A longstanding rural advocate has been recognised in the New Year 2026 Honours List.
Former Rural Support Trust chairman Neil Bateup was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2018; now he has received a higher honour, becoming a companion of the order for his services to the rural sector.
“I’m pretty honoured, but I’m receiving it on behalf of the Rural Support Trust organisation; it’s a recognition of the team,” he told the Waikato Herald.
Bateup grew up on a dairy farm and has been a farmer all his life.
“I can’t imagine doing anything else,” he said.
“Farming is quite unique in how many different skills you need. But you are also at the mercy of product prices... and the weather.
“There are many ways to do things... there is not just one recipe [for success].
“I enjoy the challenges... and you are forever learning. There is always new research, new technology.”
Bateup is most known for being part of “a small group” that set up the first Rural Support Trust in New Zealand in Waikato-Hauraki/Coromandel in 2004.
“There was a talk about the economics of farming and we noticed a lot of people [attending the talk] were finding things difficult, but didn’t have anywhere to go.”
That’s why the group started a hotline, offering free confidential support.
To raise awareness for the service, they printed magnets and put them in people’s letterboxes.
It didn’t take long until they received “small numbers of calls” about all kinds of issues, from financial to mental health.
“Every case is different,” Bateup said.
The Rural Support Trust started with about half a dozen people in Waikato; that has now grown to 50 people in the region.
Nationwide, around 360 people are now involved.
“Never in a million years did I think it would evolve into this,” Bateup said.
“I’m a farmer and farming has been good to me. But farming can be tough... there are lots of challenges. But you can come out the other end.
“One of the most satisfying things is the thanks of people that we helped.
“And the satisfaction of the trust being where it is now. It’s becoming more well-known and appreciated. Nationwide, it’s doing a good job.”
During Cyclone Gabrielle, the 14 regional rural support trusts collaborated.
“The whole team across the country came together to share ideas on how to help each other.”
Bateup initiated the Waikato Primary Industry Adverse Events Cluster, bringing together people from across the sector with Civil Defence and welfare agencies.
Bateup also helped raise more than $3 million in private donations following the cyclone, personally ensuring funds and support were directed at the worst-hit regions.
While Bateup stepped down as chairman of the New Zealand Rural Support Charitable Trust in 2024, he is still chairperson of the Waikato Hauraki/Coromandel Rural Support Trust.
Aside from his work with the Rural Support Trust, he was also involved with Community Trusts in Care Aotearoa from 2016 to 2021 and continues to serve as chairman of the Northern Waikato Veterinary Services Trust Board.
About his second royal accolade, Bateup said he felt honoured.
“I’m pretty humbled, but I’ve never done it for the honours. The reward [of the work] has been helping people. It’s all about the people.”
Danielle Zollickhofer is the Waikato news director and a multimedia journalist at the Waikato Herald. She joined NZME in 2021 and is based in Hamilton.