15 February 2019

WorkSafe New Zealand has today announced a partnership with the FMG Young Farmer of the Year competition.

WorkSafe Chief Executive Nicole Rosie says the partnership will connect New Zealand’s future farming leaders with health and safety in an engaging setting, build rapport with rural communities and help create generational change.

“We want to help those farmers just starting out to understand health and safety is about caring for themselves and their people. Good health and safety practices are at the heart of every successful farm business.”

For the Young Farmer of the Year, WorkSafe will run individual health and safety challenges at each of the seven Regional Finals as well as a single event at the Grand Final, created collaboratively between Young Farmers’ representatives and local WorkSafe staff. The first Regional Final is being held in Milton tomorrow.

As part of the support, WorkSafe will also be running challenges in the AgriKidsNZ and Junior Young Farmer of the Year sections.

New Zealand Young Farmers Chief Executive Lynda Coppersmith says the partnership with WorkSafe is the perfect fit.

“Our organisation has a strong focus on health and safety. We want young farmers to become old farmers, that’s what makes this partnership a perfect fit and we’re hopeful it will help efforts to improve health and safety on farms and in agri-businesses.”

WorkSafe joins other sponsors including Ravensdown, New Holland, Honda, Stihl, FMG, Massey University, AGMARDT, Lincoln University, Betacraft and Meridian.