The fifth annual John Deere Technician of the Year Awards honour the essential work technicians do every day to support industries critical to New Zealand’s economy and rural and regional communities.
A trailblazing female apprentice, a part-time farmer, an accomplished linguist, and a technician who prides himself on his ‘Kiwi ingenuity’ are the four New Zealand John Deere technicians who have earned their place in this year’s prestigious Technician of the Year Awards.
The New Zealand finalists will travel to Brisbane in mid-September to undergo a final round of intense technical testing, where they will be judged individually on their ability to perform hands-on diagnostics and troubleshoot real-life scenarios and customer challenges.
John Deere Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Luke Chandler, says the finalists have made a significant impact, not only in their dealerships, but also across their communities and the wider industries they support.
“Being a technician today is all about supporting customers and the industries that keep New Zealand strong,” says Mr Chandler.
“They play a crucial role that calls for digital expertise, critical thinking, and the ability to solve complex problems. All of which keeps our customers up and running, boosting their productivity, and supporting more sustainable business practices.
“All the finalists should be incredibly proud. Their dedication, strong work ethic and commitment to delivering outstanding customer service have been recognised by their dealerships and acknowledged through the first round of internal judging.
“We look forward to hosting all our finalists at our headquarters in South East Queensland, where they will take on a range of challenging real-world scenarios, designed to test their diagnostic and problem-solving abilities and to determine the winners in each category.”
New Zealand finalists will have the opportunity to compete for titles in three categories in this year’s awards including Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year, Construction & Forestry Service Technician of the Year and Service Apprentice of the Year.
John Deere Australia and New Zealand Customer Support Business Manager, Marko Koelln says it is rewarding to see some new contenders in this year’s programme, including New Zealand’s first female service apprentice finalist.
“In the Service Apprentice of the Year category, Charlotte Giffin from Whangārei on the North Island is the first-ever female New Zealand apprentice finalist in this category and will be competing against five Australians for the award,” Mr Koelln says.
“Reaching the finals is testament to Charlotte’s skill and dedication to growing her career as a technician and showcases the career paths and opportunities for females within the industry.
Other finalists are Bryce Dickson and Alvin Gounder of Brandt, Whangārei and Robert Fisher of Brandt, Cambridge.
The Award winners will be announced at the John Deere Technician of the Year Awards gala event on Thursday, 18 September 2025.
