Legacy of leadership

Although Sir David Carter didn't come from a farming background, his remarkable career has undeniably left a lasting impact on New Zealand's agriculture sector.
"I was born and bred in Christchurch, so city raised," Carter says.
"But from the age of twelve, I was determined I was going to be involved in farming."
The determination led him to Lincoln University, where he graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science.
Following his graduation, Carter went into a farming partnership with his father in West Melton.
Only 25 years old but already future-focused, Carter began to explore what was then cutting-edge agricultural innovation: embryo transplantation with European cattle breeds.
"I was involved in setting up an embryo transplant business on the West Melton property using Australian and Canadian Vets."
The venture was short-lived but hugely successful.
Carter then moved to a Banks Peninsula property where he established a successful cattle stud called Avon Park Simmentals.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Carter showed cattle at the Canterbury A&P Show.
"I know the work and dedication those animal exhibitors put into it."
Driven by a desire to advocate for the agriculture sector and influenced by his father, who had a long tenure on the Christchurch City Council, Carter ran for the Lyttleton Electorate in 1994.
"I always had an aspiration to go to parliament and become minister of agriculture.
"I'd set my sights on that at Lincoln."
He lost the election and thought his short political career was over, but opportunity came knocking a short time later when an MP in a neighbouring electorate, Ruth Richardson, resigned.
This triggered a bi-election for which Carter was given the national party nomination.
"I won the bi-election, and that was the start of a 26-year political career."
Carter achieved his dream of becoming minister of agriculture, forestry, and biosecurity, which later became the Ministry for Primary Industry under John Keys' leadership.
"It was timing, and it was luck."
Carter's time as minister included some significant initiatives, such as the Irrigation Acceleration Fund, which aimed to improve water storage for the farming sector.
"New Zealand has heaps of water; it just doesn't fall in the right place at the right time."
Carter faced also major challenges as a minister, such as the Kiwi fruit industry crisis caused by PSA disease.
"It could have been absolute devastation for the kiwi fruit industry, but the government worked closely with the leadership of Zespri, and we got the money to pull out the affected vines.
"It was a joint venture."
It's the aftermath February 2011 Christchurch earthquake that is cemented in his memory, though, and his visit to the city that day, where he witnessed the devastation first-hand.
"I got a call from a friend to say their son had been killed.
"Then John Key and I spent the day wandering around Christchurch.
"It was a sobering experience."
Carter then became speaker of the house, for which he received a knighthood.
Carter said that although he felt some disappointment at giving up his agriculture portfolio, he enjoyed his time in the role.
"It's a huge job; you control the democratic process of New Zealand.
"You set the tone of how parliament operates and how efficiently democracy works."
Carter retired from politics in 2020 but remained actively involved in the agricultural sector, taking up leadership roles.
Carter was appointed chairperson of the agricultural cooperative RuralCo in 2022.
"RuralCo plays a critical role in connecting farmers with the resources they need.
"It's not just about commerce; it's about building a sense of community and resilience in rural areas."
Carter said that when farming isn't going well, it is tough for cooperatives, pointing to the troubled Alliance as an example.
"RuralCo as a cooperative has had its challenges as well, but we have worked through it with a very good functional board.
"It's been an exciting venture to be involved with."
Carter was recently appointed chairperson of the Canterbury A&P Association board, determined to preserve the show and secure its future after it was cancelled earlier this year.
"It seemed to me with the right approach and dedication, we could run a show in 2024.
"More importantly, it's ensuring we have established a good, sound foundation for this Canterbury A&P Show that has run for 160 years to run for another 160 years."
"It brings town and country together, and we are still an agricultural economy."
Carter said that although times are tough for farmers currently he believes agriculture has a bright future.
"I think agriculture does have a future, and I would argue that while climate change is a huge challenge for the world, a bigger challenge is food insecurity."
"Unless we solve food insecurity, the world will not be a peaceful place.
"New Zealand has a role to play in that, and I want to see the New Zealand meat industry perform as well as the dairy industry has."
By Claire Inkson