Third Candidate Confirmed for Feds President Election
There has been another twist to the Federated Farmers annual election fiasco.
Federated Farmers has welcomed Elizabeth Soal as the new chief executive of Irrigation New Zealand.
"Federated Farmers maintains an excellent working relationship with Irrigation New Zealand," Feds water and environment spokesperson Chris Allen says.
"Elizabeth has the credentials and background, including her strategy and policy work for the Waitaki Irrigators Collective, to help ensure INZ continues its excellent work."
Federated Farmers says reliable water supply and storage, as well as its use in an environmentally sustainable way, is crucial for food growers and exporters, and thus to the vitality of provincial New Zealand. This will be even more important as the impacts of climate change bite.
"We look forward to working with Elizabeth and the INZ board to promote and enhance the critical role that irrigation has in food security," says Allen.
Federated Farmers has also thanked outgoing IrrigationNZ chief executive Andrew Curtis for his contribution and wishes him well for his future endeavours.
Forestry Minister Todd McClay has today congratulated the winners of the 2026 Growing Native Forests Champions Awards at Fieldays.
The Government has announced $60,000 to provide one-off grants of $1,000 to each of the 60 New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF) clubs across the country.
New Zealand’s rural sector has once again demonstrated its generosity, with the second Rural Industry Leaders Dinner, Debate and Auction raising an impressive $400,000 for the Rural Support Trust.
There has been another twist to the Federated Farmers annual election fiasco.
Analysis of decades of research has revealed the implementation of good farming practices plays a critical role in reducing nutrient losses to improve freshwater outcomes.
Yesterday the Government used the opening of Fieldays to announce a major investment, as part of its Land Use Flexibility package, to support a more productive and sustainable future across six sectors including dairy.

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