New AgriZeroNZ chair appointed

Rob Hewett has been appointed chair of AgriZeroNZ, a public private partnership accelerating the development of tools to help Kiwi farmers reduce emissions.

The appointment follows the departure of Sir Brian Roche KNZM who, with the board, steered the joint venture through its establishment phase.

Roche left in November to become Public Service Commissioner.

Announcing Hewett’s appointment, economic growth minister Nicola Willis says his experience and strategic insights will make a significant contribution to driving forward AgriZeroNZ’s work to help farmers reduce emissions while maintaining their competitive edge.

Willis and agriculture minister Todd McClay say Hewett’s appointment is for a three-year term until February 3, 2028.

Hewett is a sixth-generation farmer with a 1050ha sheep, beef, wind and forestry operation in South Otago, and he holds multiple governance roles across agriculture, horticulture, exporting and energy sectors.

He is chair of Silver Fern Farms (retiring this year), Farmlands, Woolworks, Hilton Haulage, Pioneer Energy, Fern Energy and Rewiring Aotearoa, as well as a director on T&G Global.

Hewett won the Deloitte Top 200 “Chair of the Year Award” in 2023.

The primary sector leader was endorsed for the AgriZeroNZ role by its investor partners (The a2 Milk Company, ANZ, ANZCO Foods, ASB, BNZ, Fonterra, Rabobank, Ravensdown, Silver Fern Farms, Synlait and MPI) and ratified by Cabinet given the Crown’s 50% shareholding.

Hewett says he is excited to join the collaboration and foster its focus on helping New Zealand farmers meet the global demand for emissions reduction.

“AgriZeroNZ’s work is not only fundamentally important for our collective future licence to operate among discerning global customers, it’s also personal for me as our family’s farming future will in large part be determined by the success of these activities,” Hewett says.

AgriZeroNZ director and previously interim chair Fraser Whineray (former Mercury chief executive) says: “It’s important that AgriZeroNZ’s momentum and progress towards getting practical tools into the hands of New Zealand farmers at the earliest opportunity continues.

“Rob’s mix of extensive governance and hands-on farming experience makes him a great fit for this task.”

McClay says $46.2 million is committed across AgriZero’s investment portfolio, with 13 investments to date and a further 81 on the radar.