The Eastern Bay’s Hinehou Timutimu is the 2026 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.

The award was announced earlier this month at the Dairy Women’s Network 2026 Conference in Christchurch.

As general manager at Te Tawa Kaiti Lands Trust, Ms Timutimu (Tūhoe, Whakatōhea, Te Ātiawa) leads a dual-enterprise model that combines dairy farming and maize on about 400 hectares near Rūātoki.

The maize is grown both for grain for food products sold in New Zealand and to feed their stock.

It has 1100-1200 beneficiaries and the trust gives back to its three marae in dividends, grants and in meat packs sourced from dairy-beef cattle grown on the farm.

Her leadership philosophy is guided by the whākatāukī “Ka ora ai te whenua, Ka ora ai te tangata” (when the land thrives, the people thrive) and is woven through every initiative she leads.

The judges recognised Ms Timutimu for her outstanding leadership, her deep connection to people and whenua, and her transformational impact across the dairy sector and Māori agribusiness.

She brings together mātauranga Māori and Western science to deliver climate resilience, biodiversity restoration, and dairy performance improvements - and her leadership is truly transformational: grounded in doing, empowering others, and bringing people along on the journey,” said the panel.

“Humble in her approach yet powerful in her impact, Hine acts as a unifying force within her community - from navigating post-Cyclone Gabrielle recovery to representing New Zealand at the APEC Technical Cooperation Workshop in Bangkok."

Ms Timutimu’s work includes Project Te Aroha, which accelerates dairy productivity and emissions reduction through herd genomics and regenerative farming; He Whāriki mō Paekoau, a catchment restoration programme engaging schools and hapū; and Kua Āmio ki Tōna Tīmatanga, which creates bilingual resources embedding cultural knowledge into environmental action.

Last year, she represented New Zealand as an expert speaker at the APEC Technical Cooperation Workshop in Bangkok, contributing to international discussions on women’s economic empowerment and sustainable agriculture.

She holds governance credentials spanning the IoD company directors’ course, the Fonterra governance development programme, LIC leadership programmes, and MPI governance essentials, the statement said.

She is also vice-chair of the Ballance farm environment awards.

Ms Timutimu will receive a scholarship for the Kellogg rural leadership programme, which covers the programme fee, travel and accommodation, mentoring and access to the Dairy Women’s Network and Fonterra platforms to share research.

Now in its 14th year, the Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year award celebrates women who demonstrate leadership and a commitment to the dairy industry.

Ms Timutimu was in the running with two other finalists, Anne Blakelock and Rachel Short, both from Taranaki.