increase font size
FEDERATED FARMERS is mourning the passing of former national president, Alistair Polson; he was aged 58.
"Alistair was a great farmer and a truly great New Zealander who has been taken from us way too soon," says Bruce Wills, Federated Farmers President.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Bo and their family.
"Bo and Alistair formed the most amazing and loving partnership and while Alistair was called overseas as Special Agricultural Trade Envoy, she kept the farm and family running.
"Where do you start with someone who gave so unstintingly of himself? It is telling that despite Bo and Alistair's home being inundated by the 2004 floods they put community before self.
Polson served as an office holder at most levels of Federated Farmers, serving as Wanganui provincial president and later national president between 1999 and 2002.
He has also served as a director of both the Waitotara Meat Company, PPCS (now Silver Fern Farms) and the Agriculture Industry Training Organisation. He has also served on the New Zealand Veterinary Council and the then National Animal Welfare Advisory Board.
With a strong environmental ethos Polson chaired the NZ Landcare Trust for seven years and in 2012, he became chairman of the New Zealand Farm Environment Awards Trust.
"Chairing the New Zealand Farm Environment Awards Trust was something I know Alistair was deeply proud of. It assured him the next generation of farmers cared for the land every bit as much as he did," says Wills.
"Alistair himself won the Grasslands Memorial Trust Award for sustained improvement of pastures and sheep breeds in Wanganui hill country. He was a past Nuffield Scholar and would later chair the New Zealand Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust too."
In 2004 he was appointed New Zealand Special Agricultural Trade Envoy by the former Labour Government and continued in that role to 2013.
"In Argentina, for the World Farmers Organisation earlier this year, South American delegates mentioned Alistair's name with reverence. He was a noble man of true mana who gave his all for New Zealand," says Wills.
"Alistair was a giant and his loss touches us all greatly," Wills says.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
Federated Farmers says the final report into banking competition is a significant step forward for rural New Zealand - and a vindication of the farming sector's concern.
Farmer lobby group Federated Farmers has announced it is supporting a new Member’s Bill which it says could bring clarity to New Zealand farmers and save millions in legal costs.
Federated Farmers says climate protest group Greenpeace is manufacturing outrage and attempting to scare New Zealanders with headlines that have no basis in science.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand has launched an AI-powered digital assistant to help farmers using the B+LNZ Knowledge Hub to create tailored answers and resources for their farming businesses.
A tiny organism from the arid mountains of mainland Greece is facilitating a new way of growing healthier animals on farms across New Zealand.
Alliance has announced a series of capital raise roadshow event, starting on 29 September in Tuatapere, Southland.
OPINION: Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.
State farmer Pāmu (Landcorp) has announced a new equity partnership in an effort to support pathways to farm ownership for livestock farm operators.
OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.
