Southland farmer Bernadette Hunt is one of 13 finalists in the 2020 Primary Industries New Zealand awards.

The finalists were announced this week, with the overall winner to be announced a a gala dinner and event at Te Papa Tonarewa in Wellington on November 23.

Mrs Hunt was nominated for the Primary Industry Leadership Award.

Advertisement

Advertise on the Southland App

Judges faced tough decisions choosing the finalists, with no shortage of contenders, Federated Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland said..

Six independent judges deliberated over 40 nominations across the six award categories.

The event is the second annual PINZ awards.

"More than ever New Zealand needs the primary sector to be innovative and enterprising.

"For our farmers, growers, foresters and fishers to continue to be at the top of their game as producers of quality goods exported to the world, we need suppliers and support agencies of the calibre of these finalists who can help us with cutting-edge technology and back-up," Mr Copeland said.

Advertisement

Advertise on the Southland App

The finalists are:

Primary Industry Team Award - sponsored by Primary ITO

- Chris Thompson & Team at Bioforce, Avian Empire, Tegel Foods, for Poultry Mite Control

- Emma Boase & Team at NZ Apples & Pears Inc and Massey Business School, for International Horticultural Immersion Programme

- Hamish Hodgson & Team at DairyNZ, Beef+Lamb NZ, for Compensation Assistance Team

- Robin Congdon & Team at NZ Dairy Industry Awards, for NZ Dairy Industry Awards

Primary Industry Science & Research Award - sponsored by Yashili

- Institute of Environmental Science & Research, for Woodchip Denitrification Wall Technology

- Livestock Improvement Corporate, for SPACE Satellite Pasture and Cover Evaluation

- Plant & Food Research, for FOPS The Future Orchard Planting System

Primary Industry Innovation & Collaboration Project Award - sponsored by Norwood

- Avian Empire, Bioforce, Tegel Foods, for Poultry Mite Control

- Ballance Agri Nutrients, for MitAgator

- Plant & Food Research, for Modular Harvesting System

- Robotics Plus, ISO Limited, for Robotic Scaling Machine (RSM)

Primary Industry Leadership Award - sponsored by Lincoln University

- Bernadette Hunt, Hunt Agriculture 

- Zach Mounsey, Arcadia Dairies Ltd

There were no finalists announced for the Outstanding Contribution award, sponsored by Massey Ferguson, nor the Industry Champion Award, sponsored by Federated Farmers.

Winners for those two categories will be announced at the awards evening.