FAR is governed by Rules, commonly referred to as a Constitution. FAR has a 21 person Members' Council, a skills based board and seven regional advisory groups known as Arable Research Groups (ARG).
FAR operates under the Commodity Levies Act, 1990 and manages three separate levy orders. The most recent referendum vote for each of these levy orders was held in 2023. Each vote was successful and on the recommendation of the Minister of Agriculture, the following three levy orders were signed off by the Governor General in 2024.
Commodity Levies Arable Crops Order 2024
The purpose of the Board is to provide governance to the Society relating to:
The Board shall comprise of: five to nine Directors, (of which up to three Board Directors can be Appointed Directors) including one Chairperson who must also be a levy payer. The majority of Board Directors shall be levy paying Members.
For more information, see Sections 25-28 in the FAR Rules
Current board members
Steven Bierema | Chair | 3rd term | eligible for re-election Dec. 2026 |
Paul Mackintosh | Vice Chair | 3rd term | stand down Dec. 2026 |
Val McMillan |
| 3rd term | stand down December 2029 |
Hamish Irwin |
| 1st term | eligible for re-election Dec. 2029 |
Michael Tayler |
| 1st term | eligible for re-election Dec. 2029 |
Ed White |
| 1st term | eligible for re-election Dec. 2029 |
John Caradus |
| 3rd term | stand down Dec. 2029 |
Mike Hedley |
| 3rd term | stand down Dec. 2029 |
Robyn Dynes |
| 2nd term | eligible for re-election Dec 2028 |
Liam Martin | Associate member | 18 months | stand down Dec. 2026 |
The Members’ Council shall be made up of three ARG representatives from each of the seven regional ARGs who are nominated to represent their region. The primary purpose of the Members’ Council is to approve financials for the Society at the Annual General Meeting and to approve the appointment of Board Directors.
Each of the seven ARGs shall appoint three of its ARG Reps’ to form part of the Members’ Council. The Members’ Council shall appoint a Chairperson from within the Members’ Council by ballot or any other means they see fit. The Members’ Council will elect members of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee. Each Members’ Council Member shall be entitled to one vote. The Chairperson shall have a deliberative and casting vote.
Members' Council
NNI | Simon Fookes | Alan Henderson | Mark Ernest |
SWNI | Adrian Noaro | Hew Dalrymple | Dion Fleming |
ENI | Hugh Ritchie | Simon White | Ed White |
NSI | Doug Gough | Matthew McEvedy (Chair) | Earl Worsfold |
MC | James Thomas | Steve Sim | Nick Sinclair |
SCNO | Peter Mitchell | Andrew Darling | Nigel Rathgen |
SOS | Howard Clarke | Craig Whiteside | Blair Drysdale |
For more information on the Members' Council, see Sections 19-22 in the FAR Rules
The FAR Rules state that "The Chairperson of the Members’ Council shall review the past year’s work and submit a report and financial statements duly audited" These reports are then submitted to the Minister for Primary Industries. As a registered not-for-profit organisation, FAR must also submit an Annual Report to Charities Services New Zealand. FAR Annual Reports are available on the Charities Services website.
See recent annual reports below.
FAR's Audit and Risk Committee provides monitoring of, and advice on, financial reporting, risk management, health and safety, and external and internal audit matters.
Audit and risk committee members
Val McMillan (Chair)
Hamish Irwin
Ed White
The Nomination and Remuneration Committee (NRC) is a subcommittee of the Members’ Council. It is made up of at least one Members’ Council member and up to three others who, in the opinion of the Council are appropriately skilled and experienced. The majority of the NR&C must be levy paying Members.
The NRC shall deal with Board remuneration matters (all other remuneration matters to be dealt with by the CEO) for the Society and to assist the Members’ Council with Board selection.
Nomination and Remuneration Committee members
Hew Dalrymple (Chair)
Graeme Austin
Matt McEvedy
Hugh Ritchie
The RDAC provides an advisory function to the Board in relation to research and development priorities. The RDAC shall be made up of a representative from each of the seven ARGs and up to seven Appointed Members from research institutes and/or industry. The Chair of the RDAC to be elected by the Board. A RDAC Member may serve up to a maximum of 3 terms of 3 years before their position must be vacated. For more information, see Sections 17-18 in the FAR Rules
RDAC members
Paul Mackintosh (SWNI) (Chair) |
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Chris Pellow (NNI) | James Abbiss (SWNI) | Earl Worsfold NSI) |
Hugh Wigley (SCNO) | Blair Drysdale (SOS) | George Lilley (MC) |
Gordon Rennie (Appointed) | Robyn Dynes (AgResearch) | John Foley (Appointed) |
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