Take bull by the horns

making, but agri services are also seeing a rise in female roles.

Massey University reports that of the roughly 122 veterinary students it accepts each year, approximately 75 per cent are female.

Nelson says in the seven years since AWDT was set up, the script has been flipped on how women view their role in the sector, and on how the sector views and utilises female talent.

Just a few years ago, agricultural training programme Taratahi had about 3 per cent of graduates who were female. Today that number is over 30 per cent, with more women choosing farming as a career.

“Part of our work in the last seven years has been making the abnormal, normal,” Nelson says.

“Women’s leadership is the new normal which is great because when we keep putting women up as being odd because they’re women, we take away the skills base and why they’re there — and that is to add value and through merit.”

The Maori agribusiness sector is also a fast-growing one, with Nelson saying this makes up an estimated 30 per cent of the sector. Many of the big iwi enterprises are being governed by women.

One of the poster children for women in leadership roles, is Traci Houpapa.

The Maori business leader currently sits on 11 different boards of corporations, councils, authorities and foundations.

She says research has shown that gender diversity on boards results in stronger outcomes, discussions and decisions for companies and organisation Houpapa says, adding that normalisation has been key.

“It’s now normal for people like Katie Milne or myself to lead some of the largest farming and primary industry organisations in the country,” she says.

“So when you have female champions, and male champions supporting female champions, it starts to make it easier for others to walk up the on-ramp.”

Changing consumer preferences and a shift towards sustainability and environmental awareness has also boosted the female agenda, with Houpapa saying women tend to be naturally very aware in these areas. Traceability of food is now a major focus for consumers.

“People want to know where their food has come from and the farming operation in terms of people, land and animals, and they have a very wellbeing focus,” Houpapa says.

“So again, while our male counterparts might have that understanding as well, I think it’s the women that are starting to champion that more, — it’s a natural step for us.”