Let the games begin!
New Zealand's largest celebration of rural sports athletes and enthusiasts – New Zealand Rural Games - is back for its 10th edition, kicking off in Palmerston North from Thursday, March 6th to Sunday, March 9th, 2025.
Challenged with discussing the 'winds of change' currently sweeping across the farming landscapes of New Zealand and Australasia, delegates will hear from keynote speakers including Steven Carden, CEO of Landcorp Farming Ltd, Paul Morgan, chairman of Wakatu Incorporation, Prof. Jacqueline Rowarth from the University of Waikato, James Parsons, chairman of Beef + Lamb NZ, Doug Avery, Marlborough farmer, and Scottie Chapman, CEO of Spring Sheep Dairy Ltd.
The PPP Conference also marks the announcement of the 2016 recipient of the prestigious Zanda McDonald Award. In the running for the $30,000 prize package is: Wesley Lefroy, a 24 year old soil scientist from Western Australia, Dean Rabbidge, a 30 year old dairy, beef and sheep farmer from Wyndham, Southland and Erica van Reenen, a 31 year old environmental and agricultural consultant from Feilding.
Nathan Guy, Minister for Primary Industries will present the award on Wednesday, March 23 at about 9pm.
