Native Forest Champions Honoured at Fieldays 2026
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.
Announcing the funding, Agriculture Todd McClay says that NZYF do a huge amount of good in rural communities.
"We want to support their efforts to help them do even more,” McClay says.
He says the funding will help back the important work of small volunteer committees, which drive organisation, membership, and event planning at each club.
"The committees are essential to the club’s ongoing success, their ability to attract new members and event sponsorship, and provide support to young people in rural communities.”
NZYF is a non-profit with a long history of connecting, nurturing, and empowering young people in rural communities.
“Its clubs provide a place for young people to develop leadership skills, network with like-minded people, and make lifelong friends,” McClay says.
“The organisation is part of the fabric of rural New Zealand and will mark its centenary next year. This funding will be a boost for clubs planning local celebrations.”
McClay says the Government is also backing the wellbeing of young people in rural communities through the Rural Wellbeing Fund.
“NZ Young Farmers was one of 18 community-based organisations and initiatives to receive funding through the Government’s Rural Wellbeing Fund.
“It’s receiving $585,000 to ramp up new initiatives, focusing on physical, mental, and financial wellbeing, leveraging its network of 60 clubs,” McClay adds.
“The primary industries are the backbone of the economy, supporting local jobs and communities, and this Government is committed to building the future for the sector to succeed.”
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.