Federated Farmers of New Zealand

Bruce Wills

President

T/F: 06 834 9704
M: 027 234 1516
E: bwills@fedfarm.org.nz

Bruce Wills was elected as the 28th President of Federated Farmers on 1 July 2011.  A Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farmer and a former banker, the farm he runs with his brother Scott, won the rural category at the 2008 Hawke’s Bay Environmental Awards.  Mr Wills was formerly chairperson of Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre.

Policy responsibilities: 

• Property rights
• Trade
• Economics and commerce
• Genetic modification
• Liaison with Rural Women New Zealand
• Liaison with New Zealand Pork Industry Board
• Liason with the Vice- President

Dr William Rolleston

Vice-President

T: 03 687 4050
F: 03 688 7608
M: 027 246 0634
E: william.rolleston@southpacificsera.co.nz

Dr William Rolleston is a South Canterbury farmer and founding shareholder and director of South Pacific Sera. The current Federated Farmers South Canterbury provincial president, Dr Rolleston also chairs the Ministry of Science and Innovation's Innovation Board.

Policy responsibilities:  

• Food production sciences
• Climate change
• HSNO
• Biosecurity
• Food safety
• Plant pest management
• Liaison with Federated Farmers High Country

Anders Crofoot

T: 06 372 6465
F: 06 372 6461
M: 027 426 5324
E: anders@castlepoint.co.nz

Anders Crofoot, a former New Yorker with a background in investment funds analysis, he farms the iconic hill country Castlepoint Station in the Wairarapa. An immediate past president of Federated Farmers Wairarapa, he is currently President of the Dunedin based NZ Grassland Association.

Policy responsibilities: 

• Access
• Rural fires
• Game and pest management
• Animal ID
• Waste management
• Forestry
• Building/farm structures
• Energy
• Telecommunications

Willy Leferink

Federated Farmers Dairy chairperson

T: 03 302 6891
M: 021 796 037
E: legro@orcon.net.nz

Willy Leferink is Federated Farmers Dairy chairperson and was born in Holland.  He has progressed through the dairy industry from worker to sharemilker and now to having an interest in six farms in and around Ashburton, as well as a dairy cow nutrition company. Mr Leferink is a member of the International Dairy Federation's (IDF) standing committee on farm management and animal health and is on the board of a local community project.

Policy responsibilities:

• Federated Farmers Dairy
• Animal welfare
• Animal Health Board/Tb
• Electricity
• Growsafe including the New Zealand Ag Education Trust
• Immigration and Labour

Ian MacKenzie

Federated Farmers Grain & Seed chairperson

T: 03 302 6854
M: 027 432 8329
E: akaunui@clear.net.nz

Ian Mackenzie is Federated Farmers Grain & Seed chairperson and runs a fully irrigated farm producing grain, vegetable and grass seeds with some stock finishing at Eiffelton, near Ashburton.  A Director of Ashburton Trading Society he sits on numerous boards.  Mr Mackenzie is a former Nuffield Scholar and a New Zealand Farm Environment award recipient.

Policy responsibilities:

• Federated Farmers Grain and Seed
• Water
• Transport
• Environment and RMA
• Liaison with Federated Farmers Bees
• Liaison with Rural Contractors NZ

Jeanette Maxwell

Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre chairperson

T: 03 302 8860
F: 03 302 8849
M: 027 357 4464
E: aandjmax@xtra.co.nz

Jeanette Maxwell is the first woman elected to the Federation's national board and is Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre chairperson. A sheep and beef farmer near Mt Hutt, she is a past participant in the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme, Federated Farmers leadership courses and the FAME (Food, Agribusiness, Marketing and Experience) course.

Policy responsibilities:

• Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre
• Animal welfare
• Animal Health Board/Tb
• Education and skills
• Liaison with Federated Farmers Goats
• Liaison with Federated Farmers Rural Butchers

David Rose

T: 03 235 2619
F: 03 235 2616
M: 027 414 2573
E: drose@fedfarm.org.nz

David Rose is a Southland sheep farmer and is a past Federated Farmers Southland provincial president. A former Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme scholar and former competition judge for the Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards. Mr Rose is currently a Ministerial appointee to the Southern Institute of Technology Council.   Mr Rose farms on the banks of the Oreti River and has been the Federation's spokesperson on adverse events, rural security and employment and liaison with Rural Women New Zealand.

Policy responsibilities:

• Local government
• ACC
• Agricultural Health & Safety
• Adverse events
• Rural security
• Employment