Steve Veix

Canterbury-based Steve says his team provides the ‘glue’ that connects farmers with DairyNZ’s science and research, and the practical tools it provides them with – so farmers are ‘future ready’.

“New Zealand’s dairy sector is on a continuous improvement journey,” says Steve. “We’re very reliant on satisfying global dairy customers’ expectations, whilst remaining competitive within the farm gate. This is our natural competitive advantage, and we must protect it.

“That’s why we’re always asking, how do we farm more efficiently, more profitably, how do we build resilience, and how do we remain competitive as a sector?”

Based in Methven with wife Kersha and three teenage boys, Mitchell, Finn and Josh, Steve has a farming, environmental and finance background.

“I worked for 10 years at Fonterra, before coming to DairyNZ as a senior environmental specialist in 2023/24. I followed that up with a relationship manager role at the ANZ Bank, while I completed my Master of Business in Global Management and Marketing in 2025.”

Back at DairyNZ since September 2025, Steve’s loving it.

“What I do sits in between DairyNZ’s science and research and farmer extension activities,” he explains. “I lead a team of technical specialists dotted around the country, working alongside our regional teams to support farmers.”

He says everything DairyNZ develops has end users in mind.

“Our team is the conduit or glue in the middle of that process, using practical farming knowledge to talk to and relate well with farmers, who are then more likely to adopt and implement our tools practically on-farm.

“Knowledge-sharing is another focus: ours with farmers, and theirs with us, to build capability. Our team understands the holistic nature of farm systems: no one farm system or farmer is the same, and everything in the farm system is interconnected.”

Steve says there are three things that make his job so rewarding.

“Firstly, seeing positive changes adopted on-farm. Secondly, being part of one of New Zealand’s economic powerhouse sectors. Thirdly, being at the cutting edge of science and research in a hugely collaborative sector. Supporting New Zealand dairy farmers to be the best dairy farmers in the world is a pretty awesome value proposition to be part of.”

• Find out more about DairyNZ’s other specialist team members.
• Check out our research team and our regional teams.