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 Reports

Clayton Greene Campbell

Every company has a reputation. Everyone you meet will form an opinion about your company, even if they have not done business with you yet. The challenge is to manage your reputation so that the opinion that people have of you is positive. This is what creates a brand. Branding will not have merit if … Read more

Woods Gail

The issues surrounding retention and training of staff in the dairy industry have become a ‘catch cry’ over the last five years as the industry expands and skill shortages intensify. “Are we achieving the results we need to help grow the industry and are the training methods we are currently using meeting the needs of … Read more

Hogg, Richard

The February floods 2004 were dramatic in our recent river history and may have changed the way our whole river systems are managed, farmed and where we live. This report is a case study of the Rangitikei River but is only a model for many other river systems in New Zealand. Hogg, Richard

Gasquoine David, J

The co-operative business model has been in existence since 1844. It is estimated that today, at least 50% of the world’s population is, in some way, affected by co-operative activity. Most of this activity is in the agricultural sector where groups of farmers have formed co-operatives. This provides them with some collective strength and security … Read more

Limmer Bryan

Intrigued by a Ministry for the Environment report on the value of New Zealand’s clean green image in dollar terms; and the economic possibilities of branding products to such a flagship, led me to research the topic further – with a commodity product – apples -as an example. As an orchardist, I am well aware … Read more

Riley Michelle

Harakeke has been one of the most economically important native plant resources in New Zealand’s history. With the use of early technology its fibre was extracted and put to many uses firstly by Maori, then by later immigrants. A resurgence of interest in maori culture sees weavers in New Zealand learning older traditional techniques. From … Read more

Crofoot Emily, W

The aim of my project, “Rates!”, is to review the basis from which rates demands are calculated. The question to be asked: is a property value base in fact the most equitable basis for assessing rates? Many agricultural regions of New Zealand are under pressure from changes to alternative land use. This is therefore reflected … Read more

Hunt Andrew, D

The objective of this project is to demystify lobbying by studying a lobbying campaign and finding some key principles to apply to other campaigns. How is a campaign started? What are the key elements to a lobbying campaign? There must be some interesting people who have enough passion and energy to put their head above … Read more

McIntosh Chris

The following report attempts to investigate Boards of Trustees’ perceptions and ability to facilitate effective school mergers. Specific focus will be placed on: • determining whether Boards are effective in facilitating school mergers and to identify barriers (if any) in achieving acceptable and sustainable educational outcomes in terms of student achievement; and • identifying various … Read more

Wishnowsky Simon, A

Leptospirosis is rapidly becoming one of the most frequent causes of human illness and therefore time off work in New Zealand. Leptospirosis is commonly associated with the rural sector and associated animal industries, as animals are the common cause of the disease. It is vastly important to at risk employers as it can have a … Read more

Murray King

The wide degree of anticipation for the completion of this report by many people suggests to me that the problems of getting the job done whilst maintaining harmonious employment relationships are greater than first envisaged. The human (social) component of triple bottom line reporting has only recently become acknowledged as part of sustainable business management. … Read more

Stevenson Geoff, K

The aim of this project is to create discussion, about the issue’s confronting the people who are in management positions on the large dairy units in Canterbury. Once they have reached this position what is the next step for them. These are real issues that are facing these people and they will have ramifications on … Read more

Jones Gary, A

No industry in New Zealand has been through the major changes that the pipfruit industry has over the past few seasons. New production systems, quality requirements, and corporatisation of the cooperative industry have challenged growers. After so much restructuring there is more to come. This paper looks at the evolution of the pipfruit industry, the … Read more

August Kris

Over recent years, NZ farmers have seen the introduction of on-farm quality assurance programmes to meet market requirements for their products relating to the areas of food safety and animal welfare. More recently we have seen an increasing awareness of the sustainable side of farming being questioned overseas, with emphasis being placed on the impact … Read more

Massie Grant

The introduction of Finn Cross sheep is leading to major changes and opportunities in the New Zealand sheep industry. The ability of this breed to mate successfully as hoggets and achieve good lambing percentages has changed replacement breeding stock from being a cost to a breeding unit to making them a profitable option to farm … Read more

Buckthought Phillip

The project sought to achieve the following • Consider the factors that influence training for the agricultural sector • Provide case study examples of the successful development of community based pre employment training initiatives for high school students • Identify the key factors for the successful development and delivery of these types of pre employment … Read more

Wiltshire Jonathan, W

The Integrated Fruit Production (IFP) programme for pipfruit began in New Zealand in 1996 and by 2001, 100% of export fruit was being produced under IFP. New Zealand IFP guidelines were developed from IOBC principles and matched carefully to local production conditions. The rapid rate of implementing the guidelines was largely attributable to the industry’s … Read more

Luxton Nicola

The exercise of private property rights is increasingly subject to restrictions by legislation and regulation in the wider public interest. Particularly in New Zealand, environmental and resource management law has become integral to, and a major influence upon, the allocation and exercise of real property rights” (Grinlinton, 1995). The current debate about the adequacy (or … Read more

Wright, John

Concern has been expressed within primary industries that the Commodity Levies Act 1990 does not cater for long term research due to the restrictions on ‘commercial activities’ in particular, and the six year term of the levy orders. I describe long term research as breeding, market development, processing and value adding research activities showing a … Read more

Paterson Mike, D

The project was to establish whether cherries are a viable diversification on a sheep, beef and deer farm in the Teviot valley, Roxburgh, Central Otago. This report analyses the cost structures and returns from traditional cherry growing methods compared with methods for the newer dwarf or “Bonsai” types. The report was also produced to assist … Read more

Nation Peter, A

This sub tropical fruit has been grown in the world for many thousands of years and its existence within the New Zealand (NZ) horticultural market is very much in its infancy. The Avocado industry is relatively new to NZ with commercialisation of the industry commencing in the early 1980’s. There are 2 prominent regions in … Read more

Buckley Peter, R

This paper will give you an overall description of the bee, its origin, anatomy, life cycle and its benefit to man. Buckley Peter, R

Udy, Nigel

New Zealand’s economic success is dependent upon the success of its agricultural industry. In turn agriculture’s success in New Zealand is dependent upon a skilled, motivated, well trained and educated work force. Statistics indicate that numbers of students enrolling in full time agricultural qualifications dropped significantly in the late 1990’s and early 2000 compared to … Read more