Grahame Fitzgerald

Grahame enjoys helping people build their confidence and capability, whether that’s farmers working towards their goals or his team connecting them with the right support.

“What drives me is helping farmers build their capability and work towards profitable, resilient and environmentally sustainable businesses. A big part of that is making sure our team can connect farmers with the right DairyNZ resources, expertise and sector connections.”

With experience across banking, farm consultancy and the fertiliser industry, Grahame brings a broad agricultural and business perspective to his role. The Upper North Island covers diverse farming areas, from Northland to the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, with different climates, landscapes and farming systems. Grahame says understanding those local differences helps the regional team provide relevant support and connect farmers with the right expertise.

“Having good people on the ground who are connected to the region and understand its challenges is so important,” says Grahame. “So is the way our teams work with sector organisations, experts and rural professionals, connecting them to farmers, so they can have access to the right knowledge and support.

Outside work, Grahame and his wife Mig enjoy walking in native bush and coastal areas and mountain biking. They’re also involved in Pupuke Birdsong’s community-led environmental projects.

Grahame is positive about the opportunities for New Zealand dairy farming. “Our relatively temperate climate gives us some real advantages for dairy farming. Add progressive and innovative farmers into that recipe, and our sector has a strong foundation for the future.”

“Our teams help make DairyNZ’s science and research practical and relevant, so farmers can use it to make informed decisions for their businesses.”

• Find out more about DairyNZ’s other Upper North Island regional team members.
• Check out our nationwide regional teams.