Scholar Reports

This report highlights the underutilised role of nutrition in New Zealand’s dairy sector. It identifies gaps in training, technology use, and knowledge integration. Key recommendations include standardised education, data-informed practices, cross-sector collaboration, and a systems-thinking approach, sustainability, and long-term farm success.

This report by Katrina Roberts highlights that strong farmer-female veterinarian relationships improve advice uptake and farm outcomes. Findings emphasise personal connection, trust, communication, and shared growth. Veterinary businesses should support advisors through training, flexibility, and resources to foster thriving partnerships, especially in female-led advisory roles.

This report explores the feasibility of NZ dairy farmers selling raw and pasteurised milk direct from the farm. It finds strong consumer interest and financial potential, but highlights significant regulatory, operational, and mindset challenges requiring targeted support and strategic planning.

Malinda’s report examines how NZ’s independent dairy manufacturers can future-proof for financial sustainability amid a decreasing milk pool and global market shifts. It finds that success depends on strong value-chain relationships, targeting values-driven markets, and exploring alternative access strategies to overcome distance and risk.

This report explores NZ’s changing farm ownership landscape, noting declining traditional pathways, rising land costs, and limited capital access. Models like equity partnerships show promise. Strategic planning, mentorship, and coordinated action are needed to address a $110–$125 billion capital gap.

This report by Morgan Jones tackles the financial literacy gap in rural NZ by exploring tailored, accessible education strategies for farmers, growers, and professionals.

This report by Richard Cameron identifies key challenges in attracting and retaining skilled farm managers, including low wages, poor work-life balance, and limited ownership pathways. It explores equity partnership models, presents a successful case study, and offers recommendations for sustainable industry solutions.

Soil lays the foundation of all farming productivity. Farmers’ soil management is influenced by multiple factors, especially scientific perceptions. Studies on soil function and productivity are limited or non-existent. This paper highlights farmers’ views, challenges, and the drivers behind their perceptions and management practices.

Phil’s report examines the expanding deer population across Aotearoa New Zealand, its ecological and economic impacts, the limitations of current management, and the ethical tensions surrounding lethal control, cultural values, and decision-making in deer management strategies.

This report by Matt Ward looks at boosting ewe flock productivity amid national decline by using terminal sires, better genetics, and more innovative flock strategies to sustain lamb output. The report states that passive adaptation is no longer enough—active change is essential.

This report covers animal welfare in New Zealand’s dairy industry, focusing on cattle, goats, and sheep. Key issues include lameness, painful procedures, and surplus offspring.

The food and fibre sector, a cornerstone of Aotearoa’s economy, thrives when rangatahi Māori lead. This report outlines barriers, strategies, and a vision for inclusivity.

This report examines how partnerships in New Zealand's food and fibre sector create value for farmers and growers by focusing on purpose, trust, and communication to deliver social, productivity, and profitability benefits.

This report investigates the impact of climate change on Waikato's agriculture, highlighting risks like increased heat stress and drought for livestock farming, while identifying opportunities for diversifying land use.

This report explores how leadership development can be enhanced for mid-career professionals in New Zealand's agrifood sector, addressing gaps and promoting inclusivity and innovation.

This report explores sustainable alternatives to peat for mushroom farming in New Zealand, focusing on wood fiber blends to reduce reliance while maintaining yield and quality.

This report aims to identify key inflexion points for New Zealand agriculture to adopt sustainable practices, enhance market opportunities, and drive systemic transformation through collaborative value chains.

This report aims to show how Māori land trusts in Te Moana a Toi apply Kaitiakitanga principles to achieve sustainable governance and long-term intergenerational well-being.

This research project seeks to understand how young dairy farmers in
Northland have got ahead and to learn from their examples and experiences.

Access to capital is constraining the sector's sustainability, productivity, and transition to the next generation of farmers.

This research paper aims to identify the key skills that drive profitability in NZ's dairy farming sector and explore how targeted training and development can enhance farm performance and overall economic resilience.

With a changing New Zealand climate causing more frequent and more severe dry spells, including in regions previously seen as less vulnerable, the reliability of supplying food to meet our goals and expectations is in question.

This report aims to analyse how high performing farm businesses reach and sustain the levels of performance, resilience and wellbeing they do.

Exploring, educating, and applying low-stress livestock handling to benefit the people, product and perception of New Zealand’s beef industry.