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  • Governance And Grower Representation

Governance and growers

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). 

Read the FAR Rules here

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

Commodity Levies Maize Order 2024

Commodity Levies Cereal Silage Order 2024

Board role and membership

The purpose of the Board is to provide governance to the Society relating to:

  • All matters related to the operations of the Society
  • The research and development projects undertaken by the Society
  • All matters put forward for consideration by either the Members’ Council or a Member who has raised an issue with the support of not less than 10 other Members
  • Receive reports from the Chief Executive Officer and Management.

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

Meet our Board members

Current board members' time on board

*some board terms were extended in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic


Term

Comment

Steven Bierema

(Chair)

Second

Up for re-election end 2026

Steve Wilkins

(Vice Chair, Grower)

Final

Stand down end 2025

Paul Mackintosh

(Grower)

Second

Up for re-election end 2026

Guy Wigley

(Grower)

Second

Up for re-election end 2025

Val McMillan

(Grower)

Second

Up for re-election end 2025

Mike Hedley

(Appointed)

Second

Up for re-election end 2025

John Caradus (Appointed)

Second

Up for re-election end 2025

Robyn Dynes

(Appointed)

Second

Up for re-election end 2028

Rowland Ambler (Associate)

18 month term

Ends December 2025


Members' Council Role and Membership

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

Mike Parker

Alan Henderson

Mark Ernest

SWNI

Paul Mackintosh

Hew Dalrymple

Dion Fleming

ENI

Hugh Ritchie

Simon White

Vacant

NSI

David Birkett

Matthew McEvedy (Chair)

Earl Worsfold

MC

Steven Bierema

Steve Sim

James Thomas

SCNO

Peter Mitchell

Colin Hurst

Guy Wigley

SOS

Steve Wilkins

Craig Whiteside

Blair Drysdale

For more information on the Members' Council, see Sections 19-22 in the FAR Rules

FAR Annual Reports

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 Annual Report 2023-2024

FAR Annual Report 2022-2023

FAR Annual Report 2021-2022

FAR Annual Report 2020-2021

FAR Annual Report 2019-2020

FAR Annual Report 2018-2019

FAR Annual Report 2017-2018

Audit and Risk Committee

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

Steve Wilkins (Chair)

Guy Wigley

Val McMillan

Nomination and Remuneration Committee

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

Jacqueline Rowarth

Research Development and Advisory Committee (RDAC)

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

Steve Wilkins (Chair)

Andrew Pitman (FAR)

Chris Pellow (NNI)

Vacant (ENI)

Earl Worsfold (NSI)

John Foley (Industry)

Hugh Wigley (SCNO)

Blair Drysdale (SOS)

George Lilley (MC)

David McDonald (SWNI)

Robyn Dynes (AgResearch)

Gordon Rennie (Appointed)

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