Young Farmers Step Closer to Ownership Through Pāmu Livestock Model
State farmer Pāmu says a programme it's running to help skilled operators into farm ownership is paying dividends.
The Government has appointed three new members to the board of state farmer Landcorp Farming Ltd, trading as Pāmu.
Angela Dixon, Stu Husband, and Brent Lawgun begin serving a three-year term from 1 August 2025.
Dixon is a seasoned consultant and finance specialist with extensive governance experience. Her background spans financial performance oversight, capital asset management, and digital innovation.
Husband is a dairy farm owner and operator, iwi negotiator, and former Waikato Regional Councillor. His strong connection with farmers and belief in Landcorp's role as a pathway to farm ownership for rangatahi underpin his appointment, says Pāmu.
Lawgun has over 30 years of business, with a focus on private equity, funds management, and board governance. His pragmatic approach to aligning governance with performance and culture makes him a valuable addition to the board.
Chair John Rae says each new appointee brings a unique blend of expertise, insight, and leadership "that will be invaluable as we continue to deliver on our strategic priorities and crown expectations".
"Their appointments mark a significant step forward in strengthening Pāmu governance capability and ensuring the board reflects the breadth of experience needed to navigate the future of farming in NZ," Rae says.
Two months ago, Pāmu was issued a "please explain" letter by its shareholder, the Government, seeking answers on how it intends to strengthen its finances and focus on its core roles.
State Owned Enterprises Minister Simeon Brown wrote to the board expressing disappointment and concern at the state-owned farming company's "failure to make progress in improving its performance".
He cited as examples of underperformance and measures needing to be addressed, improving the five-year average of a 2.6% return on shareholder's funds, and it's failure to meet its cost of equity for at least a decade.
A recent Beef + Lamb New Zealand quad safety field day, held along the rugged Whanganui river valley at Kakatahi, focused on identifying risks and taking appropriate actions to minimise unplanned accidents.
Healthy snacking company Rockit has announced Wang Yibo, one of China's most influential celebrities, as its new brand ambassador.
Rabobank has celebrated the tenth anniversary of its AgPathways Programme, with 23 farmers from Otago and Southland gathering for two-and-a-half days to learn new business management and planning skills.
Adopting strategies to reduce worm burden on farm goes hand-in--hand with best practice farm management practices to optimise stock production and performance, veterinarian Andrew Roe says.
Last night saw the winners of the 2026 Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Awards named at a gala dinner at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre.
A 12-month pathway programme has helped kickstart a career in dairy for an 18-year-old student-turned-farmer.

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