Talking Dairy

You don’t need all the answers to start thinking about what comes next.
Recorded live at People Expo, this Talking Dairy In 10 episode puts progression and succession in the spotlight, with Jac McGowan joined by Greg Duncan from Dairy Australia.
Whether you’re thinking about your own next step, the future of your farm business, or the people coming through, this short episode is a good starting point for those important conversations.
Find out more about People Expo 
Listen to 2026 People Expo keynote speaker James Laughlin’s Talking Dairy In 10 episode 
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
Connect with DairyNZ
Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected

Power costs continue to rise, and a lot of farmers are asking the same question: could solar work on my farm?
In this episode, you’ll hear from Chris McArthur from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s (EECA) Solar on Farms programme and Rhys Mackenzie, a dairy farmer who’s making the move to solar on his farm. Together, they talk through what solar and batteries can realistically do on a dairy farm, where they add value, and what you need to think about before you invest.
You’ll get independent advice from Chris McArthur, alongside practical on-farm insight from Rhys Mackenzie as he shares what sparked the decision, what surprised him, and what he’d tell other farmers thinking about solar.
 
Find out more:
Read the farm case study: Fairbank Farms
Watch Fairbank Farms' experience with solar on farm 
Sign up to find out about EECA Solar on farms news and open days
Read: Practical guidance for solar on farms | Inside Dairy
Solar power on-farm information | DairyNZ
EECA Solar helpline for farmers
A dedicated solar helpline for farmers and growers, providing independent, practical guidance to help you make informed decisions. Call the team on 0800 300 643, or email us at solar@eeca.govt.nz 
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
Connect with DairyNZ
Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected

El Niño is getting a lot of attention, but what could it mean for your farm this season? In this episode, we cut through the noise with WeatherWatch’s Philip Duncan and farm systems expert Steve Veix. They share what to keep an eye on and where to focus your planning, so you’re better prepared for whatever the season brings.
Find out more: Plan ahead for El Nino | DairyNZ
Weather channels:
Rural Weather
WeatherWatch
NIWA Weather 
MetService - Te Ratonga Tirorangi
New Zealand Weather Forecasts
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
Connect with DairyNZ
Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected

Earlier this year, Hinehou Timutimu was named the 2026 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year and became the first Māori woman to receive the award. But this episode is about more than an award. It is about the whānau, whenua, values and experiences that shaped her, the doors that were opened for her, and the doors she now wants to open for others. With Brooke Sinclair and Jac McGowan, she reflects on leadership, belonging, courage and what becomes possible when you stay true to who you are.
Watch more:
Te Karere 
Pūkāea 
Read more:
Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year 2026 Announced - Dairy Women's Network
New Zealand Farm Environment Trust – Hinehou as a 2023 finalist
Te Tawa Kaiti Lands Trust – Learn about the trust Hinehou leads as General Manager and its work.
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
Connect with DairyNZ
Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected

Waiuku dairy farmer, and Dairy Environment Leader, Stu Muir has spent years restoring waterways, protecting the land and helping reconnect people with the Lower Waikato River Delta.
In this episode of Talking Dairy In 10, Stu shares what inspired him to take action on his farm and across the Mangati Stream catchment, where once degraded, weed-choked waterways are now thriving ecosystems.
Stu was recently recognised with the first Kaitiaki Award at the Dairy Environment Leaders Forum, honouring his commitment to environmental restoration, kaitiakitanga and community leadership.
Hear how Stu’s practical, persistent approach has helped restore waterways, open up a public walkway and build momentum for positive change through the Dairy Environment Leaders network.
Are you ready to be a Dairy Environment Leader? Find out more.
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
Connect with DairyNZ
Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected