Scholarship for Whangarei dairy man
Dairy NZ regional leader Tafadzwa Manjala from Whangarei is among five people nationally to have been awarded a prestigious Nuffield New Zealand Scholarship to study the latest developments in leading agricultural countries.
Mr Manjala, 38, who has a number of qualifications from his native Zimbabwe, is currently completing a masters degree in agriculture at Massey University.
His scholarship win will help him further research how New Zealand can facilitate the faster uptake and application of current and new management "on farm" practices.
Mr Manjala has worked for Dairy NZ since 2004, organises the Green to Gold Group (business-focused discussion group) and until a few months ago was a councillor on the New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management.
As well as their own individual study programme, scholars participate in a conference with 60 Nuffield Scholars from around the world and a six-week global focus programme through an organised itinerary through several countries.
Historically only two to three annual scholarships have been awarded, but Nuffield New Zealand director Richard Green says it has been the organisation's vision to grow the programme.
Further 2013 scholarship winners include ANZ rural banker Sophie Stanley from Hamilton, rural entrepreneur Lisa Harper from Picton, Meridian Energy national agribusiness manager Natasha King from Christchurch and Northern Southland farmer and retailer Stephen Wilkins from Athol.
