Tuesday, 03 September 2019 13:55

Farmer leader dips toe into politics

Written by  Pam Tipa
Pamela Storey. Pamela Storey.

Dairy Women's Network trustee and Waikato dairy farmer Pamela Storey is standing for the Waikato Regional Council.

After many executive and governance roles this is her first venture into politics. 

Originally from the United States, Storey accepted a blind date with a Kiwi dairy farmer and migrated here in 1996, entering the dairy industry.

On farm she has mainly been in a support and strategic management role, while pursuing her own career.

Her husband Ian is a fourth generation dairy farmer and they own and operate a 480 cow farm in Te Hoe, north Waikato, farming there since 2001 and merging three farms into one operation.

Their focus is on breeding high BW animals and developing an adaptive approach to farming systems.

Embracing the changing societal expectations of modern farming is the key issue the sector faces, Storey says. 

“Maintaining our social licence to farm is imperative to our industry and individual businesses. We must adapt and respond to the demands of our communities and markets.”

We need effective dialogue and engagement on future ways of food production, she says.

She believes in community led change, and has led and participated in such initiatives for 10 years. 

“With my many years working in and with organisations on water, soil, air, biodiversity and economic development, the Waikato Regional Council is an ideal place for me to apply my unique mix of skills and experience to local government and our community.”

Storey has a bachelor degree in electrical engineering from Washington State University and more recently an MBA from a UK. She has long worked in energy, renewable generation, energy efficiency and environmental organisations, with 18 years in governance roles.

She has been a board member of Access HomeHealth, Go Eco, Council for Women in Energy and Environmental Leadership, and most recently Primary ITO. 

She was a finalist in the 2017 New Zealand Women of Influence Awards.

More like this

Mixed season for Waikato contractors

Last season was a mixed bag for Waikato contractors, with early planted forage maize, planted on the dry soils around Cambridge, doing badly after germination and failing to meet potential, says Jeremy Rothery, Jackson Contracting.

Featured

Being a rural vet is ‘fantastic’

Everyone from experienced veterinarians and young professionals to the Wormwise programme and outstanding clinics have been recognised in this year’s New Zealand Veterinary Association Te Pae Kīrehe (NZVA) awards.

Editorial: Long overdue!

OPINION: The Government's latest move to make freshwater farm plans more practical and affordable is welcome, and long overdue.

National

Lame stories from a country vet

Everyone from experienced veterinarians and young professionals to the Wormwise programme and outstanding clinics have been recognised in this year’s…

Machinery & Products

Gongs for best field days site

Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive…

Amazone extends hoe range

With many European manufacturers releasing mechanical weeding systems to counter the backlash around the use and possible banning of agrochemicals,…

Gong for NH dealers

New Holland dealers from around Australia and New Zealand came together last month for the Dealer of the Year Awards,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Less hot air

OPINION: Farmers won't get any credit for this from the daily media, so Milking It is giving the bouquets where…

Dollars go offshore

OPINION: The Advertising Standards Authority’s 2024 report revealed that not only is social media rotting our brains, it is also…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter