2026 JerseyNZ Conference – Canterbury

21st – 23rd April 2026

JerseyNZ and the Conference Organising Committee are looking forward to hosting members in the Canterbury region in April 2026. Our theme for this Conference will be ‘Creaming it with Jerseys’ and will have a strong focus on visiting some of the impressive herds in the region.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Matt Chisholm

We’re thrilled to welcome keynote speaker, Matt Chisholm.

Matt Chisholm is one of New Zealand’s most recognisable broadcasters, known for his work across Close Up, Seven Sharp, Fair Go, Sunday, Survivor NZ and Celebrity Treasure Island.

But behind the on-screen success is a story far more powerful. Born and raised in rural Otago, Matt grew up the youngest of four boys and after studying journalism at Massey University, he carved out a decade-long career with TVNZ. Yet while his professional life was thriving, privately he was battling a number of mental health challenges.

After stepping away from television, Matt returned to South Otago, where he now farms sheep and beef with his family. He is a passionate advocate for rural mental health, serving as the inaugural Ambassador for the Rural Support Trust, launching the nationwide TimeOut Tour and authoring the candid memoir ‘Imposter’.

Today, Matt is a sought-after speaker whose honesty, humour and lived experience resonate strongly with rural audiences. We look forward to Matt joining us at our 2026 Conference.

Ian Mackenzie – Environment Canterbury

Ian Mackenzie brings extensive experience in environmental governance, public policy and regional leadership through his work with Environment Canterbury. With a strong understanding of the challenges facing land, water and communities, Ian has played a key role in shaping practical, balanced approaches to environmental management across Canterbury.

Known for his pragmatic style and focus on collaboration, Ian is committed to finding solutions that support both environmental outcomes and the people who work the land.

Lock the dates into your calendar and keep an eye out for registrations opening early next year.

The Conference will meet late-morning in Christchurch, before heading down to Ashburton for the remaining of the programme. A brief itinerary is below, a full itinerary will be available with the registration booklet in the new year:

Monday 20th April

Pre-Conference – dinner at the Sudima Airport Hotel for members who wish to travel on this day. Members to book their own accommodation and dinner reservations.

Tuesday 21st April

Registrations will open late morning at the Sudima, welcome to 2026 Conference
BBQ lunch at Fernside Farm (Peter & Claire Hansen)
Tour of Xcell Breeding Services
Alternative tour – to the Adrenalin Forest for those who wish to partake in an adrenalin rush
Travel to Hotel Ashburton, check in and dinner with fellow members
JerseyNZ Awards Ceremony, Semex Awards and whiskey tasting

Wednesday 22nd April

Farmer panel discussion
‘Dam Good Decisions’ Fielday and lunch at Lynbrook Farm (S & N Ireland)
Farm visit to Ngatimaru Farming Company (S & S Russell)
Jersey Pride sale at the Ashburton Club
Dinner at Noble 600 and quiz

Thursday 23rd April

JerseyNZ presentations
Keynote speaker – Matt Chisholm
Lunch and travel back to Christchurch Airport

ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION

Pre-Conference – Sudima Christchurch Airport

Members are to book their own accommodation at the Sudima if attending the Pre-Conference.

Please note, JerseyNZ have NOT allocated rooms at the Sudima, therefore we ask members to book their accommodation as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. We cannot guarantee availability.
Please book by either phoning the Sudima on 0800 035 934 or book online and use the code CONSPC.

Conference – Hotel Ashburton

Members should book their own accommodation directly with Hotel Ashburton and we have allocated a set amount of rooms for our group.

Please book by phoning Hotel Ashburton on 0800 330 880 and state that you are with JerseyNZ.

Whether you’re a long-time member or new to the fold, this is your chance to experience a Conference of learning, networking and a few good laughs. We look forward to hosting you in the South.

Click below to register…

REGISTER HERE

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JerseyNZ 2025 Conference – Karaka April 2025

Written by Jackie Kennedy

JerseyNZ’s 2025 Annual Conference brought members together in the South Auckland region for three lively days of insight, inspiration and celebration, with the focus on Jerseys bringing ‘The Right Balance’ to the dairy table.

Day one kicked off with a welcome lunch, featuring premium products from King’s Creamery and their mango lassi was enjoyed by many of the group. We then headed off to Cullen Farms, an impressive farm operation with four Lely robotic machines installed. Our Conference was proudly supported with a Silver sponsorship by Lely and it was great to hear from Jason Whelan, Cullen Farms’ manager and Paul Gilling from Lely to hear more about the farm’s direction and aspirations. Although we didn’t see the cows milking, the group managed to see what happens inside a robotic milker when a cow enters the unit.

The evening programme featured the presentation of the Semex On Farm Challenge Awards, with Vince Steiner, our judge for the 2024/25 Competition, giving reasonings for his placings. A delicious LIC-sponsored dinner and the highly anticipated Jersey Pride Sale followed.

Day two began with a thought-provoking industry panel discussion, facilitated by Brent Goldsack (you can read the summary of this on page 60). The discussion tackled topics such as climate adaptation to efficiency and sustainability. A number of delegates then enjoyed a tour of the Karaka grounds before heading to Pukekohe Raceday for lunch and live action, with a couple of members leaving with slightly fatter wallets – proving their talent doesn’t stop at breeding good cows! Our very own and very serious ‘cow-race-on-toilet-paper’ was held with John Ellis taking out the top prize.

The evening festivities were kicked off with a steam train ride to Waiuku where the annual JerseyNZ Special

Awards were presented. The theme for the night was ‘Cream of the Crop Cup’. The dinner was sponsored by Smaxtec and came complete with jockeys, fascinators and even a hobby horse that has since taken up residence in the JerseyNZ office.

Delegates headed back on the steam train to the Hotel where a whiskey tasting, courtesy of the Lower Waikato Jersey Club capped off the night.

The final day began with our breakfast keynote speaker from none other than Peter Nation, former CEO of Fieldays. After the cream can session and hotel checkout, attendees headed to Donald’s Farm for the ‘Right Balance Fielday’, a joint initiative with Jersey Advantage showcasing practical examples of balance in breeding, production and sustainability. The Fielday was promoted to a wider audience outside of the Conference. Unfortunately, the weather hindered attendance, but attendees that did make the effort were able to hear from Sam Waugh, manager of Donald’s Farm, Malcolm Ellis of Fonterra and Mark Williams from DairyNZ.

Whether it was catching up with friends or learning from leaders, the 2025 Conference had something for everyone, all while reinforcing the value and versatility of the Jersey breed.

We look forward to hosting members in Canterbury in 2026. Save the week of the 20th of April in your diaries!

Once again, a heartfelt thank you to our generous sponsors who made this event possible – LIC, Smaxtec, Lely, Link Livestock, World Wide Sires, CRV, Cropmark Seeds and King’s Creamery.