Wednesday 19 February 2025

9.30am  Unpacking the Land for Life Partnership
Rachel Agnew 
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Senior Rural Advisor – Land for Life

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10.15am Land Use Change
Conrad Wilkshire 
Property Brokers General Manager, Rural     

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11am   Genetic Technologies - back to basics 
Dr John Roche 
Chief Science Advisor, Ministry for Primary Industries 

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11am    Working Dog Demonstration with Guy Peacock & Ned George
Sponsored by McRae Trust Farm

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11.45am Behind the virtual fence. 
A deep dive into farming with virtual fencing.

James Parsons 
Northland hill country farmer using Halter Base™ Collar
Mathew Barham 
Central Hawke’s Bay farmer using Gallagher eShepherd 

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12.30pm  From Research to Reality: Managing Facial Eczema and Parasites on Farm 

Caras Brosnahan 
Principal Scientist Animal Health Research; Beef + Lamb NZ
Greg Tattersfield 
FarmPro and Wormwise facilitator

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​​​​​​​2pm  Drone Demonstration with Airbourne Solutions

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1.30 pm    Beef + Lamb NZ Station Challenge           
Teams of 3 members from an East Coast station, will compete for the Beef + Lamb NZ Station Challange trophy

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3 pm  Ben Purua  FarmUpNZ
Sponsored by Rural Support Trust

​​​​​​​After growing up in an environment where gangs, substance and sexual abuse and domestic violence was normal, the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer of the Year was on a pathway to being another negative statistic. However Ben found his passion for farming during his time in Waikeria Prison.

He shares his journey on social media at ‘FarmUpNz’ on Facebook and Instagram.
Along with his wife Nikki, they promote well-being through their clothing line, Kāmu tō Pāmu. ​​​​​​​

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6pm    Property Brokers Muster

Networking event with keynote speaker Tawera Nikau - Sponsored by Corson Maize
$20 per ticket includes continuous canapes and cash bar

Thursday 20 February 2025

9.30am  Combating Drench Resistance

Trevor Rudman 
Independant Parasitologist,Parascope

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10.15am Urban Kakabeak Project

James Powerie  
RedAxe Forestry Intelligence project manager, leads Urban Kākābeak Project and Hawke’s Bay Forestry Group chief executive 

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11am   Wild about Strong Wool - Panel Discussion

John McWhirter, Chief Executive, Wools of New Zealand; 
Kate Cullwick, Foxtrot Home;
Daniel Norman, National Buyer, Big Save Furniture; 
Tom O’Sullivan, Business Development Manager, Floc.
Maddie Foote, Iona College - Wool Study Pod innovation designer

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11am    Working Dog Demonstration with Guy Peacock & Ned George
Sponsored by McRae Trust Farm

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11.45am Wahine te Pamu
The panel discussion will give an insight into the opportunities and successes the primary industries offer women.   
Panellists include:

• Nancy Crawshaw, Current Zanda award winner 
• Alice Anderson, Hawke's Bay Regional Council Catchment Management Lead 
• Ariana Hadfield, Rabobank Area Business Manager for Gisborne - Bay of Plenty​​​​​​​ 
• Mickey Trotter, Sheep & beef farmer and agritourism 

 

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12.30pm  Rural News Cadet Challenge
Teams of 3 agricultural cadets or secondary school will compete in our rustic style masterchef challenge.

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​​​​​​​2pm  Drone Demonstration with Airbourne Solutions

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​​​​​​​2.30pm  
Hon Andrew Hoggard
Minister for Biosecurity, Minister for Food Safety, 
Associate Minister of Agriculture (Animal Welfare, Skills), 
Associate Minister for the Environment

Hon Mark Patterson TBC
Minister for Rural Communities,
​​​​​​​Associate Minister of Agriculture
Associate Minister for Regional Development