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Kellogg Newsletter

Two Te Puni Kōkiri Scholarships available for Kellogg Whanganui.

Te Puni Kōkiri is generously sponsoring two places on Whanganui’s Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme, May start.

This is an extraordinary scholarship opportunity, covering programme fees and giving applicants the chance to develop leadership skills closer to home.  
These scholarships are open to passionate Māori as part of their leadership journey in the Food and Fibre Sector.

Those wishing to apply for a scholarship, should include a cover letter with their application indicating why they should be selected. 

In the cover letter, evidence should be shown of leadership in Māori Food and Fibre, along with discussing how the scholarship will contribute to personal leadership development.

How to apply.

To get an application underway, prospective applicants should register their interest through the link below. They’ll receive an application form to complete. When they return this form, include a cover letter indicating intention to apply for the scholarship, at the top. 

For any questions about the scholarship please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Lisa Rogers, Programme Manager, at lisarogers@ruralleaders.co.nz 

Apply now

Changing the narrative – an online Kellogg session.

Kellogg has had to adapt during the Pandemic, to a hybrid model, working both online with tools like Zoom, and in-person when it is safe to do so.

One positive thing about video calls, and for some one might be a stretch, is being able to sit on the side-lines occasionally, with mute on and video off. You get all the benefits of the call, without needing to worry about asking clever questions.

So, muted and invisible we joined Scholars on Phase Two of the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme, to listen to Sam Halstead of Latitude Strategy and Communication. Sam works in Public Relations, focussing on the primary production sector.

Phase Two is important for Kellogg Scholars. It gives an economic, political, and environmental context. It zeroes in on how to engage and influence decision making at a local, regional, industry and central government level. And engaging means communicating effectively. Enter Sam.

The most scrutiny in a generation for the primary sector.

Sam began his presentation with a slide headed ‘The most scrutiny and pressure in a generation.’ Discussion moved easily from one example substantiating this, after another.

The next slide, ‘It’s not all bad,’ presented positive sector perception statistics, based on recent polls from UMR Market Research. The pendulum has been moving in the other direction through Covid – with a public realising New Zealand now has big bills to pay and that the primary sector might be the one to help. The numbers make interesting reading:

  • New Zealanders have a positive view of the primary sector.
  • New Zealanders remain strongly positive about horticulture (67% positive, 29% neutral, 4% negative).
  • Sheep and beef farming (58% positive, 29% neutral, 13% negative).
  • And dairy farming (55% positive, 29% neutral, 16% negative).

Changing primary sector narratives with human connection.

While sentiment is on the up, the big challenges remain. Challenges that continue to impact the way the public views the primary sector. Sam took scholars through how public relations is utilised to help address some of these.

‘Changing the narrative,’ Sam explained, is about human connection and building trust over time – to change the narrative over time. Briefly, that might mean:

  • Avoiding the echo chamber – telling our stories outside of the sector.
  • Enlisting champions, or advocates.
  • Collaborating – avoiding confrontation.
  • Better leverage of the sector’s points of difference.
  • Owning issues and improving performance – sharing those improvements.
  • Building high quality relationships.
  • Most importantly – strive for human connection.

These sessions, delivered both online and in-person, help scholars build a critical awareness mindset, build confidence, and empower scholars to create change – public relations is just one tool in the toolbox that can help.

Madison Pannett on GenZ in the primary sector.

Madison Pannett is a 2021 Kellogg Scholar who recently made the news with her Kellogg research on attracting Generation Z into the primary industries.  

You can review her report here, Generation Z and the environment – how can we use their passion to attract them into food and fibre sector careers?

In a nutshell the report takes a close look at how and why the sector’s careers need to be more aligned with this influential generation’s values. 

The interview with Radio New Zealand’s Jesse Mulligan is short and to the point. For anyone looking to bring new talent into their operation, it’s well worth the five-minute investment.  

Madison speaks about the way the primary sector’s economic performance is the most common messaging theme in media, something GenZ are not generally interested in or motivated by.  

According to her research, GenZ are motivated by environmental issues and their ability to make a bigger difference to them. She concludes, a job should be spoken about in terms of how it fits into the bigger picture, particularly regarding global warming – rather than in financial or economic terms.  

Listen to Jesse Mulligan interview Madison below. 

Radio New Zealand: Summer Times 2021/22: How to get Gen Z into our Primary Industries

You can also read an earlier article published in the Waikato Herald. In this article Madison also talks about how we might inspire young people into the primary sector. 

Follow the link to read the article on nzherald.co.nz website.

Click here to go back to the Rural Leader.

The Mackenzie Study – a view of leadership

The Mackenzie Study – a view of leadership

The Otago Business School and the Department of Economics recently conducted research on behalf of The Mackenzie Charitable Foundation and The New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust.

‘The Mackenzie Study’ revealed remarkable results on the personal gains in entrepreneurial skills attributable to participation in the Kellogg and Nuffield Programmes. It is Nuffield Scholars’ broad and consistent level of achievement over time, that resonates most.

Preliminary findings are a compelling case for anyone considering applying for a 2022 Nuffield Scholarship, or looking to develop their leadership ability through the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme.

A comprehensive survey of Nuffield Scholarship Alumni was conducted in June this year, with invitations sent to all 135 living alumni.

The study had an unusually high participation rate of over 50%, especially given the flooding in Canterbury.

We’ll be presenting more results in due course, including comparisons between alumni and current cohorts. For now, here are just some of the findings demonstrating the professional accomplishments of Nuffield Scholarship Alumni.

Each result is a strong call to potential applicants for the 2022 Nuffield Scholarships, to apply before midnight this Sunday, August 15.

Mackenzie - 5
Mackenzie - 6
Mackenzie - 4
Mackenzie - 2
Mackenzie - 1

Our New Programme Partner – Rabobank, and more…

Meet our new Programme Partner - Rabobank

Rabobank NZ

We welcomed Rabobank on board as a Programme Partner in January this year and look forward to working with them and tapping into their extensive international and national networks and expertise. As the only Co-op bank focused on the Rural Sector, we could not have signed up a better partner. Relationships are two-way so we urge you to consider Rabobank for your banking requirements and to tap into their extensive resources below.

Rabobank Research Podcasts

Rabobank’s global team of 90 food and agribusiness analysts regularly record podcasts where they discuss the latest developments in food & agri sectors & provide insights on what these developments mean for kiwi farmers.

The podcasts are a fast and easy way to gain a better understanding of how Covid-19 and other key industry developments are likely to impact your business. 

To check out the podcasts, search for ‘Rabobank’ on your favourite podcast app & subscribe or you can access the podcasts on their website or follow this link to the Rabobank website.

Strategic Partner Agmardt – re-signs partner agreement

We are delighted that our our relationship with Agmardt will continue for the next  three years, following the re-signing of their Strategic Partner agreement with Rural Leaders.

We cannot acknowledge enough the incredible support provided by Agmardt to our programmes and events.

Vote Now! DairyNZ Levy Vote

The DairyNZ levy vote is open. 

Please make sure you vote and  get others to vote also. Now more than ever we need a dairy organisation representing the industry at government policy level, doing scientific research, and supporting many programmes including leadership and people capability for the sector. 

Click here to VOTE NOW!