The general election in November looms large for Federated Farmers in its role advocating for agriculture and rural communities.

“It’s a great chance for us to promote our ideas for how the next Government can help farmers lift production and improve environmental sustainability,” says Federated Farmers’ Bay of Plenty president Brent Mountfort.

“When farmers are doing well, provinces and rural towns also thrive, and export earnings from meat and dairy are the mainstay of how New Zealand earns its living in the world.”

With farmers in 24 provinces electing leaders like Brent to represent them at a national council, he says Federated Farmers is truly a grassroots organisation.

“The fact that it has been around for more than 125 years speaks to its effectiveness.”

Brent says the future of farming lies in innovation, practicality, diversification and looking after the environment.

He and his wife Antonia run sheep and beef on 145ha of their 267ha property near Matatā, with the balance in commercial pine trees and native bush.

Members

Last year they took out the Beef + Lamb NZ Livestock Farm Award, the NZFET Biodiversity Award and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Farming for the Future Award at the Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

With a background of 25 years in banking, Brent oversees a Federated Farmers’ province stretching from Waihī Beach to Ōpōtiki.

The bulk of the 500 members are in dairying, some including a mix of kiwifruit and avocados.

As well as pressing central government on issues such as reform of the Resource Management Act and better funding for renewal of rural roads and bridges, Federated Farmers engages with local councils on a fairer system of rating and cutting red tape.

“The current Government wants to see regional councils abolished, and amalgamation of smaller councils into new unitary authorities.

“We’re not against that, but we will not stand for strong rural representation being crowded out by city interests,” says Brent.

The Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty team has a wealth of experience that members can tap into when they are having difficulties with a council or government agency or want advice on a farming challenge.

“We have fact sheets on all manner of topics and we also organise webinars and workshops.”

Brent takes a particular interest in conservation and pest control. He’s been in the national headlines for his advocacy for better funding for the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) National Trust.

On the Mountfort farm, more than 80ha of native bush is fenced off, including 29ha protected by QEII covenants.

Young Farmers

Te Puke Young Farmers Club continues to be the flagbearer for YFC in the Bay of Plenty.

Covering an area from Tauranga to Ohope, Te Puke is the only Young Farmers Club in the province.

Te Puke Young Farmer chair Shanice Young.

Te Puke YFC chair Shanice Young says when she first started with the club four years ago there were just six members, but this has now grown to more than 30.

The club runs a wide variety of events, from mental health awareness, skills days and backyard tours on-farm to fun social activities like beach trips, river floats, go-karting and luge days.

The club also enters local sports events, including football and netball.

“We’ve hosted people like Tangaroa Walker from Farm 4 Life [a free online video learning platform], and have a close relationship with Rural Support, while helping local farmers with jobs like covering silage stacks,” says Shanice.

Te Puke YFC also regularly engages with the local community through running gumboot and tug-of-war competitions at the annual Te Puke A&P Show, this year also taking out first place for the best trade site.

Shanice says the club enjoys friendly competition, including battles with other regional clubs and striving for the Waikato-Bay of Plenty YFC BOP Top Dog Trophy, which Te Puke won in the 2025 Waibop raft comp, the first time the club has got its name on the trophy.

Tournament days

At the Waikato-Bay of Plenty level, the Te Puke club members also take part in tournament days featuring clay bird shooting, fencing and stock judging, and attend the annual regional ball.

Shanice helped run the 2024 Waikato-Bay of Plenty FMG Young Farmer of the Year competition as part of the committee.

This year she became regional convenor, bringing the 2026 Waikato-Bay of Plenty regional final to the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

“I have had the opportunity to work with the MPI [Ministry for Primary Industries] to raise awareness of the wallaby identification/eradication campaign in the region and appeared on a poster to promote it.

“I have also been doing a podcast with Federated Farmers about my life from city to rural and my life today.”

Te Puke Young Farmers Club meets on the last Tuesday of every month at 6.30pm at the Te Puke RSA.

Contact: [email protected]