meat and milk. Maybe if they tried some nice juicy long smoked brisket, they may just crack a rare smile.
@ tia
Posted on 07-05-2025 21:18 | By Yadick
Absolutely agree with you. Very well said. Protests are just getting out of hand. How many of these protesters just go from protest to protest making a living off the benefit instead of actually working?
@ Mein Fuhrer
Posted on 07-05-2025 21:20 | By Yadick
🤤 mmmmm smoked brisket . . . in fact smoked any meat . . .
Ditch Dirty Dairy
Posted on 08-05-2025 08:51 | By Hanco
The dairy industry is built on animal cruelty, environmental pollution and destroying our health.
1.8 million Bobby calfs killed yearly just so we drink their milk.
People in some parts of the south Island have to drive to tanks as their water is so polluted.
Nitrates from dairy polluting our rivers and causing bowel cancer.
Disgusting Dirty Dairy.
@ Hanco
Posted on 08-05-2025 10:20 | By Mein Fuhrer
Ditch Dirty plant based milk. It takes roughly 371 litres of water to produce one litre of almond milk, pesticides like glyphosate are widely used in almond farming and have been linked to potential harm to bees and human health. Commercial oat milks often contain additives like emulsifiers, stabilizers, and preservatives to enhance taste, texture, and shelf life.
DAIRY IS GROSS
Posted on 10-05-2025 16:44 | By Meadowtear
if you drink dairy you are supporting animal cruelty
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