He is aiming to complete a research-based PhD programme in agricultural science at Lincoln University by June next year.
The research included the development of strategies for dairy farmers to manipulate their farm system to reduce nitrates entering waterways, he said.
"I wanted to do something that would help the industry and help farmers."
Farming was in his blood.
Born and raised in South Africa, his grandfather was a tomato farmer.
"My love of agriculture comes from my grandfather.
"I have fond memories of walking the tomato fields with him and he would always have a salt and pepper shaker in his back pocket."
He was 16 when his family moved to Cambridge in the Waikato.
His tertiary study began at Massey University in Palmerston North, gaining a double major in animal and agricultural science in 2017.
"I thought understanding the biology and physiology behind the animal and combining it with what is happening on farm in a practical sense, and what is driving farmers to make those key animal production decisions, would give me a unique perspective."
After being unable to secure a graduate job, he completed a masters at Massey, focusing on the quality and carcass characteristics of red meat.
He applied for graduate roles again and was told he was overqualified.
In hindsight, when he was studying, he should have been using his spare time to gain industry experience.
"I’m kicking myself for that now because if I did that, I might have been a bit more employable."
To get a foot in the door, he took on a casual role at DairyNZ in the Waikato, which included collecting samples for research.
After three months he was offered a fulltime job at DairyNZ.
Duties included working on a dairy farm and being a research technician.
"That’s how my journey started in dairy."
When Covid hit New Zealand, his DairyNZ contract did not get renewed and he found himself at a crossroads.
"I thought it was a unique opportunity to get back on farm and gain practical experience."
Mr Kok worked on a dairy farm while applying for job.
His wife Loame, his fiance at the time, was in Waikato doing a summer internship remotely for agribusiness consulting company AbacusBio in Dunedin.
"She helped me rear some calves on the dairy farm.
"That was good fun — you get to know your partner very well at 5am."
They got married in February 2021.
In the first week of their honeymoon, an "awesome" three-week "tiki tour" of the South Island, Mrs Kok secured fulltime work at AbacusBio.
At the same time he was accepted in the programme at Lincoln.
The newlyweds moved to Dunedin in April 2021.
He was awarded a DairyNZ scholarship for his study and secured a part-time job working on research projects at AbacusBio to gain industry experience.
"So far, I have been able to keep up with the demands."
A literature review he had submitted for publication since studying at Lincoln researched how most of the existing strategies to reduce nutrient loss could be combined and remain effective.
If some strategies were combined they could be counteractive, such as reducing nutrient loss but increase greenhouse gas emissions.
"I’m looking at strategies that can help both — that was very exciting."
In the review, he developed a framework to help farmers make decisions on the key times of the year in the nitrogen cycle to target reducing nutrient losses.
"I really enjoy finding efficiencies within a farm system."
