The path to farming: the experience of British specialists in New Zealand

George King and Hannah Lukins moved from Great Britain to New Zealand to realize their ambitions in pasture-based dairy farming. The couple, who grew up on farms in England, faced limited development opportunities in their home country: high capital costs for machinery and a lack of accessible loans for livestock purchases hindered their path to owning their own farm.

In New Zealand, the pair consistently progressed from wage workers to established dairy farmers. Currently, they work in the Matata region, where they are involved in sharemilking and contract milking, managing a herd of 250 head. In their operations, the farmers use a System 3 production model, supplementing the diet with 200 kg of grass silage and 600 kg of palm kernel expeller (PKE) per cow annually.

The couple's professional achievements were recognized at the 2026 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards: they placed second in the "Bay of Plenty Share Farmer of the Year" category, receiving four industry awards for leadership, financial discipline, and strategic planning. The judges highlighted their high management efficiency: in particular, George King personally performed artificial insemination using sexed semen, achieving a 78% pregnancy rate over six weeks with a 4% empty rate. Furthermore, at their current operation, the farmers set a productivity record by producing approximately 90,000 kg of milk solids from a young herd.

King and Lukins plan to acquire a larger share in milk production, as well as consider lease-to-own options or entering into a partnership based on equity. This experience demonstrates the possibility of building a career in the New Zealand dairy industry through systematic capital accumulation and work within efficient production systems.