Decades of Arable Leadership
Protecting todays crop. Supporting tomorrows growth
About us
United Wheatgrowers (NZ) Ltd is a grower-driven organisation dedicated to protecting the financial viability and crop standards of New Zealand's arable sector. We focus on delivering protection through a compulsory disaster relief insurance scheme and a rigorous, trusted Quality Assurance framework.
Our Core Activities
- Compulsory Disaster Relief Insurance Management
- National Quality Assurance Scheme Administration (QAgrainz)
- Strategic Collaboration with Foundation for Arable Reseaarch (FAR) Federated Farmers (Grains Section)
- Independent Levy Collection Auditing
- Partnerships across the wider primary sector
Our values
Working for the Grower. Protecting the Industry.
For over 30 years, we have have successfully confronted the issues impacting New Zealand Wheat Growers. Our work is guided by a clear business plan focused on long-term industry stability.
{ 01 }
Industry Advocacy & Dialogue
We maintain open, transparent dialogue with grain end-users to convey grower concerns over contract terms and pricing trends while building strong, long-term industry respect.
{ 02 }
Automated Disaster Relief
We spend the compulsory grain levy solely on providing a flat-rate disaster relief insurance scheme featuring zero excess, zero minimum loss thresholds, and low overhead management.
{ 03 }
Traceability & Market Quality
We administer the New Zealand Crop Quality Assurance scheme to deliver practical, grower-friendly traceability that satisfies all buyer, consumer, and contract requirements.
{ 04 }
Decades Of Industry Knowledge
Our directors and electoral committee members bring decades of collective hands-on farming and industry experience to the table. We provide deep institutional knowledge and practical, ground-level support growers can rely on.
Professional accreditations:
Cand.jur., Aarhus University
Diploma in Contract Management, CfL Denmark
Member, Danish Society for Contract Law
Professional accreditations:
AU in Legal Studies, Copenhagen Business Academy
Certification in Legal Case Management, Dansk Paralegal Forening
Member, Danish Paralegal Association
Our team
Meet Our Leadership & Board of Directors
Michael Tayler
Chairman & Director (Winchester)
Michael provides strong governance and industry leadership to the Board. Based in South Canterbury, he leads strategic negotiations for the national wheat insurance scheme and contributes to the delivery of QA Grain’s quality assurance programme.
Contact: 027 222 4777 | michael@taylerfarms.co.nz
Andrew Darling
Director (Timaru)
Andrew is a passionate wheat grower farming near Timaru. He focuses on modernising agricultural systems along with sustainable practices and wants to see a strong future for next generations of arable farmers.
Contact: 027 706 9881 | adarfarming@gmail.com
Brian Leadley
Director (Ashburton)
Based in Mid Canterbury, Brian brings many years of experience growing cereal and seed crops on his farm. He has extensive involvement in cross-industry working groups and brings a collaborative approach to industry matters.
Contact: (03) 308 9923 | 027 450 5305 | brian.rachel@xtra.co.nz
Steve Wilkins
Director (Athol)
Steve is a Southland farmer and experienced industry leader, with extensive governance experience across agriculture. He is committed to strengthening New Zealand’s wheat industry and supporting growers.
Contact: (03) 2016 246 | 027 437 5209 steve@wilkinsfarming.co.nz
Allison Brook
Executive Officer (Brown Glassford & Co Ltd)
Allison manages the day-to-day administration, client accounts, levy tracking, and operational coordination for United Wheatgrowers from the secretarial office in Christchurch.
Contact: (03) 365 0881 | allison.brook@brownglass.co.nz
We're here to represent and support all our growers. Our role is to provide honest and practical guidance, helping build a strong and resilient arable industry.
Michael Tayler, Chairman
The National Electoral Committee
UWG is backed by a democratic 27-member national committee elected across 9 core wheat-growing regions. Committee members must have grown at least 4 hectares of wheat within the previous two seasons and are nominated through the Provincial Grains Sections of Federated Farmers of New Zealand. Elections are held annually by rotation, providing continuity and accountable representation.
Wairarapa / Hawkes Bay
Hugh Ritchie
- Role / Status: Re-election 2026
- Address: Drumpeel, Otane
- Phone: (06) 856 8279
- Mobile: 027 444 1224
- Email: Hugh@drumpeelfarms.co.nz
Rangitikei / Manawatu
Simon Nitschke
- Role / Status: Re-election 2028
- Address: 335 Whales Line, RD 3, Marton
- Mobile: 027 274 6318
- Email: simon@arablesolutions.co.nz
Geoff Williams
- Role / Status: Re-election 2026
- Address: 720 Watershed Road, RD 10, Palmerston North
- Phone: (06) 326 8147
- Email: g.williams@inspire.co.nz
North Canterbury
Paul Stackhouse
- Role / Status: Re-election 2028
- Address: 579 Omihi Road, Omihi, Amberley
- Phone: (03) 314 5988
- Mobile: 025 816 932
- Email: jessicaandpaul@xtra.co.nz
David Hadfield
- Role / Status: Re-election 2028
- Address: Carters Rd, Greenpark, No 4 RD, Christchurch
- Phone: (03) 324 4438
- Email: crops@xtra.co.nz
Earl Worsfold
- Role / Status: Re-election 2026
- Greendale
- Phone: 027270 8066
- Email: earl.worsfold@hotmail.com
Mid Canterbury
Barry Austin
- Role / Status: Re-election 2028
- Address: No 8 RD, Ashburton
- Phone: (03) 303 6366
- Mobile: 025 344 041
- Email: danebury@xtra.co.nz
Matthew Paton
- Role / Status: Re-election 2026
- Address: 29 Wakanui School Road, RD 7, Ashburton
- Phone: 022 221 0431
- Email: mjpaton@xtra.co.nz
Bevan Lill
- Role / Status: Re-election 2026
- Address: Ashburton
- Mobile: 027 622 2069
- Email: bevanlill@hotmail.com
Gary R Wilson
- Role / Status: Re-election 2026
- Address: Glenmorganvale, No 5 RD, Ashburton
- Phone: 0274 582 114
- Email: gary.rae@farmside.co.nz
Tim Porter
- Role / Status: Re-election 2028
- Address: 1439 Christys Road, Pendarves, 7 RD, Ashburton
- Phone: 027208 3401
- Email: theporters197@gmail.com
John McCaw
- Role / Status: Re-election 2028
- Address: Mt Harding Road, Methven
- Mobile: 027 414 0157
- Email: johnmccaw@yahoo.co.nz
Tash White
- Role / Status: Re-election 2026
- Address: Tinwald
- Phone: (03) 302 6705
- Mobile: 027 634 4272
- Email: willowbankag@gmail.com
Darryl Hydes
- Role / Status: Re-election 2028
- Highbank
- Mobile: 027 4328452
- Email: danda.hydes@xtra.co.nz
South Canterbury
Robbie Wigley
- Role / Status: Re-election 2028
- Address: 202 Lower Hook Road, RD 8, Waimate
- Mobile: 027 840 9382
- Email: robbiewigley97@gmail.com
Nicholas Hurst
- Role / Status: Re-election 2028
- Address: 1797 Waimate Highway, RD 8, Waimate
- Mobile: 027 721 8343
- Email: hurstey@gmail.com
Colin Hurst
- Role / Status: Re-election 2028
- Address: Makikihi, 1 RD, Timaru
- Phone: (03) 689 5898
- Mobile: 021 232 8905
- Email: colin.hurst@xtra.co.nz
Michael Porter
- Role / Status: Re-election 2026
- Pleasant Valley Rd, Lyalldale.
- Mob 021 221 0905
- Email: theporters@farmside.co.nz
David Moore
- Role / Status: Re-election 2026
- Address: 205 Youngs Road, Temuka 7985
- Phone: (03) 615 9384
- Email: moore_farm@hotmail.com
Graham Talbot
- Role / Status: Re-election 2026
- Address: 44 Taiko Road, RD 2, Timaru 7972
- Mobile: 027 205 2100
- Email: graham.talbot@xtra.co.nz
Peter Hewson
- Role / Status: Re-election 2026
- Address: 44 Taiko Road, RD 2, Timaru 7972
- Mobile: 027 205 2100
- Email: pnhewson@farmside.co.nz
North Otago
Nat Small
- Role / Status: Re-election 2026
- Email: nsmall@xtra.co.nz
Doug Simpson
- Role / Status: Re-election 2028
- Phone: 274 712 414
- Email: basalthillfarm@gmail.com
Otago
Craig Whiteside
- Role / Status: Re-election 2026
- 232 Waiwera Station Road, RD2, Clinton. 9584
- Mob 0274959079
- Email: craigwhiteside232@gmail.com
Southland
Gary Collins
- Role / Status: Re-election 2028
- Address: RD 1, Balfour
- Mob 0274394201
- Email: gcrecollins@xtra.co.nz
Chris Dillon
- Role / Status: Re-election 2028
- Ardlussa RD6 Gore 9776
- Mob 0274592902
- Email: dillonagltd@gmail.com
Faqs
Frequently asked questions
How does the corporate governance structure select its leadership?
The 27 regional representatives forming the Electoral Committee hold the responsibility of electing the Directors. An election for 1 of the 4 Director seats is held annually. Each Director is elected to a fixed 4-year term and remains completely eligible to seek re-election upon term completion.
How is the wheat varietal research investment currently funded?
The Wheat Industry Research Levies Act 1989 provides the legal authority to impose an independent research levy on all growers. The official research levy is currently set at a zero rate.
How is the levy money used and audited?
100% of the levy is spent solely on disaster relief insurance and the administration costs of the scheme.
To ensure fairness and complete accuracy, our official Commodity Levy Order authorises United Wheatgrowers to conduct random, independent audits of collecting agents.
