Latest news with #RichardMcIntyre
Otago Daily Times
29-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Young leaders to step up: president
The election of Canterbury sharemilker Karl Dean to the national dairy chairman role for Federated Farmers will cause Bex Green to step up as North Canterbury's president. Mr Dean, 36, replaced former dairy chairman Richard McIntyre and also takes his position on the national board with Richard Dawkins, 35, replacing Toby Williams to also join the national board. Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford said the two young leaders were stepping up into significant national leadership roles. "While they may be new to our national team, they're by no means new to Federated Farmers. They've held senior leadership roles within our organisation for some time now. Karl and Richard are both highly respected and experienced farmers within their regions, and have worked their way up from the grassroots." Mr Dean was previously the North Canterbury provincial president and vice-chairman of the national dairy council. "It's also been a huge honour to work with Richard McIntyre over the past seven years on the dairy council, and his 12 years of service hasn't gone unnoticed. His leadership has helped shape a strong, positive culture, and I'm committed to carrying that legacy forward." Mr Dawkins, who farms with his wife Jess in the Waihopai Valley near Blenheim, was elected as the organisation's new national meat and wool chairman. He has previously spent five years on the national meat and wool council and two years as Marlborough's vice-president. Mrs Green said the provincial president role had been in her sights for some time and she had just been waiting for the right moment for her family and her farming business. "Dairy farming is my passion, but I'm really excited that as president I'll get to broaden my horizons and come to grips with the issues in meat, wool and arable as well." She contract milks 1000 cows with her husband Blair in Culverden and was the province's vice-president under former president Caroline Amyes. With a third child still a toddler, she stayed as vice-president and took on the province's dairy chairwoman role when Mr Dean took over as president. Mrs Green has also been elected national dairy vice-chairwoman, the position Mr Dean vacated. She was named Federated Farmers 2024 Dairy Advocate of the Year for her leadership on issues such as streamlining a path to work in the dairy sector for immigrants. She was ready to tackle challenges to farmers. "Our North Canterbury sheep and beef farmers have been under huge pressure in recent years. They've had all those existing issues impacting the sector — and then a horrific drought on top of that. With the Federated Farmers 'Save our Sheep' campaign now well under way, my hope is we can bring more local sheep farmers back into the fold and really give them a voice and a platform." With three children under 13, she still finds time for multi-sports as a former Coast to Coast competitor, winning team categories for the past two years.
RNZ News
24-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Opposition mounts to new tax for organisations
Federated Farmers says the tax change is sector-wide and creating "huge concern". File photo. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller Federated Farmers and an organisation representing the country's chartered accountants have added their voices to concerns about a proposal to apply more tax to the not-for-profit sector. Inland Revenue (IR) plans to make some societies and associations' membership fees subject to tax . Under current practice, not-for-profits structured as mutual associations do not pay tax on income such as that from members' fees. This principle, known as mutuality, is based on the idea that a group of people cannot make profit from dealing with themselves. The update to IR's interpretation of how tax should be applied seemed to be based primarily on an Australian case from 2004, after which the Australian Government enacted legislative change to avoid the sort of changes IR is suggesting. Federated Farmers said Revenue Minister Simon Watts should rule out the change. It would mean Federated Farmers was charged tax on its membership for the first time. "This is not a routine tax consultation - this is a significant new interpretation that overturns 20 years of settled practice," Federated Farmers board member Richard McIntyre said. "This isn't a minor tweak - it's a fundamental shift in how the Inland Revenue Department interprets the law. "It would have serious consequences for New Zealand's not-for-profit sector. This would pull the rug out from under about 9000 not-for profits, advocacy groups, professional associations, unions, community organisations, and political parties who rely on membership fees to fund their operations," McIntyre said. "This is not just about Federated Farmers - it's sector-wide and is creating huge concern." Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) tax leader John Cuthbertson said the change would "undermine New Zealand's volunteer spirit". "New Zealand has a strong culture of people banding together to deliver not-for-profit community services and companionship. Mutual organisations are amazingly diverse - think your local sports club, community group, professional bodies and social or hobby clubs. "They have created huge public value along the way, and we do not believe their work should be undermined through additional taxation." He said most were operating on very small budgets and aiming to break even each year. "As it stands, there is inconsistency of tax treatment of not-for-profits. As a result, some organisations are treating member subscriptions and levies as tax exempt, while others are not. Ultimately, tax compliance should not overburden small clubs and societies who rely on volunteers. "Chartered Accountants ANZ believes that, because of the unique nature of the not-for-profit sector, any financial transactions made by not-for-profit organisations should not be subject to taxation. "If there are concerns that some people or organisations might be misusing the tax-free status, for example, by disguising taxable activities as not-for-profit ones, then authorities should respond by conducting focused investigations and enforcing the rules where necessary." He said the law should be changed to confirm the tax exempt treatment of member subscriptions and levies received. "Thousands of chartered accountants give their time to not-for-profits for free, to enable their public good, and they are telling us they are concerned about their future viability if additional tax must be paid," he said. Both organisations said they had made submissions outlining their concerns. Inland Revenue has been approached for comment. It earlier said there would be no implications for income that is subject to specific exemptions from tax such as the charitable exemption. "The draft statement is being consulted following changes or perceived changes to the Commissioner's interpretation of the law as it relates to associations whose income is not tax exempt, the object being to test whether the legal reasoning for the interpretation is sound." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
09-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Calls for government to unlock KiwiSaver to buy farms
money farming 29 minutes ago There have been calls for the government to unlock KiwiSaver so the funds can be used to buy a first farm, not just a house. At the moment if you have been contributing to KiwiSaver for three years you can withdraw almost all the money to buy a first home to live in. Now, Federated Farmers has launched a petition urging the government to losen the rules for accessing the retirement scheme and have said it will turbo charge the next generation of famers. Federated Farmers Dairy chair, Richard McIntyre spoke to Lisa Owen.
Scoop
09-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Federated Farmers Launches KiwiSaver Petition
Press Release – Federated Farmers Federated Farmers has launched this petition: to hold the Government accountable and send a clear message that its time to follow through on their promise. Federated Farmers has launched a nationwide petition calling on the Government to urgently change the KiwiSaver rules to help young farmers get their foot on the ladder. 'Accessing your KiwiSaver to buy your first farm, flock, herd or home has been an incredibly hot topic for farmers,' Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre says. 'On the campaign trail of the 2023 election, Todd McClay stood up in front of young farmers in Morrinsville and made a promise that he would make it happen. 'I'm sure he had the best of intentions, but unfortunately farmers have been bitterly disappointed by the lack of action from the Government on the issue to date. 'That's why Federated Farmers has launched this petition: to hold the Government accountable and send a clear message that it's time to follow through on their promise.' The petition's launch has been timed to coincide with the National Fieldays, where thousands of farmers, industry leaders and politicians will gather at Mystery Creek. 'Politicians are always out in force at Fieldays, rubbing shoulders with farmers, and we really wanted to make sure KiwiSaver issues were a topic of conversation,' McIntyre says. 'Allowing young farmers to access their KiwiSaver to buy their first herd, home, farm or flock is the number one thing the Government could do to help our next generation of farmers. 'It would shave years of hard work and saving off their progression through the industry, and really turbocharge their farming careers. 'Why is the Government okay with that money being managed by stockbrokers and invested in Fortune 500 companies, but not by a farmer buying a herd to go sharemilking?' McIntyre says he can't see any reason the Government wouldn't throw their full support behind making this policy change happen. 'A lot of young urban people enter KiwiSaver because it's a good way to build a deposit for their first house. They're saving for a home early on – not for their retirement. 'We're asking for young farmers to have the same opportunity – a one-off withdrawal early in their careers to help them get ahead by purchasing their first home, farm, herd, or flock.' New Zealanders are encouraged to sign the petition online at or at Federated Farmers' Fieldays site D70.
Scoop
08-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Federated Farmers Launches KiwiSaver Petition
Federated Farmers has launched a nationwide petition calling on the Government to urgently change the KiwiSaver rules to help young farmers get their foot on the ladder. "Accessing your KiwiSaver to buy your first farm, flock, herd or home has been an incredibly hot topic for farmers," Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre says. "On the campaign trail of the 2023 election, Todd McClay stood up in front of young farmers in Morrinsville and made a promise that he would make it happen. "I'm sure he had the best of intentions, but unfortunately farmers have been bitterly disappointed by the lack of action from the Government on the issue to date. "That's why Federated Farmers has launched this petition: to hold the Government accountable and send a clear message that it's time to follow through on their promise." The petition's launch has been timed to coincide with the National Fieldays, where thousands of farmers, industry leaders and politicians will gather at Mystery Creek. "Politicians are always out in force at Fieldays, rubbing shoulders with farmers, and we really wanted to make sure KiwiSaver issues were a topic of conversation," McIntyre says. "Allowing young farmers to access their KiwiSaver to buy their first herd, home, farm or flock is the number one thing the Government could do to help our next generation of farmers. "It would shave years of hard work and saving off their progression through the industry, and really turbocharge their farming careers. "Why is the Government okay with that money being managed by stockbrokers and invested in Fortune 500 companies, but not by a farmer buying a herd to go sharemilking?" McIntyre says he can't see any reason the Government wouldn't throw their full support behind making this policy change happen. "A lot of young urban people enter KiwiSaver because it's a good way to build a deposit for their first house. They're saving for a home early on - not for their retirement. "We're asking for young farmers to have the same opportunity - a one-off withdrawal early in their careers to help them get ahead by purchasing their first home, farm, herd, or flock." New Zealanders are encouraged to sign the petition online at or at Federated Farmers' Fieldays site D70.
