Why?

Oram, a bicycle-riding lay minister from Auckland, is a regular critic of NZ farming, forever claiming the sector is 'not doing enough' on the climate change front.

He recently wrote a vitriolic, scathing article lambasting the recommendation of the He Waka Eke Noa proposals - of which SFF is a key supporter - for being, among other things, "remarkably irresponsible", "devoid of any reference to emissions reduction" and "entirely self-serving".

The long-time SFF shareholder and supplier is so incensed that SFF is paying (which will be many thousands of dollars) Oram, out of his and other shareholders' pockets, that he is refusing to attend the forum.