Source: Federated Farmers
Federated Farmers has today voted in South Canterbury farmer Colin Hurst as the organisation’s new national president.
Gisborne farmer Sandra Faulkner has been voted in as vice president.
Hurst, a mixed arable and dairy farmer in the Waimate area, says he’s deeply honoured to take the reins of New Zealand’s leading rural advocacy organisation.
“It’s a huge privilege to be entrusted with this role by my fellow farmers.
“Federated Farmers has such a proud 127-year history of standing up for rural New Zealand, and I’m committed to building on that legacy.
“Farmers are facing no shortage of challenges, but they’re also full of determination and optimism for the future.
“My job as president is to make sure their voices are heard loud and clear wherever decisions are being made – and that’s exactly what I intend to do.”
Hurst steps into the role after serving as Federated Farmers’ vice president for the last three years.
He has also been the organisation’s spokesperson for freshwater, biodiversity, and fire and emergency issues.
Hurst was quick to acknowledge the work of his predecessor Wayne Langford.
“I want to pay tribute to Wayne Langford for his leadership, energy, and unwavering commitment to farmers during his time as president.
“We’ve had six years on the board together and I love the guy. He’s been a phenomenal leader who has really transformed and modernised the organisation.
“Wayne has been such a strong and passionate advocate. I wish him all the best for whatever comes next. I have no doubt he will have a huge future,” Hurst says.
He says his focus will be on continuing to ensure farmers’ voices are heard clearly in national decision-making.
“Farmers are operating in an incredibly complex environment right now, from compliance pressures through to economic uncertainty.
“I’ll be working hard with a fantastic team of farming leaders from around the country – and that’s our strength. We are the trusted voice of grassroots farmers.
“Together we’ll be working to make sure farmers’ experiences and perspectives are front and centre in every discussion that affects them,” he says.
Hurst has nearly 40 years as a hands-on arable and livestock farmer, and extensive experience within Federated Farmers at both a regional and national level.
He was the 2019 Arable Farmer of the Year, is a former director for the Foundation for Arable Research, and has dedicated countless hours as a volunteer to the South Canterbury Rural Support Trust and United Wheatgrowers.
He has also been a staunch advocate for farmers at the Seed Quality Management Authority and on the Fertiliser Quality Council.
Colin, his wife Janis, and their family farm 700ha, which includes 450ha in arable crops such as wheat, grass seed, plantain and turnips, and the rest for grazing cattle. Around 250ha is irrigated.
The family has also just bought a dairy farm nearby.
New vice president Sandra Faulkner farms with husband Rob at Wairakaia, near Gisborne, where they run a diverse operation including sheep, beef, cropping, citrus, farm forestry and contracting.
She has been on the Federated Farmers national board for four years, with the local government, adverse events, health and rural communities portfolios.
She also serves on the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and is a trustee for the Campaign for Wool, along with holding other charitable directorships.
“I’m honoured and really excited to hold this role,” Faulkner says.
“There’s so much work still to do, particularly in this period of legislative reform.
“The new RMA and local government legislation will inform how our children will farm, and that can’t be understated.”
Faulkner says she’s proud of the way Federated Farmers has built relationships with decision-makers around New Zealand.
“Right now there are national and regional leaders considering if they should pick up the phone or flick a message to the provincial Feds president.
“They know the response will be well-informed, considered from multiple points of view, deeply practical – and probably more affordable.”
Meanwhile, Southland’s Chris Dillon joins the board as arable chair, taking over from David Birkett.
South Canterbury’s Greg Anderson has been voted in as an at-large board member, and Mark Hooper has held his spot as the other at-large member.
Richard Dawkins (meat and wool chair) and Karl Dean (dairy chair) have retained their positions.