In the demanding world of New Zealand farming, making the right call, at the right time, can be the difference between just getting by and truly thriving. For the Cousins family of Hiamoe, that confidence comes from clear, real-time financial information that everyone involved –from the farm gate to the bank manager's desk –can see. This shared visibility, powered by Farm Focus, isn't just about crunching numbers; it's transforming conversations from guesswork to strategy, deepening trust, and helping this multi-generational business future-proof its operations. As the 2025 Regional Supreme Winners at the Horizons Ballance Farm Environment Awards, the Cousins family are proof that combining smart decision-making with sustainable practice leads to success.
Hiamoe, a 916ha operation near Feilding, is a testament to thoughtful diversification and sustainable practices. Now managed day-to-day by Edmund, Julius, and Guido with their parents John and Toos acting as support where required, this 4th generation farming family have extensive diversification including sheep (breeding/finishing) bull beef, dairy support, fodder cropping, peas, forestry and Hiamoe Farmstay all contributing to the profitability. It's all backed by a strong focus on land care, accurate record keeping, and a sharp eye on animal health –"every drench administered is one step closer to drench resistance."
For Guido, stepping back into the family business after studies and overseas travel, the need for modern financial tools became clear. "Now, with Farm Focus, it's been easy. Functional," he recalls. "Mum does about 60% of the accounts, and I handle invoicing and GST returns. The big thing is it's live – we can both be working on it at the same time, even talking on the phone, and it just works." This shared, real-time access has been a game-changer for the multi-generational operation, where distinct roles ensure smooth collaboration among the three brothers and their parents.
Jacob Small, the Cousins' accountant from AllanMcNeil, quickly saw the benefits of Hiamoe being on Farm Focus. "It just makes it easy in terms of having the numbers there at your fingertips," Jacob explains. "It’s very easy to go in and see how things are tracking, especially around those significant tax dates." He highlights the stark contrast with clients still relying on outdated information. "If someone’s using a manual system, you're looking in the rearview mirror. We're only seeing that information sometimes six or nine months down the track. With real-time data, it's a lot easier to make those decisions about where we need to be going." It transforms conversations from chasing numbers to strategic planning.
Brad Atkin, the Cousins' bank manager from Westpac Manawatu, has been with them since he started his banking career in 2019, witnessing Hiamoe's significant diversification firsthand. "Farm Focus just gives us more time and information," Brad states. "If they needed funding, whether it's short-term or a land acquisition, it gives us an instant state of the nation picture. We're not just looking at dated information; we have a current view of their performance." He adds, "A lot of questions we have can be answered just by clicking into an expense in Farm Focus. This means our meetings are more meaningful, drilling into the 'why' behind decisions, rather than just basic data collection."
Guido acknowledges that Farm Focus excels in providing instant clarity on their financial position. "We know where we are on a cost basis, every day," he says. "It's a good tool." This daily insight empowers the family to make "small, continuous changes" that, over five years, lead to significant system improvements and proven financial stability.
For Jacob, the real-time data fosters a proactive approach to financial management. "Having the information up-to-date is key, and they're very good at it," he comments. "It allows us to be proactive with tax management and advising on capital expenditure – knowing exactly when to pull the trigger on a project." He strongly advocates for Farm Focus, particularly for "everyday mum and dad farmers," praising its user-friendliness and cash-basis reporting. "It's a lot simpler for them to understand. You can see your breakdown month to month, which helps with decision-making around peaks and troughs and financing requirements."
Brad reinforces this sentiment from a lending perspective. "Because you've got the instant information, you have so much on hand. It helps with trust, absolutely," he affirms. "There's no guesswork. You see the components of the actuals. It allows us to tell a better story to the bank, especially if a client has had a tough year due to unforeseen circumstances." Farm Focus data allowed him to understand the underlying farm issues, offer support, and maintain a strong relationship. "When you're having those really good quality conversations, you become a really trusted stakeholder in their business."
The Cousins family is currently in the midst of succession planning, a complex process that demands absolute clarity. "Having a strong business to facilitate succession, and a decent accounting software that we can do ourselves, helps manage those costs," Guido explains. "It’ll just be a component of succession that takes us down that route of having individual businesses where we can all be skilled to have our own accounts."
The shared visibility offered by Farm Focus is paramount here. "The wonders of technology mean we can all log in today and see where the cropping expenses are at, or animal health," Guido notes. "It's one of many tools, but it's an important one that we can all use, and industry-accepted, with accountants and bank managers supportive of it."
Jacob highlights how Farm Focus aids in the succession journey by providing clear, accessible financial records. "It's very good that they're all open to discussions, which makes it a lot easier from my sense," he says. The software ensures that the financial health of the farm is transparent to all involved, crucial for smooth transitions and future planning.
Brad reinforces the role of Farm Focus in future-proofing the business. "They've wanted to drive a strong business that is successful and gives them good capacity to pay down debt," he says of the Cousins brothers. "At their age, a big part of their current focus is around succession." By providing real-time, comprehensive data, Farm Focus empowers the Cousins family to confidently navigate these significant changes, ensuring the long-term viability of Hiamoe for generations to come.
Farm Focus empowers farmers to make confident, timely decisions by giving them – and their trusted advisors – clear, up-to-date financial information everyone can see in real time. This shared visibility transforms conversations from guesswork to strategy, strengthens trust, and future-proofs farm businesses.
