Farming Leadership and He Rau Ake Ake

Across rural Aotearoa, conversations about the future of farming are increasingly focused on succession, workforce shortages and the challenge of attracting younger generations into the sector. Yet within many Māori agribusiness environments, the conversation is broader than workforce pipelines alone. It is also about leadership, identity, stewardship and ensuring future generations remain connected to their whenua in meaningful ways. 

At Whāngārā Farms, He Rau Ake Ake our 100-Year Whenua Optimisation Plan has helped reinforce the idea that intergenerational planning is not only about land use - it is also about people.  

Long-term resilience depends on capable future leaders who can navigate increasingly complex challenges across farming, climate adaptation, biodiversity management, governance and technology. The agricultural sector of the future will require different skillsets from those demanded even a generation ago. 

Today’s emerging leaders are likely to operate across multiple worlds simultaneously: 

That complexity requires intentional investment in people. 

Within the wider kaupapa of He Rau Ake Ake, there is recognition that capability-building must occur alongside operational and environmental planning. Learning exchanges, field days, collaboration with technical experts and exposure to innovative approaches all contribute to building future leadership capacity across the organisation and wider region. 

Importantly, this leadership is not framed solely through executive or governance positions. Leadership also exists on the ground - through farm managers, shepherds, operational staff, whānau contributors and those helping restore and care for the whenua day-to-day. 
 
“Strategy is critical, but so are the eyes and ears on the ground,” says Business Manager, Ray Leach.   

“The strategy is the intention, but someone still has to know which is the best paddock to use, which gate to open and the best place to put the first spade in the ground.  Consistent multi-level high performing leadership and capability across any organisation means consistent performance across the whole, not excellence in isolation.” 

There is growing evidence across the sector that younger generations are drawn toward workplaces and organisations that demonstrate purpose alongside performance. Increasingly, rangatahi want to work within systems that align environmental responsibility, innovation and cultural values with practical farming outcomes. 

This is one of the reasons integrated approaches like He Rau Ake Ake matter. 

The kaupapa creates space for farming to be understood not simply as production work, but as long-term stewardship and systems leadership. Biodiversity restoration, wetland recovery, cultural mapping and operational efficiency are all treated as interconnected parts of the same future-focused strategy.  

That broader framing may help shift how younger people see their place within the sector. 

It also reflects an important reality for Māori agribusiness: whenua is not simply an economic asset. It carries whakapapa, responsibility and collective identity. Future leadership therefore requires the ability to navigate both commercial and cultural responsibilities simultaneously.