General

We are clearly undergoing a paradigm shift that is affecting agricultural production systems. We are being forced to face some of the externalities of farming; the need to address nutrient loss and greenhouse gas emissions. And at the same time, agricultural markets are changing with new groups of consumers willing to focus their purchase decisions on environmental and animal welfare attributes which determine food as ‘good food’ and ‘bad food’.

We are clearly undergoing a paradigm shift that is affecting agricultural production systems. We are being forced to face some of the externalities of farming; the need to address nutrient loss and greenhouse gas emissions. And at the same time, agricultural markets are changing with new groups of consumers willing to focus their purchase decisions on environmental and animal welfare attributes which determine food as ‘good food’ and ‘bad food’.

Andrew Watters, Chair of the BoardApril 2019 The Trustees held our second Board meeting of the year last week (early April) to address ‘business as usual’ matters focused on running two high quality leadership development programmes as well as the strategic development of the organisation.  The New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust (NZRLT) is the operational

The last six months has been a very busy time for our Triennial Nuffield 2020 committee. With now only around 15 months until we have delegates arriving for our conference, we are very aware we still have a lot to do.   Our aim is to produce a world-class conference that will showcase New Zealand’s innovative and leading edge agri-food sector. Highlighting Maori agriculture and demonstrating innovation and sustainability in our businesses.  Some of the

We are reaching the end of a busy year for Rural Leaders and our two programmes – the Nuffield Scholarships & the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme.  While we have tried to make this a year a time of some consolidation after the launch of the new organisation and branding and the increased responsibilities, the projects and opportunities keep arising and enthusiasm from a busy

This time of the year is a busy period for trustees, selecting and presenting our 2019 Nuffield scholars.  The process is robust and involves shortlisting, referee checks and of course the interview process.  It all culminates with the announcement in the Banquet Hall of Parliament in early November.  You will see from the profiles that we have very good hands-on farmers in this

Peter Jensen encouraged alumni to pay it back at the 2019 Nuffield NZ AGM announcing that he and his wife Anne were donating $40k, the equivalent of one scholarship, to the Nuffield Capital Fund.   He challenged every scholar for whom the scholarship had been a life changing event, either in their business or personal life, or both to donate over

Hugh was a highly active member of the Nuffield Alumni and at the 2015 Nuffield Australia National Conference in Albury, was acknowledged for a 40-year reign as a Nuffield Scholar.  Hugh was a well-known grains industry advocate, former agri-politician who had a long association with the NSW Farmers Association and other industry bodies. He was also

Anne Hindson, General Manager, August 2018 Andrew in his Chair update, focuses on Nuffield strategic initiatives and NZRLT board activities, while this update covers management activities of the NZRLT Trust (incorporating both Nuffield and Kellogg programmes) as well as Nuffield programme activities and reflections. The launch of our new branding, in late June, has occupied a large amount of my time. Juliet Maclean led the project which began in January, through the brand development including the research, strategy, creative, story, and identity to get it to the

Andrew Watters, Chair, Board of TrusteesAugust 2018 I hope you agree with me that the Tauranga Biennial Nuffield conference was a great event.  It had a nice mix of local content, thought leadership and catching up with old friends.  I thought our new scholars did a very good job of presenting their project findings and their views on the issues and opportunities facing

Your Trustees have been active over the last five months with regular board meetings, a strategic planning session, scholar mentoring and the Nuffield International conference in the Netherlands. I believe it is important to have a dual focus when considering priorities for the future. Firstly, we must continue to attract sufficient funding to operate our