This project was inspired by a Winter Forum at Darfield run by the Ministers' Association in 1987. The exercise was undertaken at the depth of the drought in Canterbury. It was an attempt to understand the full implications of a sudden political change towards rural New Zealand. It was believed that with knowledge comes power. It was hoped that decisions could be made from such a grasp of the current situation, that bank policies could be changed and bankruptcies prevented. New Zealand is at a critical point in her short history. Suddenly the old recipes that used to work do not work any longer.

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.