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Andrew Hoggard joins a host of former Fed Farmers leaders eyeing a ticket to Parliament at this year’s election.
A slew of farming sector leaders linked to Federated Farmers are contesting the upcoming general election.
All candidates served Feds at provincial or national level and most are standing on a National Party ticket.
However, ACT has claimed the biggest scalp with former Feds president Andrew Hoggard standing for the party at this year's election.
National has selected former Feds meat and wool section chair Miles Anderson as its candidate for Waitaki, former Feds Wairarapa meat and wool chair Mike Butterick for Wairarapa, and former Northland president Grant McCullum for the Northland seat.
Former NZ First MP Mark Patterson is expected to stand again. The Southland farmer served one term in Parliament and returned to farming after NZ First was voted out in 2020.
Hoggard is one of New Zealand's best known farming leaders. His decision to stand for ACT has raised a few eyebrows because the farming community is seen as the National Party's powerbase.
When asked why not the National Party, Hoggard says he would ask "why not the ACT Party?"
"I feel they espouse the principles that I stand for: it's a natural home for me."
Hoggard resigned as Feds president this month, two months before his three-year term was due to expire.
Media speculation about Hoggard standing on an ACT ticket started two weeks ago. Hoggard believes rumours had been circulating for weeks before that.
"Once it came out in the media, it was untenable for me to continue as president," he says.
Hoggard has been replaced by vice-president Wayne Langford. A new president, almost certain to be Langford, will be elected at Feds' annual conference in July.
McCullum, a Maungaturoto beef and dairy farmer since 1995, says he's standing for National because the party backs farmers.
"As a farmer myself, I understand the significant contribution farmers make to the economy and to Kiwis, both here in Northland and across the country.
"With National, I look forward to advocating for farmers and farming communities to reduce their regulatory burden and costs and let them get on with doing what they do best - leading the world in innovative farming practices that help to drive New Zealand forward."
Anderson, who farms in South Canterbury, claims National can strengthen the economy and help reduce the cost of living and lift incomes.
"As Chris Luxon said recently, we need to back our farmers like we back the All Blacks. National understands the contribution farmers make to New Zealand and will work with them, not against them. As a farmer, I will always be a strong advocate for our priamary sector."
Butterick says as a Wairarapa farmer he knows how important the primary sector is to the economy.
"I'll advocate for farmers and farming communities to be able to get on with what they do best, without being burdened with more unworkable regulations."
This year’s Fieldays will feature a Rural Advocacy Hub - bringing together various rural organisations who are advocating for farmers and championing their interests as one team, under one roof, for the first time.
Farmers have been airing their concerns to the Government over changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme.
Southland farmers are welcoming moves by the Government to repeal intensive winter grazing rules.
A new report shows farm employers across the dairy, sheep and beef, and arable sectors have continued to invest strongly in one of their greatest assets – their staff.
Federated Farmers says changes announced to the Resource Management Act today mark the end of the war on farming.
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Another 16 commercial beef farmers have been selected to take part in the Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme designed to help drive the uptake of genetics in the industry.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Kiwi exporters will be $100 million better off today as the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) comes into force.
Making things simpler, not harder, for deer farmers in farm planning and coping with regulations is Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) industry capability manager John Ladley’s current focus.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) is launching an online business directory called The Country Women’s Collective to promote and support entrepreneurial rural women.
New Zealand actor Sam Neill has joined the Campaign for Wool NZ as an ambassador, lending his name and profile to educate and advocate for New Zealand strong wool.
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