Who remembers this guy – former MP – dairy farmer from Taranaki and farming activist?

Electra Business Breakfast – B2B networking – Sponsored by Electra

Nau mai haere mai Electra Business Breakfast is pleased to be welcoming Shane Ardern, former MP, dairy farmer and farming activist. He’s often referred to as the ‘fart tax guy’ and widely remembered for driving his tractor, Myrtle, up Parliament steps in protest of the proposed emissions tax.

Shane will talk about the farming environment including threats and challenges ahead the way he sees it. His advocation on behalf of farmers to the Government on regulations and policies are well known including freshwater policies, the ute tax, bringing in international workers, the emissions trading scheme, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, pine forests and trees – the list goes on.

After leaving politics, Shane embarked on building what could be New Zealand's fastest dairy shed – able to milk 600 cows an hour. This milking parlour consists of two 40-bail rotary platforms that turn like giant clockwork dials side by side, and the cows choose the one they prefer to be milked on. This bespoke milking shed, launched back in 2020 before Covid hit, cost $1.4M versus a more tradition design that would’ve cost $1.9M to milk 400 cows an hour.

An innovative dairy farmer, he will bring a different perspective to our world along with his oratory skills and continued political involvement. He continues to be frustrated that innovation is not part of standard farming operations in New Zealand.

See you there! Book early to avoid disappointment.

COVID UPDATE

Electra Business Breakfast is delighted with the Government’s decision to remove the Traffic Light System and to allow us to make personal choices on mask wearing. If circumstances were to change and Covid prevented us from operating, we will reschedule first and then transfer or refund tickets as needed. We encourage being fully boosted for you, your whānau, your community, and please don’t attend if you are feeling unwell. We look forward to seeing you all soon.

About the Speaker: Shane Ardern, Farmer at Watino Ltd

Shane Ardern first became a member of parliament due to the Taranaki-King Country by-election of 1998, which resulted from the retirement from politics of former Prime Minister Jim Bolger. He held that seat from 1998 to 2014. While in parliament, he served as Chair of the parliamentary Primary Production Select Committee.

He was a driving force behind the legislation that enabled the setting up of the dairy company Fonterra in 2001, and he came to nationwide attention in late 2003 when he drove his tractor named Myrtle up the front steps of Parliament in protest of the proposed agricultural emissions research levy, nicknamed the ‘flatulence’ or ‘fart tax’. Since retiring from Parliament, Shane returned to his Central North Island farms, and he continues to advocate at the grassroots levels for the Taranaki farming communities that supply Fonterra.

Electra Business Breakfast is an independent networking programme that seeks to INSPIRE, CONNECT and ENGAGE where everyone is welcome.

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