Ann Thompson
Federated Farmers
Golden Bay
Wayne Langford has arrived back home on the farm in Kotinga, Golden Bay, with his sleeves rolled up and ready to farm, fresh from his role as national President of Federated Farmers.
What a journey he’s had.
It all started back in 2014, when he attended our local Golden Bay Federated Farmers’ branch AGM, where national President Bruce Wills spoke. He was obviously persuasive, as Wayne signed up to be the Golden Bay dairy chair straight away.
“I really had no idea what I was getting myself into,” Wayne says. “‘I was 31 at the time. I wanted to contribute to the farming sector off farm and this was a good opportunity.”
By 2023 he was sitting in the national president’s chair.
The year of 2023 was a time of low farmer confidence, with regulatory pressure that left farmers unable to invest in their properties.
“He waka eka noa [concerned with reducing on-farm emissions], a ute tax, unachievable water targets and complicated, administration-heavy farm plans were all on the table…. Just to name a few,” Wayne says.
“We got very clear about what Federated Farmers wanted, and so we delivered a 12-point plan to restore farmer confidence, which left the government with no doubt what we were advocating for over the last election cycle,” he says. “The new platform, ‘Backing Kiwi Farmers’ will do much of the same thing. On top of that we had key campaigns like the Rural Banking Enquiry and Save our Sheep, which drew plenty of attention.”
Farmer confidence is now high - new regulation encourages investment in good practice on farm, and there is a new focus on farming being the economic heartbeat of the country.
“Farmers are proud again to do what we do,” he says.
He is very proud of what he and the team at Federated Farmers achieved over his time as president.
“We hosted the rural issues debate heading into the last election with over 45,000 viewers. We created the advocacy hub at Fieldays, now a key platform for politicians at this event. We had two parliamentary vs farmers rugby/netball games, raising hundreds of thousands for charity, including the clean-up after Cyclone Gabrielle. We went on tour a number of times with the Prime Minister, to ensure he was getting out into the provinces, talking and engaging with farmers. We hosted the Labour party on farm each year, for two days, to ensure they had a clear understanding of the issues and could form policy around it.”
The policy achievements were good too.
“There were some big ones,” Wayne says. “Like the review of methane targets and subsequent adjustments that have significantly improved farmer confidence. The review of local government and the RMA, both significant costs on farming businesses. The halt of full farm conversions to forestry, a specific rural mental health and well-being contestable fund, and additional funding for Rural Support Trust.”
“I would like to think I have helped take all the ‘noise’ out of the sector,” he says. “Having a strong relationship, as all past presidents have had, with key politicians allows issues to be sorted quickly by picking up the phone.”
He’s quick to acknowledge the support he’s had back home on the farm.
“My wife Tyler and our boys, our relief milker Sarah, and the community all helped me to concentrate on fighting for farmers. It’s the best job in New Zealand.”
Welcome home, Wayne.
