Dairy farmers urged to participate in 2026 Levy vote
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown is urging dairy farmers to participate in the 2026 Levy vote, to be held early next year.
A series of day-long events planned throughout the country this month is aimed at providing dairy farmers with unique opportunities to better understand workforce dynamics, and ideas on actions they can take to find and keep great people.
DairyNZ and Dairy Women’s Network are partnering to deliver events in Northland, Bay of Plenty, Manawatu- Whanganui and Southland regions.
DairyNZ lead advisor for people, Jane Muir, will be master of ceremonies (MC) for the events. She encourages farmers to join the People Expo events to hear about what is needed to tackle the big employment issues on farm.
“Supporting great workplaces and people on farm is critical. We want to support farmers with credible evidence and practical solutions that help them find and keep the staff they want,” says Muir.
“These People Expos are opportunities to connect with other farmers facing similar challenges, while guest speakers and workshops provide inspiration and practical tips you can apply with your farm team.
“I encourage farmers to attend, as I think everyone will take something positive away from these events that is directly applicable to their farm.”
A range of guest speakers headline the People Expos including Waikato dairy farm owners Sue and David Fish, focusing on their ethos of teamwork, and Chris Parsons, chief commercial officer of MyFarm, sharing his story of teamwork and leadership, in a varied career including time in the NZ Defence Force.
Guest speaker and economist Shamubeel Eaqub will discuss global, national, and regional economic and workforce changes and outline why farm businesses must act differently and look in new places to stay successful.
“The global and political backdrop for farmers is increasingly unpredictable, affecting interest rates, dairy price, and the input costs of critical things, like feed and fertiliser,” says Eaqub.
“This makes businesses and farming more unpredictable, and we cannot influence these things. However, we can influence how we lead and manage our businesses. Part of this is around our most important resource, our people, who are in short supply but demanded from every sector. I’m looking forward to sharing practical ways for us to think differently as leaders, and to act differently as a sector, along with having insightful discussions with farmers.”
The People Expos are free for dairy farmers and their team to attend.
Expo Details
Northland
Wednesday 13 March
9.30am - 2.30pm
Barge Park, Whangarei
Southland
Tuesday 19 March
9.30am - 2.30pm
Ascot Park, Invercargill
Manawatu-Whanganui
Tuesday 26 March
9.30am - 2.30pm
Bush Multisport Park, Pahiatua
Bay of Plenty
Wednesday 27 March
9.30am - 2.30pm
Millennium Hotel, Rotorua
Information and registration: dairynz.co.nz/people-expo
