A Touch of Madness by Keith Neylon

From humble beginnings in Nightcaps leaving school at 15, Keith Neylon MNZM has now had more than 50 years’ involvement in New Zealand and international primary industries. 

This book tells of his early years as a farmhand, coal miner and shearer before taking to the skies as a pilot flying for ag aviation companies in Southland, followed by helicopter deer recovery missions on the West Coast, Nelson, Southland, Otago and Canterbury.

Keith went on to own and farm deer, dairy, beef and sheep farms, mostly in Southland, and later in Canterbury with thoroughbred broodmares, racehorses and young horses selling to Australia, Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore. There were also stints in the shellfish and salmon industries amongst others.

He has been governing director of Marlborough Seafoods Ltd, Southern Deer Corporation, Neylon Livestock Ltd, Antara Ag Ltd, Blue River Dairy Ltd, Nucleus Management Ltd; director of NZ Deer Farms Ltd, NZ Salmon Ltd; and managing director of UK-based NZ Seafoods (Murlon) Ltd. His exporting and distribution business interests have covered Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, United States, Australia and China. 

Told in his own straightforward down-to-earth style, Keith’s autobiography ‘A Touch of Madness’ chronicles the inside story of a born-and-bred Southlander who would go on to become a highly successful New Zealand primary industries entrepreneur.