AgriZeroNZ CEO Wayne McNee Resigns; Interim CEO Named
Wayne McNee, chief executive of AgriZeroNZ, has resigned and will leave the organisation on 15 January 2027.
The appointment follows the departure of Sir Brian Roche who steered the joint venture (JV) through its establishment phase.
Roche left the JV in November to take up the role of Public Service Commissioner.
Hewett is a sixth-generation farmer with a 1050ha sheep, beef, wind and forestry operation in South Otago, and holds multiple governance roles across agriculture, horticulture, exporting and energy sectors.
Currently, he chairs Silver Fern Farms, Farmlands, Woolworks, Hilton Haulage, Pioneer Energy, Fern Energy and Rewiring Aotearoa. He is also a director on T&G Global.
Hewett was endorsed for the AgriZeroNZ role by its investor partners (The a2 Milk Company, ANZ, ANZCO Foods, ASB, BNZ, Fonterra, Rabobank, Ravensdown, Silver Fern Farms, Synlait and MPI) and ratified by Cabinet given the Crown’s 50 per cent shareholding.
He says he is excited to join the JV and foster its focus on helping New Zealand farmers meet the global demand for emissions reduction.
“AgriZeroNZ is a fantastic example of how a group of disparate companies can come together with the government to solve a problem common for all New Zealand agriculture,” says Hewett.
“AgriZeroNZ’s work is not only fundamentally important for our collective future licence to operate among discerning global customers, it’s also personal for me as our family’s farming future will in large part be determined by the success of these activities,” he says.
AgriZeroNZ director, Fraser Whineray says the board and team are pleased to welcome Hewett.
“It’s important that AgriZeroNZ’s momentum and progress towards getting practical tools into the hands of New Zealand farmers at the earliest opportunity continues. Rob’s mix of extensive governance and hands-on farming experience makes him a great fit for this task.”
To date, AgriZeroNZ has committed over $46 million across a rapidly expanding portfolio of ventures, research projects and trials. This includes a methane-inhibiting bolus, vaccines, novel probiotics, feed additives and low-emissions pasture.
