Pāmu farm opens gate to urban visitors
For many urban New Zealanders, stepping into Pāmu’s Pinta dairy farm near Taupo last month was the first time they had had the chance to experience farm life up close.
Parker is a former chief executive of Scion (NZ Forest Research Institute) and Landcare Research, and was previously chief operating officer of AgResearch.
He chairs the Forestry Ministerial Advisory Group and until recently chaired the New Zealand Conservation Authority. He is a director of Predator Free 2050 Ltd, Farmlands Cooperative Society and Genomics Aotearoa.
Parker has a PhD in animal science and was previously a professor of agribusiness and resource management at Massey University, where he spent 18 years in various roles, including supervising the 9000 stock unit Riverside Farm in Wairarapa.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson says Parker is an experienced expert in NZ’s primary industries a senior in science, education, management and most recently in governance. Robertson applauded Parker’s “experience and ability to take over the chair’s role at Landcorp”.
Associate Minister of State Owned Enterprises Shane Jones says Parker’s “experience in a wide range of primary industries will enable him to look at all Landcorp’s work and ensure shareholder value for money from our investment”.
Landcorp is New Zealand’s largest farming business. Its core business is pastoral farming, running 1.5 million stock units – sheep, deer, beef and dairy cattle – on 126 properties totalling 372,115ha under management.
