Federated Farmers Podcast

Who is Colin Hurst, the new president of Federated Farmers? How did he go from being the quiet kid at the back of the room to leading the country's largest farming advocacy organisation? Colin joins the Federated Farmers Podcast to share his journey into farming and advocacy, what gets him fired up, the leadership style he wants to bring to the role, and his vision and priorities for the next...

After growing up on a Manawatū dairy farm, Sam Whitelock became one of the most decorated All Blacks of all time, including winning two Rugby World Cups and a bunch of Super Rugby titles.  Now retired, he's back farming with his wife Hannah and their three children. In this episode, Sam reflects on life after rugby, his return to farming, and the leadership lessons he's learned from some...

Vangelis Vitalis is New Zealand's top trade negotiator. He's our man in the room securing better access for our exports, defending our interests overseas, and managing relationships with some of the world's biggest economies. In this episode, Vangelis explains how New Zealand navigates an increasingly complex and unpredictable global trading environment. How does a small exporting n...

Many farmers say DOC’s grazing system has become so restrictive that it’s putting the very landscapes it aims to protect at risk. In this episode, West Coast farmer Simon Cameron and North Otago farmer James Hurst discuss the growing red tape around conservation grazing, the consequences of removing farmers from the land, and why they believe a common-sense reset is urgently needed.  Got a podcast...

What do farmers need from the next government? Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford joins us to walk through the organisation's newly released election platform, a five-point plan to double farm productivity, cut costs, improve environmental outcomes, and strengthen rural New Zealand.  Wayne explains the thinking behind each proposal, the challenges farmers are facing on the ground, and...

How do you separate solar facts from sales hype? Mike Casey from Rewiring Aotearoa joins us to discuss not only the significant opportunities solar energy presents for farmers, but also how to make sure you're getting the right system. With more farmers exploring solar to reduce power costs, improve on-farm resilience and gain greater control over rising electricity prices, Mike explains why...

Kerry Harmer and her husband Paul have recently won top environmental awards for their high-country stewardship work, while simultaneously fighting a $150,000 (so far) battle for consent to keep farming. In this episode, the new Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers president talks about the brutal irony of being recognised for environmental leadership while being told they’re not doing enough.  She sh...

Neat Meat founder Simon Eriksen reflects on 25 years of building one of New Zealand’s best-known premium meat businesses, from running deliveries out of a 1986 Subaru Legacy to supplying supermarkets, restaurants and My Food Bag. Simon shares how Neat Meat challenged the traditional meat supply chain, why he launched the SpeckleBeef programme, and what he’s learned from decades of backing himself...

Manawatū contract milker Riley O’Neill shares his top tips for people going contract milking for the first time in the coming season, or for existing contract milkers moving farms.  Riley also discusses his own progression through the dairy sector, and his recent experience of moving to a new farm and new part of New Zealand.  This is good, solid advice that's relevant to most dairy farmers,...

Shanice Young didn’t grow up in farming, but she’s right in the mix now. From Wellington city kid to Bay of Plenty dairy farmer, Shanice shares how she found her way into farming and ended up leading her local Young Farmers Club, growing it rapidly from six members to around 30, while also running Surfing For Farmers and supporting her local Rural Support Trust. We talk about her start in farming,...

To mark Anzac Weekend 2026, we’re bringing you a special episode that reaches back into one of New Zealand’s most remarkable wartime stories. In November 1918, during the final days of World War I, New Zealand soldiers achieved the extraordinary by liberating the French town of Le Quesnoy without destroying it. Many of those soldiers were farmers, young Kiwis who'd left behind their land, liv...

In this episode, we sit down with Manawatū farmer Ian Strahan, who runs 440 hectares of rolling country at Kiwitea, finishing around 16,000 lambs and up to 1000 cattle each year. Ian, Manawatū–Rangitīkei Federated Farmers president, talks about growing up on the family farm, the influence of his father – legendary All Black Sam Strahan – and how a mix of old-school values and modern thinking has s...

When you get an unexpected windfall as a farmer, what should you actually do with it? Is it just another payout to roll back into the farm, or a rare opportunity to reset your financial position? With many Fonterra farmers waking up this week to a significant lump sum in their accounts, we asked Forsyth Barr investment adviser Michael Raynes to unpack the key decisions farmers should be thinking a...

Labour’s agriculture spokesperson Jo Luxton joins us for a candid chat about her upbringing, the tough chapters in her life, and her connection to farming. She shares what she’s hearing from farmers, what she'd prioritise if she became Minister of Agriculture, and how she responds when farmers say Labour hates them. Feds and Labour don’t always agree, but it’s important we have a relationship...

Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dan Boulton joins us to break down the company’s 2025 turnaround, including what’s driving the strong results and whether better prices are here to stay.  We dive into the challenges behind falling livestock numbers, the pressures on processors’ margins, and the role of global markets and geopolitics in shaping New Zealand red meat. Dan also shares insights on the...

Fuel supply is front of mind for farmers right now, with rising uncertainty around availability, pricing and logistics. In this episode, Fern Energy CEO Chris Gourley joins us to cut through the noise and explain what’s really going on. Are we at risk of running short? What’s driving the pressure in the supply chain? And what does it mean for on-farm operations in the weeks and months ahead? Got a...

Do Kiwi farmers need to be concerned about getting their hands on fertiliser? Ravensdown chief operating officer Mike Whitty joins us to explain how conflict in the Middle East is shaping the global fertiliser market right now. He tackles the key question on farmers’ minds: how much fertiliser is actually on hand, and what’s being done to secure supply ahead of spring. Whitty also explains where N...

Stretching across nearly 68,000 hectares in northern Southland, Glenaray is a sheep, beef and deer station that’s quietly challenging assumptions about high-country farming. In this episode, we’re joined by station manager Simon Lee and owner David Pinckney to explore the rich history of Glenaray, and how it operates today, including using innovative approaches like Halter.  They also discuss the...

In this episode, Waikato lawyer Andrew Clements explains why farm succession can fail even when the balance sheet looks rock solid. He breaks down the five types of capital that really determine long-term success, and why focusing on just one can undermine the rest. Andrews shares real examples of farming families that have learned this stuff the hard way, and he provides practical advice on how t...

New Zealand's arable farmers are facing some of their toughest conditions in years, with margins collapsing and growers exiting the industry. It's a "crisis" that will have flow-on effects for dairy, sheep and beef farmers, says David Birkett, Federated Farmers’ national arable chair.  Birkett and Chris Dillon, an arable farmer in Southland and former Southland president, join...

In this episode, we’re joined by Waikato dairy farmer Carla de Wet, who shares an honest look at building a career in farming as a young woman today. Originally from South Africa, Carla talks about her journey to New Zealand just before Covid, settling into rural life, and finding her place in a family dairy business. As former chair of the Morrinsville–Ngarua Young Farmers club, she reflects on l...

In this episode, we sit down with Mike Siermans, the new CEO of Federated Farmers, to talk about what’s next for the organisation and for farmers. Mike shares his journey from growing up around farming in rural South Auckland to a commercial career in the pharmaceuticals industry — including helping launch Viagra in New Zealand — and why he’s now taken on one of the most influential roles in rural...

This is the first episode in a new series where we sit down with good keen Kiwi farmers and simply have a chat – how they got into farming, what drives them, and what they’ve learned along the way. We’ll release one each month.  For our first ‘Meet the farmer’, we’re joined by Jimmy Emmett, a South Canterbury dairy farmer who took an unconventional path into the industry.  A self-confessed city bo...

He’s the most recognisable voice in rural New Zealand but you’ll usually hear The Country host Jamie Mackay asking the questions rather than answering them.  In this episode, Jamie sits on the other side of the mic to reflect on his early farming career, the twists and turns that led him into broadcasting, and how a rugby-mad bloke from Southland ended up shaping national conversations from the st...

What actually happens to wool after it leaves the sheep’s back?  In this episode, Breanna Hayes, supply growth manager at The New Zealand Merino Company, and Nathan Watt, trading manager at New Zealand Wool Services International, explain how the wool industry works, why strong wool in particular faces challenges, and what farmers can do to improve outcomes.  They unpack who the players are in the...