Scott Armer (Williams House 2005-2009) grew up watching his parents, Colin and Dale Armer, build their farming business from 140 sharemilked cows in the late 1970s into what is now the Armer Group. The scale may have changed, but the philosophy has not.

Chief Executive Officer Scott Armer describes the Armer Group’s approach simply: “We farm a little bit differently. We’re sort of old-school farmers. It’s still about people, stock, grass, and doing the basics well.”

Today, the Armer Group spans 23 farms, milks around 20,000 cows, and manages extensive productive farmland for its youngstock alongside 1,100 hectares of native bush. Despite that footprint, the model remains low-input and grass-based, an approach increasingly attractive to younger staff entering the sector. “They really care about the environment, emissions, nitrogen loss, all of that matters to them, and our system aligns with that,” says Scott.

The same decisiveness that now shapes the Armer Group was evident from the outset. Scott has always been decisive about his goals. “When I was at intermediate school, I was into sports, and at the local school where I was, there wasn’t much opportunity.” That changed after a conversation on a fishing trip with Colin.

“I cornered Colin so he couldn’t get away and asked if I could go to St Paul’s Collegiate School to board.”

Colin replied with a firm yes; Dale, meanwhile, wondered why her son would want to leave home.

At St Paul’s, Scott threw himself into rugby, rowing, athletics, and hockey. Former Associate Headmaster and First XI Hockey coach Craig Hardman (Staff 2006-2025) remembers Scott’s development in the sport. “When he first started, he knew very little about the sport, but he worked hard and grew into a very capable goalkeeper. Coaching Scott was a real highlight for me.”

Scott also discovered academic confidence at St Paul’s. “There was an environment where it was cool to be smart,” he says. Craig adds, “Scott’s leadership qualities were already evident during his time in Williams House. He lived the house motto of being better than before and made sure the boys around him felt included and supported. You see those same qualities today in how he leads people, with empathy, encouragement, and genuine care.”

Scott’s success at St Paul’s included captaining the First XI Hockey team, representing both the Waikato Under-18 and Waikato Men’s Senior teams, serving as Head of Williams House, and being appointed a School Prefect. “I received all four ties on offer at St Paul’s: Prefect, Sports Colours, Service, and a Scholars’ Tie,” Scott says proudly.

After leaving school, Scott graduated with a Bachelor’s degree majoring in Accounting, Finance, and Commercial Law from Victoria University of Wellington before moving into corporate and commercial banking with BNZ. There, he built expertise in financial analysis, lending structures, and business risk. “While I learned a lot, I got increasingly frustrated with the bureaucracy and wanted to have more direct impact,” he says.

Six years ago, Scott presented The Armer Group with a detailed strengths-and-weaknesses analysis and identified a succession gap. Dale remembers the moment with a smile: “I knew Scott would add value straight away, but it took a fair bit of convincing Colin, it was six months before he said yes.”

As the Armer Group has continued to grow, now with a workforce approaching 100, Scott’s leadership has shaped the business’s culture. “We hire on attitude. If they’re good people, we can teach them our system. We haven’t had to advertise for manager or contract milker roles for quite a while; it’s mostly word of mouth.” Dale reflects, “The biggest change Scott has made is to our staff.”

The Armer Group is also the founding shareholder of South Island-based Dairy Holdings, New Zealand’s largest dairy farming business. Over the years, 53 sharemilkers have progressed through the Dairy Holdings system and gone on to purchase their own farms, something Colin is proud to see continue as part of the group’s wider impact on the sector. “We’ve always believed if the industry is stronger, everyone benefits,” Scott says.

Much of the Armer Group’s farming footprint surrounds St Paul’s Tihoi Venture School, and Scott has seen first-hand the connection between the family business and the school community. Colin and Dale sold four hectares of adjoining farmland to the school, enabling Tihoi to secure key activity areas, including the site of its 120-foot abseil rock, a defining element of the Tihoi experience.

As close neighbours, the family granted a perpetual legal easement over native bush to ensure ongoing student access for generations to come. Former Tihoi Director Chris Wynn (Staff 2006-2016) recalls the Armers’ generosity when access through their farm was discussed.

“On numerous occasions, I’d wave a coffee cup out the kitchen window, signalling Colin in. Sometimes Dale would join him, and then off they’d go to get on with the day’s work,” Chris says.

Colin still enjoys seeing each new intake arrive and take on the Tihoi hills. “In the first week, they really struggle running, but within a few weeks, they’re moving quickly across them.” With girls set to join the Tihoi experience from 2027, he expects the programme to go from strength to strength.

Looking back, Scott’s advice to his 18-year-old self is direct: “Stop trying so hard not to go into farming. There’s a huge opportunity in the sector, both on-farm and beyond the farm gate. I learned valuable skills along the way, but this is where I was meant to be.”

The St Paul’s connection extends across the wider Armer family. Scott’s sister, Cherie (Harington 2006–2007), also attended, along with several nieces and nephews. With future generations already in sight, Scott jokes, “How soon can Beks and I enrol our four-month-old twin boys?”