Chairman, Ian Walker 

Ian’s connection with the rural sector started with a degree in agricultural science in the late ‘70s. One of his lecturers reckoned that you were either born into a family that owned a farm or married into one. "I didn’t think I stood a chance of either," says Ian. Ian had taken a marketing paper as part of his degree, however, and had loved it. This led him to do one of the first MBAs in New Zealand, in marketing, and set him off on the path towards an illustrious marketing and communications career.

Despite his former expectations he did indeed marry into farming. 17 years ago Ian and his wife, Anne, moved to the Far North to work alongside Anne’s father on his farm. Going from being chief executive of a very large communications company to wielding a spade on thistles proved to be quite a shock to the system.

Sadly 18 months later Ian’s father-in-law died and Ian and Anne were left to run the farm. They then made the decision to convert from cattle breeding to dairying to improve the business’s cashflow and profitability.

Nowadays Ian and his wife have two farm properties — a dairy farm just south of Kaitaia and a fattening farm near 90-mile beach. The couple also own a computer business and a Paper Plus store in Kaitaia.

As if that weren’t enough Ian is deputy chairman of the Northland Regional Council (NRC), Chairman of Farmers of New Zealand (FONZ), and a director of Northland Port Corporation.

Being on the council has meant that a lot of issues have been resolved at the policy level that might have been difficult for individuals in the community to fight against had they been regulated on, says Ian.

"As someone with a science background I get really frustrated with anecdotal evidence being presented to local councils and central government with no or little basis in fact — and policy is then driven by it."

Ian thinks that the rural economy can be built up at the same time as encouraging biodiversity and sustainability. "We need to find a balance between improving economic and social wellbeing and environmental wellbeing. We need an holistic approach."

The key to getting the rural economy going lies in innovation and technology, says Ian. "Providing good broadband to remote areas is critical," he says.  Contact

 

 

Operations Director, Bill Guest

"For nearly quarter of a century there has been but one constant in farming advocacy in New Zealand — Bill Guest. Some love him, some respect him, some fear him, some even dislike him but for many farming families Bill has been their saviour." The words come from Farmers of New Zealand chairman, Ian Walker, and describe the organisations’ National Operations director, Bill Guest.

 "Let’s face it, if I worried about my detractors I might as well give up," said Bill. Governments, banks, lawyers, and stock companies are but a few to have experienced the tenacious fighting spirit Bill brings to protecting farmer and rural rights. For many a campaign running low on funds he has opened his own chequebook to keep it on track.

"I first got into the politics of farming with the Tatarariki branch of Federated Farmers. Under the Lange government and Rogernomics, banks were moving against farmers, and I was told I should accept the fact that, in those days, about 500 farmers would have to go to the wall.

 "That was around the time a cocky went into town to get his groceries and the bank went out while he was away and took his dairy herd. I rang the bank manager and he hung up on me. So with trade union support we picketed the bank. No one’s hung up on me since."

Ian Walker says fighting for the rights of the individual over the last 30 years has personally cost Bill tens of thousands of dollars and ‘he does not regret the loss of one dollar’. Walker says Bills’ achievements are impressive.

"He was instrumental in achieving changes to legislation requiring the then NZ Dairy Board to undergo accountability and performance reviews; initiated amendments to the Waitangi Tribunal Act ensuring freehold land could not be returned to claimants; settled the Alan Titford dispute; led the protests during the Weddel receivership; led many a campaign defending property rights, in particular the Aranga dispute, the Whangapae land dispute, the Far North District Plan, the Paul McIntyre firearms case, and more recently, the plight of the Waikare oyster farmers.

"He has also become an expert in employment law dealing with hundreds of employment disputes each year in his role as Operations Director. "Bill regularly claims he only got two for bookkeeping and six for English in his last set of school exams but those that underestimate his ability and intelligence generally live to regret it. If you are in a tight corner and cannot find a way out, Bill with his calm and objective approach generally finds a door to go through.

"He is on first name basis with many of our leading politicians, and in the last local government elections was successful in becoming a politician himself, winning a seat on the Kaipara District Council where he is making his presence felt." He is enthusiastic about Farmers of New Zealand Inc plans to provide a modern industry organisation more befitting today’s farming business. Contact