Waiting for other people to come up with solutions is not the style of Federated Farmers' newest board member, Katie Milne, writes Felicity Wolfe.
A proud West Coaster and small-scale dairy farmer, Katie Milne first got involved with the Federation and agricultural politics because she wanted to find out more about the Resource Management Act and how it was going to affect her and partner Ian Whitmore's farming business.
Rather than wait for somebody else to step up, Milne's can-do attitude prompted her to get involved with the Federation and bring her own influence to the process.
She moved up through the ranks of the dairy section to be elected as the West Coast's provincial president in 2009 and was elected to the national board at the Federation's National Conference and AGM in June. Milne aims to encourage younger farmers to bring their enthusiasm to the Federation.
"We need more young farmers to step up and bring their ideas and ambition to the organisation," Milne says.
"We have a wealth of experience and wisdom in the Federation, but to look forward to how New Zealand's agriculture will be run in 20 or 30 years we need the young people who will still be farming to contribute their take on solutions to our industry's many issues.
"If you leave things to other people and they don't come up with the solution you need, then you have no one to blame but yourself."
It was this self-sufficient, yet community-minded, view that prompted her to get involved with the Federation.
"I had seen what effect decisions made in Wellington had on forestry in our region. I did not want to see West Coast farming go in the same direction," Milne says.
Over the years, Milne has worked extensively on local government plans around the West Coast, especially around property rights issues arising from the introduction of Significant Natural Areas and wetland protection.
"Much of the West Coast has been locked away from further development, so we have to retain as much as possible so future generations can continue to farm here," she says.
Her negotiation skills and techniques were honed during years of dealing with lawyers, planners and council staff in Environmental Court proceedings. Increasingly these are fellow women who are well educated, articulate and very savvy, Milne says.
"Working with these professionals requires a more communicative and collaborative method for resolving issues.
"We have to approach negotiations differently than 10 to 15 years ago. That does not mean the Federation is not prepared to put a line in the sand to protect farmers' interests when need be, but being more open to dialogue is a far better way of starting the process."
While her work for the West Coast Federation has kept her busy, she has also been on the Westland TBFree committee which has overseen a huge reduction in bovine tuberculosis (Tb) outbreaks which used to be rampant in the region.
"We are now moving into a follow-through phase with the aim of stamping out Tb once and for all."
Being part of a small community has also prompted her to participate and give back as much as she can; Milne is part of the local volunteer fire brigade and coached netball at her daughter's school before she went to Lincoln University.
Outside of work and volunteering, Milne enjoys a range of outdoor challenges, from skiing to scuba diving. Of course, as a Coaster, she loves disappearing off to a whitebait stand when the season is on. Due to demands of her new role, she is well aware the immediate future's catch may be halved.
"I was not made to sit indoors, so farming has been the perfect career for me," Milne says.