Dairy farmer Phil Sherwood is the new president of Waikato Federated Farmers.
Keith Holmes has handed the presidential chains of Waikato Federated Farmers to Phil Sherwood after one term.
“No president would want it as their legacy to see farm environment plans implemented,” Holmes, who took on the role from King Country dairy farmer Jacqui Hahn in 2023, said in his last annual report.
“It is mine — but I’m immensely proud that Federated Farmers, and especially the Waikato Federated Farmers Plan Change One team, has moved it to a point where it won’t be loved but will be acceptable.”
The implementation of farm environment plans is a key requirement under the plan change.
“Starting with the collaborative stakeholder group, it has been incredibly costly — Waikato Regional Council $30m, Waikato Federated Farmers and Federated Farmers of New Zealand millions, plus all the other participants,” Holmes said.
The plan change has taken approximately a third of Holmes’ time.
“At the early stages, we would have been forced off our land with draconian and impractical demands to be enshrined in local and national legislation. And while we don’t yet know the final outcome, I can hand on heart say that Waikato and national federated Farmers have saved our industries and farmers over 50 per cent of the equity on every farm in New Zealand.”
Holmes said the plan change was the template for farm plans throughout New Zealand.
“Others will claim credit — as will the current government — but it was Waikato Federated Farmers, supported by national and an incredibly dedicated staff, that played the long battle to get us where we are today.”
Building relationships and networking was an essential part of the influence and advocacy work the branch did, he said.
“Through the leadership of Pamela Storey, chair of Waikato Regional Council, we have continued to build a good working understanding at both governance and staff levels.
“While there will always be territorial tensions between us all, many bridges have been crossed this year — with good outcomes.”
The branch started working with the Waikato Chamber of Commerce under Holmes’ presidency.
“We have a lot in common, and we literally feed each other,” he said.
“Our first joint venture was a very successful networking event at Innovation Park. So successful, people are lining up asking for the next one.”
Holmes warned members the recent sale of the Waikato Farmers Trust tower building in Hamilton meant Waikato Federated Farmers headquarters was likely to move at some stage.
“I’m very proud to be part of the Federated Farmers family and to pass on the baton to those who are younger, smarter, and with more fire in their bellies than I.”
Sherwood succeeded Holmes at the branch annual meeting on Friday.
Sherwood farms two dairy herds totalling 500 cows on Puketutu Road south of Matamata and at Richmond Downs, Walton, and supplies milk to Open Country.
In 2024-25 season he operated the Sherwood Family Farm Maize Maze in the summer.
Asked about farmers’ biggest challenge, Sherwood said, “Certainty around freshwater is going to be an ongoing challenge for us in the Waikato.
Ngāi Tahu has taken the Crown to court, seeking recognition of its rangatiratanga over freshwater and pushing for a co-designed management system and Sherwood is watching with interest.
