North Canterbury News: May 12, 2022

Life membership surprise for Chris
By DAVID HILL
Receiving alife membership
was apleasant surprise for
Chris Sundstrum last week.
The former Federated
Farmers North Canterbury
president received a
provincial life membership of
the organisation at its annual
meeting at Leeston on
Wednesday, May 4.
‘‘It was abit of asurprise. I
didn’t have aclue. It catches
you abit on the hop,’’ Mr
Sundstrum says.
‘‘It’s an organisation that we
all need and it does alot for
the country that most people
don’t realise and unless you
get involved you don’t find
out.’’
Mr Sundstrum made his
mark during 25 years in the
mohair industry, while based
on alifestyle block on South
Eyre Road, near Oxford.
While he has now retired
into Christchurch, he
continues to have an interest
in the mohair industry in an
advisory capacity and remains
passionate about the wider
rural sector.
‘‘I’m very passionate about
New Zealand people and my
forte is that we all need each
other. My passion is to try to
get people to understand each
other.
‘‘Now that I’m stuck in town,
I’m amongst adifferent crowd
but Ifind that there’s afair bit
of connection between rural
and urban, but the only ones
who speak up are the ‘antis’.’’
The son of adoctor, Mr
Sundstrum was born and bred
in Christchurch before
studying at what was then
Lincoln College.
‘‘I grew up in town, but I
always wanted to get into
farming. It’s all I’ve ever
wanted to do.’’
After university he spent a
few years working in England,
before returning to New
Zealand where he worked
mainly on farms before getting
into the Mohair industry.
While he just had asmall
goat herd, mohair fleeces from
all over the country went
through his store.
His mohair connections
took him on several trips to
South Africa, to the home of
the breed around Port
Elizabeth.
‘‘The mohair fleece is very
popular. The Japanese in
Life member ... Chris Sundstrum’s service to Federated Farmers’
North Canterbury province has been recognised.
PHOTO:SUPPLIED
particular love their mohair
suits because they last along
time. They grow old, but they
don’t wear out,’’ he says.
Mr Sundstrum was
president of Federated
Farmers’ North Canterbury
province from 2007 to 2010.
‘‘It was avery rewarding
position, taking up the
challenges of the day and
RURAL LIFE
The North Canterbury News, May 12, 2022
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going to conferences, where
the networking was
particularly rewarding.
‘‘You meet alot of
interesting people, so it’s very
worthwhile.’’
Among the highlights of his
time as president was visiting
the Chatham Islands, which is
often aforgotten part of the
province.
Vacancies for young farmers on Feds exec
By DAVID HILL
The Federated Farmers North
Canterbury provincial executive is keen
to hear from young farmers interested in
having aseat at the board table.
Following last Wednesday’s annual
meeting, held at Leeston, president
Caroline Amyes is keen to hear from
anyone interesting in stepping into the
meat and wool chairperson and arable
chairperson roles.
‘‘We encourage people to come along
and see what we are about. It’s agreat
opportunity to build some connections
other than in your local community,’’ Ms
Amyes says.
‘‘We are doing some important work
and it’s about making sure their voices
are represented at the table.
‘‘We are quite ayoung executive and
we try to have some fun, so it’s acool
place to be.’’
The dairy sector is well represented on
the board, with new senior vicepresident
Karl Dean, aLeeston
sharemilker, continuing in his role as
dairy chairperson, while Cheviot
sharemilker Rebecca Green is junior
vice­president and dairy vicechairperson.
‘‘My goal was to have an election when
Ieventually stand down as president, so
Imight be on the right track,’’ says Ms
Amyes, who had her arm twisted to step
up as president last year, after just six
months on the board.
Members paid tribute to outgoing meat
and wool chairperson and Cheviot
Caroline Amyes
farmer Daniel Maxwell, who stood down
at the AGM after four years in the role.
‘‘It’s sad to see him go, but he will stay
on to support the next person, whoever
that maybe. Hopefully we will find
someone soon,’’ Ms Amyes says.
Mr Maxwell is staying on the board in
an advisory capacity and as the
Federated Farmers representative on
the North Canterbury Fish and Game
executive.
There is plenty of experience around
the board table, with past presidents
Chris Sundstrum and Pam Richardson
regularly attending meetings, Ms Amyes
says.
Immediate past­president Cam
Henderson is also continuing to play a
role as Federated Farmers
representative in the He Waka Eke Noa ­
Primary Sector Climate Action
Partnership discussions.
Three special awards were also
presented at Wednesday’s AGM,
including provincial life memberships to
Mr Sundstrum and Mrs Richardson.
Banks Peninsula farmer George
Macefield received an outstanding
service award for his efforts in
supporting the community after last
year’s flooding.
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