Methven arable farmer Hamish Marr has been named as a finalist for the Communicator of the Year, up against veteran broadcasters Jamie Mackay and Dom George.

The nomination reflects the work Marr did serving as New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE) for three years until late last year.

“When I got rung and told I’d been nominated, I almost fell over,” he says.

“I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would be thought of in such regard, given all of the other people in our industry.”

The SATE role saw him representing the country’s primary sector to international audiences.

“The regard that New Zealand, and New Zealand people, and our product is held in – to be the conduit of the message and bringing that message back, it’s very humbling to hear from people.”

The aspect of the role he is most proud of is the response it generated.

“Every time I went overseas and came home, I would get emails of thanks, both here and abroad.”

Marr finished in the role nearly six months ago, and says he misses the people, the interaction, and the relationships that came with it.

“The phone still rings, and the emails still come from people overseas that I’d worked closely with.”

Marr is now back home working on the farm in Methven, facing the bruising arable season Canterbury came through last summer.

“We had a terrible harvest in terms of weather.

“Canterbury has got as much winter feed and grass as I’ve ever seen it, and it’s just flowed on.”

He says grain prices are beginning to recover, though urea between $1,700 and $1,800 a tonne is among the costs making it hard to close the gap between income and production.

The Primary Industry New Zealand Awards will be held on June 23, 2026 in Auckland.

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