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The national council meets quarterly to consider matters of industry interest as well as issues raised by the regional branches.
Within the national council there are six sub-committees covering: health and safety, transport, fertiliser and lime, training, membership and Spreadmark.
The regional branches meet regularly and set their own agendas. Each branch elects its own chairman and committee members.
Keep up to date with what’s happening with Groundspread NZ (NZGFA).
Simon is the owner/operator of Himatangi Transport in Horowhenua/Manawatu, a family business established in 1976. Simon is the first inter-generational president with his father Lance being in the top seat from 1990-1993. Simon is no stranger to being on council himself, previously holding the role of VP when he was last at the table.
Simon first became involved with council to help move the industry forward and this has not changed. He believes that Groundspread NZ is important in leading our industry, particularly through uncertain times such as the increased regulation we are experiencing at present. He encourages stronger member communication to help ensure that council are progressing the work that means the most to members.
In his rare spare time, Simon likes to get on his motorbike and head off on tour. Most recently down South to the Burt Munro in Invercargill.
Members can contact Simon via email at president@groundspreadnz.com or 027 221 9481.
Gordon works for Brown and Shanley Bulk Spreading in the Waikato. He is an electrician by trade and only came home to the family business to fill in for a season; that has been a very long season now (16 years)! Gordon joined the council in 2021 with a strong will to fight for what is right and represent every member, no matter the size of the business. He believes that the association is vital to the industry in keeping up professionalism, not only for operators but for farmers and the industry as a whole.
Gordon created the membership portfolio in 2022 after concerns were being raised nationally about decreasing membership numbers. Gordon is passionate about introducing more people to Groundspread NZ, to our culture and the journey we are on. He understands the importance of having one voice as an industry and that we are stronger as a collective. He believes that each new member brings new ideas to the table and is passionate about having them there.
Gordon encourages all branches and members to get in touch if they have any operators in their area that he can contact for them about discussing the benefits of membership. He is also on hand to help branches generate ideas about increasing engagement with current members.
Members can contact Gordon via email at membership@hroundspreadnz.com or 027 365 6611.
Stephen works for HWR Richardson Group in Otago/Southland and came onto council in 2021 with a passion to develop and improve the groundspread industry.
Steve’s passion for training in the industry has recently seen him take on a new role that harnesses that passion. He is committed to assisting, developing, growing, (and now delivering) training in the industry to continually improve the current workforce and to attract newcomers to the industry.
He sees the council’s role to be one of deep engagement with members and assisting them by sharing his skills and knowledge of the industry. He believes that Groundspread NZ plays a crucial role in ensuring that our industry has a say in developing sustainable regulations/guidelines so we are not in a position of having them imposed on us. This means that networking is crucial to continue our growth and learnings as an industry.
Not only is Stephen hardcore about groundspreading, but he is also passionate about hard enduro dirt bike riding, proving he is not scared of a challenge! He is not so hardcore about tattoos though, recently on a trip to Bali when LeeAnn and his friends were getting them… he opted for a stick on one.
Members can contact Steve via email at training@groundspreadnz.com or trust@groundspreadnz.com or 027 445 2443.
Kylie turned up to a council meeting when one was hosted in her region last year and has never left (she has since been officially assigned the role by her branch). She is passionate about ensuring industry voice; fore-fronting technologies, procedures, and policies to help drive our industry forward instead of being reactionary.
She sees the Lime & Fert Portfolio as important for ensuring consistency throughout the supply chain and promoting our immense collective knowledge around spreadability of products. Kylie encourages members to engage on this front and to be solutions based in their approaches to help ensure progress is made for all members.
Kylie is third generation in the fert business. She has 2 kids, one ginger, and loves skiing.
Members can contact Kylie via email at lime&fert@groundspreadnz.com or 027 484 7646.
Jessie has been employed at Sandfords for the last nine years in a variety of roles including Livestock Manager, Health and Safety and Human Resources Manager. Jessie’s background is dairy farming having previously been a 50/50 sharemilker with her husband. Her first passion in the transport industry was/is livestock but we won’t hold that against her.
Jessie became involved with the Taranaki branch from a Health and Safety perspective and was coincidently then allocated the H&S portfolio for National Council in 2022. She sees this role benefitting members by ensuring that everyone is kept up to date on changes and being able to collect and collate a unified member voice when issues and concerns are raised. She needs members help and communication on this front, so please don’t be shy.
Jessie is looking forward to getting involved with the upcoming creation of the TruckSafe program to ensure that we, as an industry, are included, recognised, and valued in this.
Members can contact Jessie via email at h&s@groundspreadnz.com or 027 417 7087.
Jen is the director/manager of the fert division at Renwick Transport. Jen and sister Jax have owned the company since December 2021, proudly carrying on the family business after losing their dad in 2019. Jen was nominated into the role of council delegate when she missed her branch AGM in May, but is taking it in her stride and looking forward to being pushed out of her comfort zone (we know she will bring lots to the table and be awesome!).
Jen recognises that our industry is the foundation for growth in New Zealand and that we, as professional groundspread operators, have a huge role to play. She is taking on the transport portfolio and knows that there are issues to progress around LT400’s, certifying engineers, and some other technical issues raised at conference. All of these are on the work plan for this year and she welcomes engagement from members on these issues and any others that arise; we are all better informed about what is happening in the industry when we are sharing information.
Jen has 2 daughters aged 7 and 9 who she loves heading out on the jetski with over the summer!
Members can contact Jen via email at transport@groundspreadnz.com or 027 543 6908.
Kylie works for Graymont as an Account Manager and joined the council in 2022 after becoming the Waikato delegate. Kylie believes that there is a crucial link between Groundspread NZ, our farmers, our industry, and our regulators; we are joint custodians of the land and therefore relationships and technology are imperative to our joint success in the primary sector.
Kylie became involved in the Spreadmark Code of Practice review earlier this year and understands the value of advocating for the scheme throughout the wider sector. She is looking for lots of questions and feedback from you (the members and stakeholders) as she helps progress this work.
Kylie has a BSc in Geology and (believe it or not) has three grandchildren – Hunter (6), Alice (1), and Hudson (4 months).
Members can contact Kylie via email at spreadmark@groundspreadnz.com or 022 639 1711.
Jason Williamson started Williamson Contracting Ltd with a single spreader in 1991. Growing on a dairy farm had given Jason a good understanding of the needs of farmers and the business took off. It was in 2010 that the spreading side of the business was made into a separate company when he entered a joint venture agreement with Ravensdown to form Spreading Northland Limited.
Graeme is the General Manager for Go Fuel in Waikato. Graeme is the most immediate past president, having served two terms in the top seat at the table.
Graeme has 30 years’ experience working in the fertiliser industry as a supplier and a manager for a groundspread company and is still very passionate about the industry. His strengths are based around strategy and industry growth. He is committed to completing the current “strategic journey” to ensure the industry and Association are in a strong position to meet the vast changes we are experiencing in the rural sector.
In his spare time, Graeme loves to get out fishing on his boat and play tennis.
Members can contact Graeme via email at Graeme@gofuel.nz or 027 293 6407.
The association employs Rose as the Executive Officer. She is also a managing director of Hyslop Groundspread in Oamaru.
Rose sees the role of the national council as one of advocacy, and to do this effectively, greater engagement and communication is needed, “there is strength in numbers and the association is well placed for being the voice of an incredibly technologically and environmentally savvy industry”.
Rose is on-hand to support the branches and work with members on all levels. You can contact Rose via email at eo@groundspreadnz.com or on her cell 027 214 1790.
