Third Candidate Confirmed for Feds President Election

A third nomination has been filed for the post of national president.

Feds national board member Mark Hooper’s nomination makes it a three-way battle between him, current president Wayne Langford and vice president, Colin Hurst.

Rural News understands that Hooper has been nominated as a back-up candidate if Langford’s nomination is disallowed at the annual meeting in Auckland later this month.

And if Langford gets enough votes to stay on for another year, Hooper will become his vice president.

Leadership Succession Under Spotlight

Langford, who has served three years in the role, plans to stay on for another year, upsetting some Feds leaders. Traditionally, the Feds president serves for three years and then the vice president takes over.

Langford told Rural News that they will be an election this year for the president’s post.

“Elections are good - it means that members have got a chance to stand up and vote and it gives whoever is in charge a mandate to represent them,” he says.

Stability a Key Priority

Langford says he’s seeking to stay on for another year because Federated Farmers has just employed a new chief executive.

“It's standard good governance that you wouldn't replace your chair and hire a new CEO within the space of three or four months.

“We just want some stability for the organisation.

“We've also got an election (general election) coming up, and we've just announced our election platform. 

“So, we've got to get that over the line for farmers.”