Mid Canterbury's Kate Acland Named Rural Woman of the Year

Mid Canterbury farmer and industry leader Kate Acland has been named the inaugural Rural Woman of the Year.

Chairperson of Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), Acland received the honour in Auckland on June 23, at the 2026 Primary Industries New Zealand Awards.

“I’m very grateful, and very humbled,” Acland said.

“It is very humbling. The two other finalists, Sandra Faulkner and Sarah Donaldson, are both such incredible women, who have done so much for their communities, so this was pretty amazing.”

The award recognises Acland’s outstanding contribution to New Zealand's primary sector and rural communities, through farming, governance, and industry leadership.

Judges praised Acland's “inspirational” leadership.

“Under Kate's leadership, we have seen a significant change in the sentiment of Beef + Lamb's levy-payers.”

“Someone needed to do it and Kate felt that she had the strength to take on the challenge and reset the organisation,” Judges said.

The award comes after more than three years at the helm of B+LNZ, where Acland has focused on rebuilding farmer confidence and strengthening the organisation's connection with levy payers.

“I absolutely love doing it.”

“It's so important that we have such strong industry-good organisations.”

She said ensuring farmers felt heard had been a priority.

“When I first joined B+LNZ, they were a team full of amazing and committed people. But we had been through a difficult period under the previous government with He Waka Eke Noa [farmers emissions tax], and there was a real negative perception from levy payers.”

“I'm all about getting out there, talking to farmers, and making sure the levy is a really good investment.”

Acland is well known throughout Mid Canterbury and the wider agricultural sector for her leadership as chair of both B+LNZ and the New Zealand Meat Board, as well as her continued involvement with the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand and family-owned Mt Somers Station.

Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford said Acland had consistently proven herself to be one of the most capable and influential leaders in the primary sector.

“Her contributions to farming, industry governance, and rural communities exemplify the very best of what this award seeks to celebrate,” he said.

Meat Industry Association independent chair Nathan Guy described Acland as an “absolute champion” for farmers and rural communities.

The Rural Woman of the Year Award, sponsored by Farmers Weekly, was introduced this year to recognise women making an exceptional contribution to agriculture, agribusiness, and rural New Zealand.

“The night was a fantastic celebration of great people and great teams, it was a great vibe,” Acland said.

The hard-earned recognition cements Acland’s place among the country's leading agricultural voices, and highlights the significant contribution Mid Canterbury continues to make to New Zealand's primary sector.