For the past 32 years I have worked as a self-employed agronomist providing independent soil fertility advice to approximately 450 pastoral farming clients trading as Agronomic Advisory Services. I have a good understanding of the whole soil-plant-animal health inter-relationships as it relates to livestock farming in particular. I also provide soil fertility advice for maize and kiwifruit production, and have run various trials for fertilizer and seed companies, and also advised on land reclamation post-mining and land disturbance for two companies as part of my business.

Prior to this I worked for MAF Research division as a field technician in the Agronomy section of Whatawhata Hill Country Research Station for eight years after graduating from Lincoln College. I am currently a member of the New Zealand Society of Soil Science, the New Zealand Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture Science, the New Zealand Grassland Association, The British Society of Soil Science, and the Institute of Professional Soil Science.

I grew up in the city of Hamilton, but have been involved in pastoral agriculture since leaving school and I have been married to Sally for 30 years we have three children together in their 20’s. All of our married life we have lived in the country on a small farm/lifestyle blocks. We currently have a small hill country farm (140 acres) on the edge of Taumarunui on which we run sheep and cattle. I enjoy riding classic motorcycles and have a strong Christian faith which motivates me to support charities in third world countries. My wife and I have set up a charity in India with a local pastor in Andhra Pradesh called The Caring Heart Foundation in which we focus on providing food for the poorest of the poor and also set up sewing workshops, and put in water wells in tribal villages, etc.