B+LNZ Regional Delivery Plan 2026: Northern North Island

Learn what extension activities we have planned for Northland, powered by your local Farmer Council and regional team. These plans aim to enable, empower and equip Northland farmers to feel "and be" confident to farm now and into the future. 

Northern North Island farmer field day in progress

Your NNI B+LNZ Farmer Council 

  • Rob Pye (Chair) – Whangārei
  • Julian Peters (Deputy Chair) – Te Kao
  • Sarah Hammond – Herekino
  • Roger Moore – Kaeo
  • Colin Wrennall – Paparoa
  • Grant West – Tangiteroria
  • Michelle Hill – Waiotira
  • Cory Argyle – Kaipara Flats
  • Lance Downer – Whangārei
  • Hamish Matthews (Co-opted), DairyNZ
  • Andrew Drysdale (Co-opted), Pāmu
  • Debbie Johnson (Co-opted), Kaipara Moana Remediation 

Your B+LNZ Regional Team 

What we're focused on

Our extension activities are built around these key focus areas for NNI. 

Productivity
To empower farmers to make informed day-to-day decisions that improve productivity and build business resilience. 		 Technology and Innovation
Supporting the adoption of practical technology that improves decision-making, efficiency and farm management. 		 People
Encouraging resilient, capable farmers through wellbeing support and leadership development. 
Systems and Environment
Providing knowledge and tools that strengthen farm systems and improve sustainability. 		 Financial
Building confidence in financial tools and benchmarking to support better business decisions. 
 		  

How we’re delivering for farmers 

Focus Groups 

Small-group learning programmes that help farmers tackle specific challenges, share experiences and take action. 

Areas of focus include: 

  • Calf mortality reduction.
  • Livestock parasite management.
  • Technology and innovation.
  • Young shepherd development.
  • Shepherd to Shareholder pathways.
  • Hub Farm reference groups.

Learn more about B+LNZ Focus Groups.

B+LNZ Hub Farms

Two Hub Farm programmes demonstrate practical approaches to improving farm performance and testing new ideas in real farming environments.

Regular Hub Farm field days allow farmers to see results, compare approaches and learn from others. 

Far North Hub Farm 
Focused on improving productivity and profitability through increasing kilograms of carcass weight per hectare, improving pasture grown and utilised, and reducing internal parasite challenges. 		 Mid North Hub Farm 
Following a journey of farming policy change through to beef systemisation and demonstrating the impact this can have on production and profitability. 


 Learn more about B+LNZ’s Hub Farm programme.

Workshops and skills development 

Farmers will have access to workshops focused on building practical capability, including:

  • Worm management.
  • Growing great lambs.
  • Body condition scoring.
  • Computer and digital skills.
  • Leadership and people management.
  • Fertiliser planning and soil health.
  • NZFAP+ workshop series.
  • Farm Systems and Management workshops with Phil Weir.
  • Shepherd to Shareholders workshop series.

View upcoming local events on B+LNZ’s event calendar.

Community and collaboration 

Connecting farmers, industry partners and rural communities through events that support learning, wellbeing and stronger networks.

Activities include:

  • Northland Collaboration Group dinners.
  • Brunch on Us events with Rural Support Trust and DairyNZ.
  • Northern North Island Ladies' Long Lunch.
  • Resilient Pastures Project trial days.
  • Local field day networking opportunities designed to strengthen farmer connections.