Wednesday 18 February 2026

 

9.30am        

Kristin Kirpatrick Beef + Lamb NZ Senior Advisor; 
Farmer Engagement & Partnerships – Eliminating Facial Eczema Impacts Programme

Sarah Powdrell Genetics Extension & Operations Manager; Beef + Lamb Genetics

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10.15am      

Panel Discussion with 

Dr Ashton Eaves, Senior Land Scientist, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. 

Saul Gudsell, Intermediate Policy Planner, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. 

Ariana Mackay, Senior Water Scientist - Freshwater & Ecology, Hawke's Bay Regional Council.

Catchment Management Advisor TBC

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11am Science and Innovation’s role in New Zealand’s prosperity

Dr John Roche, Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor

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

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11.45am  Life after farming in 2026

Pita Alexander Agri-business accounting specialist

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12.30pm  Whāngārā Farms 100-year Whenua Optimisation Plan - He Rau Ake Ake

Ray Leach, Business Manager, Whāngārā Farms

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1pm 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 Challenge trophy

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3 pm         

Kane Brisco, FarmFit New Zealand
Kane’s FarmFit New Zealand podcast and social media pages encouraging practical tips for farming businesses to sustainably contribute – both on farm and the top six inches. 
Sponsored by The Wairoa Commissioning Table

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6pm  Property Brokers Evening Muster
Networking event with keynote speaker Shane Cameron
$25 per ticket includes continuous canapes and cash bar

Thursday 19 February 2026

 

9.30am  Combating Drench Resistance

Trevor Rudman 
Independant Parasitologist,Parascope

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10.15am The Myth of Free Nitrogen

Dr Jacqueline Rowarth  
Adjunct Professor Lincoln University 

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11am   Future Farmers - Rangitahi o te Whenua Panel Discussion
Inspiring the next generation of farmers
Sponsored by The Wairoa Commissioning Table

Marie Burke, Farmer Time for Schools National Coordinator
Rex Newman, Napier Boys’ High School Head of Agriculture
Sally Newall, Kiwi Country Kids & Beef+Lamb NZ Farmer Councillor
Taryn Helm, Programme Operations Lead, Growing Future Farmers

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

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11.45am A Journey of Opportunity

Chloe Butcher Herries, (Ngāti Mahanga, Waikato-Tainui)

 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer of the Year
Sponsored by The Wairoa Commissioning Table

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12.30pm  Rural News Cadet Challenge
Teams of 3 agricultural cadets or secondary school students will compete for the Rural News Cadet Challenge trophy.

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2pm  Drone Demonstration with Airbourne Solutions

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