In this episode, host Katie Rodwell speaks with Laura Morrison, a sheep and beef farmer from Rangitikei and a passionate agri-sector leader. Earlier in the year Laura joined a cohort of food and fibre representatives on a leadership trip to Singapore, designed to challenge traditional thinking and foster new approaches to collaboration and innovation.
She shares her reflections on the trip, what Singapore’s unified vision taught her, and why stronger connections across New Zealand’s value chain are key to a more resilient future.
Tune in to hear Laura talk about how New Zealand’s agri-sector has strength in its people and products—but to remain globally competitive, we must embrace collective ambition. “Status quo is not what’s going to save us.”
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Full show notes for this episode:
Farming and Leadership in Rangitikei
Laura farms 270 hectares near Marton with her husband, Richard, including 70 hectares of native bush. Alongside raising two young boys, she’s actively involved in industry leadership, serving as vice chair of Manawatū-Rangitikei Federated Farmers, a national meat and wool executive member, a Beef + Lamb Farmer Council rep, and part of the AgriZero collective. She also chairs the steering group for Connector, a new Rural Women NZ initiative supporting rural community wellbeing.
Why Singapore?
Laura was part of a cohort representing all parts of the food and fibre value chain—farmers, processors, investors, iwi, researchers—on a trip to Singapore, organised by Food HQ with support from ASB and AgriZero. The goal: immerse themselves in a market known for its innovation, strategic partnerships, and food security solutions.
A Culture of Cohesion
Laura was struck by Singapore’s collective mindset—“buy in or ship out”—which stands in stark contrast to what she sees in New Zealand’s fragmented agri-sector. With deep alignment across government, industry, and private investment, Singapore shows the power of unified effort. The trip highlighted for Laura the need to move beyond traditional, siloed thinking and toward genuine collaboration in New Zealand.
Opportunities for New Zealand
From coffee roasting to centralised food manufacturing and strategic export logistics, Singapore offered multiple examples of market innovation. Laura sees opportunities for New Zealand to pursue deeper partnerships, move beyond commodity exports, and embrace consumer-focused product development.
Applying the Lessons at Home
Laura hopes to bring back a spirit of proactive engagement—calling on farmers to connect more with the wider sector, contribute to change, and avoid “head in the sand” attitudes. Through her leadership roles, she’s committed to fostering open-mindedness, collaboration, and a willingness to evolve.
Key Takeaway
New Zealand’s agri-sector has strength in its people and products—but to remain globally competitive, it must embrace collective ambition. As Laura reminds us, “status quo is not what’s going to save us.”
