Our families are our most important asset. We as parents want to give the children we are blessed with, the best start in life they can possibly get. Education, after family life, is the main way to give them that start. As children advance through the primary system secondary education is uppermost in parents minds. There appears to be a perception in rural communities that rural children should be educated in an urban school to do what is "besf for their schooling. It is my intention through my project to collate evidence as to what rural educated children do in fact receive from these Area Schools. This decision in education is so important I believe that some researched evidence is needed so rural parents can make a more informed decision.

The New Zealand Kellogg Rural Leaders Programme develops emerging agribusiness leaders to help shape the future of New Zealand agribusiness and rural affairs. Lincoln University has been involved with this leaders programme since 1979 when it was launched with a grant from the Kellogg Foundation, USA.