Farming Reference Group applications

Help shape how Greater Wellington works with the rural and farming community. 

We are seeking expressions of interest from people with farming experience to join Greater Wellington’s Farming Reference Group. 

Greater Wellington makes decisions and delivers programmes that have a direct impact on rural communities across the Wellington Region. These include work relating to land management, freshwater, flood protection, climate adaptation, and rural resilience. Local, practical advice from farmers is essential to ensuring this work is effective, realistic, and grounded in onfarm experience. 

The Farming Reference Group provides a unique opportunity for farmers and rural practitioners to have a direct say in how Greater Wellington’s work that affects the rural community is developed and delivered. 

What is the Farming Reference Group? 

The Farming Reference Group is an advisory group established to provide advice and feedback to Greater Wellington staff and to relevant Council committees on matters affecting the rural and farming community. 

The group helps:

• Provide a farming and rural lens on policy, strategy, and programme development 
• Test proposed approaches and initiatives before they are implemented 
• Identify emerging issues and opportunities across the farming sector 
• Support better relationships and understanding between Greater Wellington and rural communities 

What’s involved? 

Members will be appointed for the current triennium (2025–2028). 

You will be expected to: 

• Attend several meetings each year (a mix of inperson meetings within the Wellington Region and online meetings) 
• Provide practical, experiencebased feedback on Greater Wellington’s work programme 
• Participate respectfully in group discussion and represent a broad rural perspective 

Members will be able to claim a Greater Wellington standard meeting fee and travel reimbursement for attendance at meetings. 

Who should apply? 

We are seeking people who: 

• Have experience in farming or working within the rural sector 
• Are based in the Wellington Region 
• Are interested in contributing constructively to regional decisionmaking 
• Can consider issues from a regional perspective, not just individual interests 

Previous governance experience is useful but not required. 

Position description and further information

Before applying, please read the full position description (PDF 107 KB) .

Read the full Terms of Reference for the Farming Reference Group here:

Farming Reference Group Terms of Reference 2025-28

Read more here

date_range Published 11 Dec 2025

Download now (PDF 67 KB) get_app

Applications 

Applications open Wednesday 4 February and close at 5pm, Friday 27 February 2026. 

Completed applications can be emailed to Fathima.Iftikar@gw.govt.nz or handed in to a Greater Wellington office. 

Download an application form here (PDF 144 KB)