Bay of Plenty

Jodie previously worked for 15 years in the legal sector. She has studied as a Life Coach and grew up in rural Eastern Bay of Plenty. Jodie has been part of the Trust since the 2017 EBOP flood events.

Miles is the Chairperson and Trustee for Bay of Plenty Rural Support. Miles holds a BAgCom from Lincoln and Dip Banking from Massey. Miles recently retired after 50yrs working in Rural Banking/Finance and Valuation. He has been a Rural Support Trust trustee since 2004 and lives on a rural block near Edgecumbe.

Darryl Jensen is a Te Puke-based farmer and the current Deputy Chair of the Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust. He has previously served as Provincial President of Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty.

Paul is a third-generation dairy farmer based near Te Puke. Since returning in 2005 Paul has embedded himself in various roles within local schools and sports clubs and is also involved in the promotion of Farmstrong resources in the community.

Maia is a Bay of Plenty Trustee having joined in 2021.

Mary Nowotarski is the Regional Leader and Committee Chair for Bay of Plenty–Coromandel within Rural Women New Zealand. She is a longstanding Rural Women member since 2001.

Jody Malcolm is a proud dairy farmer from Edgecumbe and former regional leader with the Dairy Women's Network (Central Plateau & Bay of Plenty).

Daniel has been in the horticultural industry for over twenty years starting with managing kiwifruit orchards in the Te Puke region. Through the P.S.A outbreak Daniel worked as a technical representative providing advice and solutions to the wider horticulture and floriculture sectors. Daniel returned to the kiwifruit industry in 2017 as a grower representative at Trevelyan’s Pack and Cool Ltd. Outside of work Daniel enjoys time with the family and fishing.

Brent is the Bay of Plenty President of Federated Farmers. He is a sheep and beef farmer based in Manawahe, where he focusses on both production and environmental restoration. A former rural banker, Brent returned to the family farm in 2008.

Barry has farmed on the Kaimais, between Tauranga and Matamata, since returning from the UK in 1977. A foundation trustee of the Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust (BOPRST), Barry has a deep interest in rural affairs. He has been an active member of Federated Farmers, serving as Meat and Fibre Chairman, and has contributed to numerous Resource Management Act (RMA) issues. Barry has also been a Lions Club member for 42 years and has served on various community committees. He is passionate about helping others.

Malcolm has a Diploma in Valuation and Farm Management and has 43 years experience in rural banking and finance. His strengths are supporting families and individuals in the farming community through a variety of challenges.

Donna has been farming in the Eastern Bay of Plenty for 35 years working her way from farm worker to 50/50 sharemilking. Donna has a Diploma in Psychology and Counselling.

Scott grew up in a King Country farming family. He has worked with farmers and growers since 2004 after completing a Bachelor of Agricultural Commerce majoring in Farm Management and Rural Valuation at Lincoln University. He has 17 years of rural banking experience working in a variety of locations and sectors across New Zealand. He has been based in the Bay of Plenty since 2016 and is now a Coach with the team at Rural Coach Ltd. His strengths are his people skills, easily connecting with farmers, their families and teams.

Rechelle lives on a small lifestyle property near Lake Rotoma and prior to this enjoyed many years of farming in both the Bay of Plenty and Waikato. Rechelle has farmed dry stock, deer, beef, and sheep and has recently retired after 20 years as a Mortgage Broker.

Chelsea is originally from Tauranga and moved to Edgecumbe in 2014 to support her husband's farming career. In 2021 they started their contract milking business near Edgecumbe. Chelsea holds a Social Sciences Degree and a Diploma in Agribusiness.

Mohi has 13+ years in senior dairy roles. Originally from Rotorua, he is now living in Otamarakau. Mohi’s passion is to drive positive change in farming for a healthier New Zealand for the people and the land using first nations (holistic) practices (Maramataka, whare tapa wha).

Cathie Cotter chaired the Southland Rural Support Trust from 2019 to 2024 and served on the National Council from 2020 to 2023. After training as a Registered Nurse she met her husband and juggled motherhood, sharemilking and nursing. Dairy farming led to 26 years in the South Island where she held leadership roles across agribusiness and rural support. Cathie supported communities through events such as the Mycoplasma bovis and oyster virus outbreaks. She recently returned to the Bay of Plenty and now works as an emergency department nurse in Tauranga.