Craig Piggott
New Zealand Innovator of the Year
Finalist
2degrees
New Zealand Innovator of the Year
Te Pou Whakairo o te Tau
Craig Piggott
Craig Piggott is the founder and CEO of Halter, the New Zealand agritech company enabling dairy farmers and beef ranchers to operate more productive and sustainable farms. Halter’s virtual fencing and farm operating system includes solar-powered smart collars and an app that allow farmers to remotely guide and monitor livestock while precisely managing pasture. This world-first technology is reducing emissions, improving animal welfare, and freeing farmers from physically intensive, time-critical daily tasks.
Over the past year, Craig has led Halter through a defining period of momentum as it rapidly scales across New Zealand, Australia and the United States. The company topped the 2024 Deloitte Fast 50 Index with 1,539% revenue growth and, in 2025, secured $165 million to accelerate global expansion. Raised on a Waikato dairy farm, Craig blends practical farming experience with engineering ingenuity. His leadership is helping farmers adopt low-emissions practices without compromising productivity– positioning Aotearoa New Zealand as a global leader in sustainable agricultural innovation.
Over the past year, Craig has led Halter through a defining period of momentum as it rapidly scales across New Zealand, Australia and the United States. The company topped the 2024 Deloitte Fast 50 Index with 1,539% revenue growth and, in 2025, secured $165 million to accelerate global expansion. Raised on a Waikato dairy farm, Craig blends practical farming experience with engineering ingenuity. His leadership is helping farmers adopt low-emissions practices without compromising productivity– positioning Aotearoa New Zealand as a global leader in sustainable agricultural innovation.
For those turning bold ideas into real-world impact. These innovators lead with courage and creativity, pushing boundaries in science, tech, culture or social change. Their mahi moves Aotearoa forward – and opens doors for those coming next.
Nominees of this Award must:
- Be an individual or duo, who has developed an innovation involving a product, service, technology, idea/theory or process across any industry sector including (but not limited to) health, science, technology, robotics, business, education, environmental, sustainability, agriculture, disadvantaged communities, culture and non-profits.
- Have had significant impact over the last 12 months.
- Be a role model for New Zealanders and work towards a brighter future for Aotearoa.
- Meet Awards Conditions of Entry.
Judges will review each nominee using the following criteria:
- 10 points: OVERALL INSPIRATION:
Describe the person you are nominating and what they’ve done to inspire you over the past year to nominate them as the
New Zealand Innovator of the Year Te Pou Whakairo o te Tau. - 10 points: INNOVATION:
Describe the innovation/s of your nominee and the thoughtful, creative, and innovative approach it takes to resolve a challenge/s. - 10 points: NEED:
How does this nominee’s mahi address an unmet or underserved need/s – and what makes their approach unique? - 10 points: COMMITMENT:
Describe the commitment of time, and the personal risks – financial, reputational, career – and challenges this nominee has overcome to develop the innovation/s to this point (this may still be ongoing). - 10 points: PROVEN-IMPACT:
How has this nominee clearly demonstrated a positive impact on Aotearoa through their innovations (particularly over the last 12-months)? How has this been measured? - 10 points: POTENTIAL:
Describe the opportunity this nominee has to generate economic, social, and/or environmental benefits for a local industry sector, the nation, and or globally. - 10 points: LEADERSHIP & LEGACY:
How does this nominee embody the qualities of a great New Zealand innovator – courage, persistence, generosity of knowledge-sharing? What is their role in inspiring or enabling others in this space?
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