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A few of the graduates from this year's intake.
FOURTEEN WOMEN completed the Agri-Women's Development Trust's (AWDT) Escalator programme last week, bringing its total number of graduates to 53 since it began in 2010.
The 10-month programme came about after AWDT's research into the role of New Zealand women in agriculture found low participation rates at leadership and governance levels. In an effort to answer this problem, the programme aims to develop women's skills and confidence to govern and lead agricultural organisations and communities.
This year's programme attracted women from Bay of Plenty to Southland who are involved in the dairy, honey, sheep and beef, animal health, agri-business and banking sectors.
"Escalator continues to attract women from across the agricultural spectrum – from grassroots farmers who are heavily involved in their businesses and communities to women in corporate roles," says AWDT executive director Lindy Nelson.
"This kind of mix has high value through knowledge exchange and widening of very diverse networks, then later on through involvement with a very strong alumni group."
At a ceremony held in Wellington, the 2014 graduates were joined by more than 100 industry leaders, including 17 members of the Escalator Alumni who travelled from throughout New Zealand and Melbourne to further their own leadership development and support the graduates.
Seven members of the alumni, including two from this year, are now assisting the AWDT develop and deliver its programmes around New Zealand.
"It's exciting to see one of our original goals -developing women to train and support other women – now being achieved," says Nelson.
Science is pivotal to driving progress and unlocking opportunity and innovation in the ag sector, says DairyNZ chief executive and chair of the Agribusiness in Schools programme, Campbell Parker.
OPINION: Last week, Education Minister Erica Stanford sent a clear, but troubling message to New Zealand’s students: if you’re academically ambitious, agriculture might not be for you.
Public backlash has forced the Ministry of Education (MoE) and Education Minister Erica Stanford to do a U-turn on a proposal to axe agriculture and horticulture science as standalone subjects in the secondary school curriculum.
There's been unprecedented demand from secondary school students across the country to study agricultural related subjects.
OPINION: Your old mate gets the sinking feeling that no matter who we vote into power in the hope they will reverse the terminal slide the country is in, there will always be a cohort of naysayers determined to hold us back.
According to ASB, Fonterra's plan to sell it's Anchor and Mainlands brands could inject $4.5 billion in additional spending into the economy.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.
The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.
Dignitaries from all walks of life – the governor general, politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Todd McClay is encouraging farmers, growers, and foresters not to take unnecessary risks, asking that they heed weather warnings today.
With nearly two million underutilised dairy calves born annually and the beef price outlook strong, New Zealand’s opportunity to build a scalable dairy-beef system is now.
