Campbell Parker to head up DairyNZ

dairy farmers,” Van der Poel said.

FARMING leaders are seeking the removal of the threat to include agriculture in the Emissions Trading Scheme should agreement not be reached on an alternative system for agricultural emissions.

If a new agreement is not achieved, agriculture is legislated to be included in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) from January 1 2025, a threat DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel said must be removed.

He accepts for that to happen progress needs to be made on an alternative model to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, which he said the He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) partnership is pursuing in good faith.

Beef + Lamb NZ chair Kate Acland said it is fair and just that this is achieved before an emissions charge is imposed.

The organisation is committed to HWEN but, she said, the previous proposal was not fair or workable for the sheep and beef sector.

Acland believes technology and supply agreements with processors will incentivise farmers to reduce their emissions.

“Technology will come and markets will incentivise change and to me that’s what good looks like.”

Given there is little technology currently available to lower emissions, Acland said research and development must be funded.

WAIKATO-based executive Campbell Parker has been appointed chief executive of DairyNZ.

Parker brings a wealth of experience to the role and said he is excited to be stepping into DairyNZ at such a pivotal time for the dairy sector.

He replaces Dr Tim Mackle, who leaves at the end of June after 15 years in the role.

DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel welcomed the expertise Parker brings to the company, including extensive experience in the rural and corporate sectors.

Parker, who starts in October, has been chief executive of GEA Farm Technologies NZ since 2020.

“Recruiting a new chief executive who is passionate about dairy farming and its future has been hugely important to us – alongside leadership skills to continue DairyNZ’s positive direction, as an organisation here first and foremost to represent our

“Campbell brings significant leadership and sector experience that will be invaluable to both DairyNZ’s senior team and in supporting and representing our farmer levy payers, in a wide range of forums.

“Campbell is passionate about agriculture and, in particular, supporting New Zealand dairy to continue as a world-leading sector.”

With over 25 years’ experience in agriculture, Parker has held roles with PGG Wrightson, Bank of New Zealand and Ballance AgriNutrients. He holds a Bachelor of Agriculture majoring in Rural Valuation from Massey University and grew up on a sheep, beef and dairy grazing farm.

Parker said he is excited by the opportunity to contribute to dairy farming in a new and challenging role.

“I am genuinely humbled and excited to be joining DairyNZ as the next chief executive. I am passionate about the role the dairy sector plays in creating jobs, building communities, and contributing to the success of the New Zealand economy,” he said.

“It is important to build on the good work Tim and the team have done over the past decade, and to keep that moving –working collaboratively to ensure long-term sustainability and profitability of the sector.”

An acting chief executive, Peter Scott, will be in place until Parker joins DairyNZ in October.

“It is still our objective to come up with something that we and the government agree is fair and better than agriculture going into the ETS.”

He said any agreement needs to be supported by the primary sector – and must be enduring, not subject to constant political tinkering.

“We know for it to work, it has to work for everybody as a sector.

“We cannot accept something that works for one and not the others.”

After six months of little or no progress due to a change in prime minister and distractions such as Cyclone Gabrielle, Van der Poel said, the government is keen to engage.

He doubts much will happen before October’s election.

HWEN partners and six government ministers met at National Fieldays and agreed to terms to resurrect the faltering agreement.

In addition to removing the threat of inclusion in the ETS, they want a delay in setting a price until there is agreement

Farmer opinion is still divided but Acland is confident a model that differs to that initially proposed will find broader support.

“There is no doubt the direction the world is heading and we have to get on board and head that way, which is why we support measuring and reporting.

“Once farmers start measuring something, they can start managing it.”

Todd McClay, the National Party’s agriculture spokesperson, said if the government is genuine in renegotiating HWEN, it should remove the threat of the sector being placed in the ETS.

He said meetings with farmers he has hosted recently show a high level of distrust in the sincerity of the government.

Many think the widely rejected initial HWEN proposal has been parked until after the election.

“They [the government] are desperate to say to the urban population that the HWEN process is still alive but the only way they can demonstrate to NZ farmers that they don’t want to drive them out of business is to, before the election, take out of legislation that they will be put in the ETS.”