After several years focused on restoring farmer confidence, the conversation is shifting – from fighting roadblocks to driving the sector forward.

In this conversation, Federated Farmers national president Wayne Langford reflects on a landmark year for rural New Zealand and what it will take for New Zealand farming to be genuinely world-leading again.

We unpack the major policy wins delivered in 2025, including reduced red tape, real cost savings for farmers, and a Government that’s finally backing the sector rather than holding it back.

Wayne shares what he’s most proud of from the past year, the toughest calls he’s had to make as president, and how the organisation’s long-standing policy priorities are tracking. 

We also look ahead to the next election, the challenges still facing farmers at a regional level, and what it will take to turn recent wins into lasting progress.