The New Zealand Rural Games Trust established Agri Futures to motivate, support, and empower rangatahi to pursue food and fibre careers.
We are a pan-sector initiative that operates four pillars of work, providing opportunities for partnership and connection across education and employment sectors.
The New Zealand Rural Games Trust is a registered charity, and Agri Futures is one of the Trusts programmes of delivery, the others being: Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games and the Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards.
Meet Our Team
Meet Daniel O’Regan, who brings a unique blend of marketing and event management expertise to our team. With over 20 years of experience in communications, marketing, and events. Daniel is an award-winning public relations specialist who has run his own consultancy for over a decade. He is committed to using his expertise to promote and advance the food and fibre industry in Aotearoa to rangatahi.
As an accredited member of the Public Relations Institute of NZ and a former editor, Daniel possesses a wealth of knowledge and skills that make him a valuable asset to our organisation. He has worked with prestigious institutions such as UCOL Te Pūkenga, The Riddet Institute, and Massey University where he supported the establishment of FoodHQ.
Born and raised on a sheep, beef, deer, forestry and goldmine farm in the Inangahua Valley on the Tai Poutini | West Coast, Daniel has an impressive track record that includes leading the Agri Futures pilot with MPI, managed successful marketing, communications, and sponsorship campaigns for prominent events such as the Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games, Norwood NZ Rural Sports Awards, Clash of the Colleges, the South Island Agricultural Field Days, and the South Island Farmer of the Year Marketing Manager. In 2012, Daniel won the PRINZ Supreme Award for his work with the Student Volunteer Army following the Christchurch earthquakes.
Ali joined the Agri Futures team, having been part of the events team for the NZ Rural Games since its inception 10 years ago.
Ali brings a wealth of management experience, from her roles in the health industry, aquatics field and the world of netball following roles with Netball NZ, Netball Waikato BOP and on the international stage with Welsh Netball.
Brought up on a sheep, cattle and cropping farm in Walton (Waikato), this is a great opportunity to support young people to learn and develop their skills in this environment and encourage them to be part of the future agricultural industry.
Tangaroa Walker, or T as he is known, is one of the biggest supporters of Food and Fibre careers in Aotearoa today.
As our Clash of the Colleges MC, he keeps rangatahi on the ball as they compete in our Clash of the College modules and encourages them to have a go.
T is a successful dairy farmer, agri-edutainer, social media superstar, gym owner and most importantly, husband and dad.
T’s early years were pretty rough. Adopted twice, he went to six different schools by age six. He never read a book in his life and lived to play rugby. But he had a dream and knew how to do the mahi. And through dedication, hard work, and a drive to help others, T aims to make a difference every day throughout the farming community and beyond.
Today, T runs a successful 500-cow dairy farm in Southland and reaches millions of people as the much-loved face of Farm4Life and The Hub with his practical, inspiring, crack-up videos on everything from farming to fishing, finance to whānau and mental health management.
