What does it actually take to go from working on the farm … to owning part of or all of one?
The Shepherd to Shareholder Dinner is an evening designed for people working in farming who want to take the next step toward ownership.
This will be a relaxed evening of practical learning and great conversation with like-minded people who are serious about building a future in farming.
Keynote speaker
Pita Alexander
Pita Alexander is one of New Zealand’s most respected and experienced agricultural accountants, with more than 50 years specialising in farm accounting and advisory services. With an early background working on farms, formal qualifications from Lincoln University, and experience across banking, valuation, estate planning, and accounting, Pita brings a uniquely practical, end‑to‑end understanding of farm businesses. He is the founder of PS Alexander & Associates Ltd, one of New Zealand’s larger specialist farm accounting practices and has spent decades working closely with farming families to support sustainable profitability and long‑term succession. Pita has addressed over 500 farming conferences, seminars and field days in New Zealand, along with more than 100 events in Australia and presentations in the UK, continually learning from farmers both at home and overseas.
Speaker panel
Together the speakers will share honest insights about what it really takes to move from working in farming to building a pathway into ownership.
- Rupert Barton – Wairarapa Farmer
- David Buick – Tararua Sheep & Beef Farm Business of the Year 2026
- Willie Lyons – Agri Relationship Manager – ANZ
What you'll hear
- How they navigated challenges and growth to build something of their own
- What was the smartest financial decision they made early on?
- What challenged their thinking the most?
- Which relationships were most important starting out?
- If they could save someone five years of frustration, what would they tell them?
Why this matters
By 2035, more than half of New Zealand’s 17,000 farmers will be over the age of 65. With $150 billion in farming assets set to change hands, it’s never been more important to equip the next generation with the tools to confidently step into ownership.
They say the first $100,000 is the hardest, but with the right strategy, structure, and discipline, you can set yourself up for long-term success.
On the day
Get your “glad rags” on – dinner will be provided and a cash/ eftpos bar will be available – register now to be sure not to miss out as numbers are limited.
Sponsors
We would like to thank Alleva Animal Health, Tony Rasmussen at Bayleys and ANZ for their generous support of this event.