Federated Farmers Podcast

Hosted by Federated Farmers of NZ

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Episodes

102

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

The Federated Farmers Podcast is your weekly guide to the issues affecting rural New Zealand. Join us as we unpack the policies, challenges and big ideas shaping life on farm. With frank conversations from farmers, advocates and experts, we break down what matters and why, so you can stay informed, prepared and heard. Hosted by Ben Chapman-Smith, Federated Farmers' communications manager, who grew up on a sheep and beef farm in Te Akau on Waikato's west coast.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 25, 202641 min

From crazy idea to new farming industry | EP 102

From warm cups of sheep milk in China to influencers livestreaming from New Zealand paddocks, the global demand for sheep milk is creating a surprising new opportunity for Kiwi farmers. In this episode, Spring Sheep CEO Thomas Macdonald and Commercial Manager Operations Olivia Smith take us inside the rise of New Zealand’s sheep dairy industry. They explain how an unconventional experiment has developed into a growing industry built around Spring Sheep’s own Zealandia breed, a network of farmers and increasingly strong international demand. We dig into what makes sheep dairying work, the economics for farmers, why developing a purpose-bred sheep was essential, and how big this emerging industry could become. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 18, 202637 min

Quinn and Samantha Morgan: What good farm leadership looks like | EP 101

For Quinn and Samantha Morgan, farming is about much more than cows and grass. They’re in it to create more opportunities for their family and the people who work alongside them. From helping their team build skills and get off-farm experience to involving them in the financial side of the business, their goal is to show people what a future in farming could look like. In this episode, the dairy farming couple talk about their journey into farming, the mentors who helped shape their careers, and why they put such a strong focus on developing the people around them. They also share what they’ve learned about balancing farming and family life, what they’d like to see change across the sector, and, as always, we finish with a quickfire round. Got a podcast idea for us? Let us know, and give us your feedback on this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 10, 202650 min

Christopher Luxon unscripted | EP 100

In this special 100th episode of the Federated Farmers Podcast, the Prime Minister sits down for a personal, wide-ranging conversation about the experiences and people that shaped him long before politics. From growing up in Christchurch and Auckland to building an international business career with Unilever and leading Air NZ, Luxon reflects on the lessons he's learned about leadership, family and resilience. He shares the influence of his parents, the advice from his grandfather that still guides his marriage, why he banned mobile phones around his children, and the habits that helped shape his career. Along the way, he talks about country music, studying great leaders, raising a family overseas, returning home to New Zealand, and why relationships matter more than job titles. Got a podcast idea for us? Let us know, and give us your feedback on this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 3, 202642 min

Jared Crawford – the sharemilker who bought a brewery | EP 99

Running a 2000-cow dairy operation across 524 hectares is a big enough challenge, but Jared Crawford and his wife Sara decided to add another by buying a craft brewery and restaurant . As lower-order sharemilkers for FarmRight near Geraldine, Jared and Sara have built a high-performing dairy business with a strong focus on people, earning a reputation for developing and retaining great staff. Beyond the farm gate, Jared also represents sharefarmers with Federated Farmers at both the South Canterbury and national level, giving him a unique perspective on the issues facing the sector. In this episode, we talk about building a successful dairy business, the importance of backing your team, why advocacy matters, and the story of how a few drinks over dinner somehow turned into owning a brewery. Got a podcast idea for us? Let us know, and give us your feedback on this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 28, 202618 min

Gisborne farmers turning pines into pasture | EP 98

In a region where plenty of productive farmland has disappeared into pine trees, two farming couples are doing something uncommon – turning a forestry block back into a working farm. Sam and Gemma Hain, and Matt and Kate Long, have just taken ownership of a 400ha property planted almost entirely in young pines. In this episode, Sam explains why they took on the challenge, how they plan to pull it off, and why sending cattle back onto the land was one of the best days of his life. Got a podcast idea for us? Let us know, and give us your feedback on this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 20, 202631 min

How technology is changing farm succession | EP 97

Technology is playing an increasingly important role in farm succession, helping families share knowledge, make better decisions and bring the next generation into the business sooner. Someone seeing that firsthand is Caitlin Barnett, Gallagher's Regional Lead for eShepherd across Australasia, who works with farmers adopting virtual fencing and other on-farm technologies. In this episode, Caitlin discusses how technology is changing the way farming knowledge is passed between generations, who's embracing it, whether it can ever replace decades of experience, and the parts of farming that simply can't be digitised. She also takes on our quickfire questions, sharing one thing farmers should stop doing, keep doing and start doing. Got a podcast idea for us? Let us know, and give us your feedback on this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 13, 202640 min

Meet the farmer: Sandra Faulkner | EP 96

Sandra Faulkner has spent decades giving back to rural New Zealand. Now, she's stepping into one of the biggest leadership roles in farming as Federated Farmers' new vice president. In this episode, Sandra talks about how growing up in an extremely isolated part of the East Coast shaped her passion for disaster preparedness and resilient rural communities. She reflects on her time working in the UK and Australia's Northern Territory before returning home to New Zealand to take over Wairakaia Station with her husband, Rob. Sandra also shares what motivates her, the mentors who've shaped her leadership, and what she hopes Federated Farmers can achieve for Kiwi farmers over the next few years. Got a podcast idea for us? Let us know, and give us your feedback on this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 6, 202648 min

Meet the farmer: Colin Hurst | EP 95

Who is Colin Hurst, the new president of Federated Farmers? How did he go from being the quiet kid at the back of the room to leading the country's largest farming advocacy organisation? Colin joins the Federated Farmers Podcast to share his journey into farming and advocacy, what gets him fired up, the leadership style he wants to bring to the role, and his vision and priorities for the next three years. Got a podcast idea for us? Let us know, and give us your feedback on this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 29, 202639 min

Sam Whitelock on leadership, pressure and life after rugby | EP 94

After growing up on a Manawatū dairy farm, Sam Whitelock became one of the most decorated All Blacks of all time, including winning two Rugby World Cups and a bunch of Super Rugby titles. Now retired, he's back farming with his wife Hannah and their three children. In this episode, Sam reflects on life after rugby, his return to farming, and the leadership lessons he's learned from some of the world's best teams and players. We discuss performing under pressure, building strong team culture, his decade as a Farmstrong ambassador, and what farmers can learn from elite sport. Thanks to Farmstrong for teaming up with us to create this podcast. Useful links Farmstrong Got a podcast idea for us? Let us know, and give us your feedback on this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 22, 202653 min

Vangelis Vitalis: Inside NZ’s trade strategy | EP 93

Vangelis Vitalis is New Zealand's top trade negotiator. He's our man in the room securing better access for our exports, defending our interests overseas, and managing relationships with some of the world's biggest economies. In this episode, Vangelis explains how New Zealand navigates an increasingly complex and unpredictable global trading environment. How does a small exporting nation compete for access to international markets? What happens behind closed doors during trade negotiations? And what does it all mean for farmers? Find out from Vangelis. Got a podcast idea for us? Let us know, and give us your feedback on this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.