Rural Leaders

01/06/2026

The week ahead at Rural Leaders.

The 2027 Nuffield New Zealand Farming Scholarships are open. Applications close 23 August 2026. Register your interest or apply here, https://ruralleaders.co.nz/application-nuffield/

The 2025 Nuffield Scholars officially wrap-up their Scholarship Programme at a one-day session this Friday.

The Horticulture New Zealand Leadership Programme Scholarships are open until 28 June. Learn more or apply here, https://ruralleaders.co.nz/hortnz-leadership-programme/

Image: The 2025 Nuffield Scholars.

27/05/2026

2025 HortNZ Leadership Programme alum, Jungeun ‘Jiny’ Kim (Co-Owner MJ Fresh Limited) says,

“If you're considering the HortNZ Leadership Programme, I strongly encourage you to apply.

It challenges you beyond your comfort zone, sharpens your leadership thinking, and equips you with practical tools you can immediately apply in your role and everyday decision-making.”

There are 12 scholarships available. These scholarships cover programme fees and accommodation costs and are open to levy paying organisations and their employees.

There are an additional four positions available for a programme fee of $5,000 +GST plus accommodation.

Applications are open until 28 June.

To register your interest, or to apply, head to https://ruralleaders.co.nz/hortnz-leadership-programme/

26/05/2026

This week ahead at Rural Leaders (25 -29 May),

The Engage Programme for the Ellett Agricultural Research Trust ran Thursday and Friday last week (held at DairyNZ). This week the programme is in Newstead, Hamilton. Thank you DairyNZ for hosting once again (Marshmeadow House).

Horticulture NZ Leadership Programme Scholarships are open until 28 June. You can apply for one of 12 Scholarships, or four full fees places here https://ruralleaders.co.nz/hortnz-leadership-programme/

The 2027 Nuffield New Zealand Farming Scholarships are open. You can register your interest, or apply here https://ruralleaders.co.nz/application-nuffield/

Image: Rebecca Hyde, Ian Knowles, Derek Moot (Panel Session) and Angela Halliday (Ellett Trust).


The Team at Rural Leaders.

18/05/2026

Applications for the 2026 Leadership Programme are open until 28 June.

There are 12 scholarships available. These scholarships cover programme fees and accommodation costs and are open to levy paying organisations and their employees.

There are also up to four positions available for a programme fee of $5,000 +GST plus accommodation.

2025 programme alum, Ethan Gillespie (Associate Agronomist, Brownrigg Agriculture Group Ltd.), is one such leader. Of the programme Ethan says,

"The HortNZ Leadership Programme gave me a broader understanding of the horticulture industry, from both the commercial side and the wider government perspective...
..I’d highly recommend it to anyone interested in the future direction and decision-making of our sector, even if leadership is still relatively new to you."

To register your interest, or to apply, head to https://ruralleaders.co.nz/hortnz-leadership-programme/

14/05/2026

Take a read of our latest Rural Leader newsletter here https://createsend.com/t/t-6A0E2503D8B5AADA2540EF23F30FEDED

11/05/2026

The 2026 Horticulture New Zealand Leadership Programme applications are open.

The programme helps prepare you, or your team members, to navigate the opportunities and challenges created by a rapidly growing horticulture sector.

The programme is delivered by Rural Leaders in two phases over nine weeks: Phase One 10 – 14 August (Auckland) and Phase Two 21 – 23 October (Wellington)

Designed for potential and current leaders in the fruit and vegetable industry, participants will primarily be growers, their team members, or from organisations aligned with growing.

It is open to those who have demonstrated leadership or leadership potential and a willingness to take on responsibility.

Horticulture New Zealand is offering 12 scholarships covering all programme fees and accommodation costs.

There are also up to four positions available at a fee of $5,000 +GST plus accommodation.

Applications for the 2026 programme close midnight, 28 June.

Register your interest to receive updates, or apply online here,
https://ruralleaders.co.nz/hortnz-leadership-programme/

10/05/2026

Here's the week ahead at Rural Leaders.

Congratulations to Kellogg Programme Two 2025’s PG Cert graduates. K55 now have a PG Cert to add to their Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme qualification.

Horticulture NZ Leadership Programme Scholarships are open. You can apply here, https://ruralleaders.co.nz/hortnz-leadership-programme/

Next week (21st and 22nd at DairyNZ) sees the next Engage Programme run for the Ellet Agricultural Research Trust. The programme upskills and inspires agricultural researchers to communicate and translate science for wider audiences.

Keep an eye out for the next edition of The Rural Leader. If you’re not already, you can sign up here, https://ruralleaders.co.nz/rural-leader-newsletter/

Have a productive week.

Image: PG Cert graduates from Kellogg Programme Two 2025, in the graduation procession with Lincoln University.

03/05/2026

The week ahead at Rural Leaders.

The Horticulture New Zealand Leadership Programme Scholarships officially open late next week. You can apply early here, https://ruralleaders.co.nz/hortnz-leadership-programme/

The 2025 Nuffield Scholar reports are now out. You can view the reports here https://ruralleaders.co.nz/nuffield-scholar-reports/2025-nuffield-reports/

Image: 2025 HortNZ Leadership Programme graduates with
Hon. Andrew Hoggard, Minister for Biosecurity and Food Safety and the Associate Minister of Agriculture (Animal Welfare, Skills) and for the Environment.

30/04/2026

Rural Leaders is pleased to share the 2025 Nuffield Scholars’ Individual Research Reports with you.

The 2025 Scholars: Dani Darke, Lisa Portas, Jon Pemberton and Alan McDermott* have undertaken research on a diverse range of topics, each addressing significant challenges and opportunities in Food and Fibre.

You can read the 2025 Scholar report summaries and full reports here, https://ruralleaders.co.nz/dani-darke-jon-pemberton-lisa-portas-and-alan-mcdermott-2025-nuffield-reports/

*Alan’s report, 'Melting the Poles: Health and Wealth Through Food’, will be available later this year.

We’d like to acknowledge those who have contributed their support, time and experience to the Scholars, especially our Investing Partners:

DairyNZ, AGMARDT (The Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust), FMG, Mackenzie Charitable Foundation, Rabobank New Zealand, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Foundation for Arable Research (FAR), Horticulture New Zealand, Zespri™ Kiwifruit , Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC)

Professional and Media Partners:

Farmers Weekly NZ and CountryWide Media, PwC New Zealand, Federated Farmers, Tavendale + Partners

Olivia joins Kate Scott, Chair, Michael Tayler, Rebecca Hyde and Craig Mckenzie, Trustees, and Hamish Fraser, Independent Trustee.

28/04/2026

The week ahead at Rural Leaders.

Kellogg Programme Two 2026 (K56) applications are currently in review/selection. Good luck to all those rural leaders who applied for Programme Two 2026.

2025 Nuffield Scholar reports will be out late this week after our Investing Partners have had a first preview. Keep an eye on the Rural Leaders and Nuffield LinkedIn pages.

The Horticulture New Zealand Leadership Programme Scholarships officially open in mid-May but those interested in applying early, can do so here, https://ruralleaders.co.nz/hortnz-leadership-programme/

Image: K55 in Parliament recently.