Study to explore daily lives of sharemilkers

Matamata resident Gail Adams is hoping to undertake a study which will capture just some of the everydayness of what it’s like to be a sharemilker.

The teaching fellow at the University of Waikato would like to hear from those in the industry happy to share their experiences.

As a part of her academic research, Gail is wanting to undertake a project on the experiences of sharemilking based in the Waikato region.

‘‘Sharemilking is selected for this study as there has been relatively little written in cultural, feminist and rural geography about the experiences of effectively landless farmers.

‘‘Rural geographies – which focus on farming – often include ideas around the importance of place, land and community which may form the bedrock of farming identities.

‘‘Very little is known, however, about farming practices which are inherently

‘‘There has been relatively little written . . . about the experiences of effectively landless farmers. ’’

in the Waikato region,’’ Gail said.

Gail sees this study as just the beginning, with hope that there would be a much bigger regional geographies-focused study to come.

‘‘Sharemilkers are an important but under-researched cohort of the farming community,’’ she said.

If you would be willing to take part in the study, email Gail at gaila@waikato.ac.nz.

The University of Waikato’s Gail Adams says little is known about ‘inherently mobile’ farming.