2026 Nuffield NZ Farming Scholarship. Apply by 17 August 2025. Read More...

Apply for 2026 Nuffield NZ Farming Scholarship by 17 August 2025. More details...

Rural Leaders News

Partners in leadership – new agreement signed with LIC.

A newly signed partnership agreement between LIC and New Zealand Rural Leaders. Together, the two organisations are investing in leaders who can help New Zealand navigate an increasingly complex future. Rapid advances in technology, changing consumer expectations, climate adaptation and shifting global markets are reshaping the sector, creating both challenges and opportunity.

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Ethan Gillespie and his journey in horticulture so far.

Ethan Gillespie discusses his experience of the 2025 Horticulture New Zealand Leadership Programme; how it broadened his understanding of leadership, advocacy, and strategic decision-making. He shares insights into his own leadership development, industry collaboration, and the pathways available for emerging leaders in New Zealand’s horticulture sector.

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2026 HortNZ Leadership Programme.

The 2026 Horticulture New Zealand Leadership Programme will help prepare current and emerging Hort leaders to capture the opportunities and to confidently address the challenges across horticulture.

The programme is delivered by Rural Leaders.

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18 Ag-Hort teachers complete leadership programme.

The Agri Educators Leadership Programme brought together 18 passionate teachers from across Aotearoa.

Delivered through a collaboration between Sow the Seed, Horticulture and Agriculture Teachers Association, Primary People (Lynsey Stratford), and Rural Leaders, the programme focused on building leadership capability and strengthening connections across the agri-education community.

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Kate Tomlinson on data, diversity and dairy.

Kate Tomlinson, Mackenzie Charitable Foundation Scholarship winner, talks to Bryan Gibson Managing Editor at Farmers Weekly, and shares her journey from a UK farm to New Zealand, where Kate now blends practical farming with sustainability and data insights in her role with Map of Ag.

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Alice Rule – A delicate balance: vines, vision and family.

In this latest Rural Leaders Ideas That Grow Podcast, Alice Rule, Hawke’s Bay winemaker and 2019 Kellogg Scholar, Talks too Bryan Gibson about her journey from a Bay of Islands farm to the wine industry, her circular glass economy research, leadership lessons from Kellogg, and balancing entrepreneurship, rural advisory work, and family amid uncertain wine markets.

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