Wills eyes Ravensdown board seat

Bruce Wills says he is standing for the East Coast Ravensdown board seat because he wants to bring fresh ideas and energy to an important farmer co-op. Photo / File

Anyone who thought Hawke's Bay farmer Bruce Wills was looking forward to a break after three years as Federated Farmers national president and then the passing of his parents, less than a month apart, late last year, simply didn't know the guy.

Now he's making sure they do, by announcing a rare challenge for the East Coast position on the board of Ravensdown, held since 2000 by now-retired Gisborne farmer Patrick Willock, who is seeking re-election.

The material goes out to shareholders tomorrow and Mr Wills says, from the family farm Trelinnoe, near Te Pohue, he hopes the knowledge that there is a choice this year will motivate shareholders to "get out and vote".

"This East Coast seat hasn't been challenged for many years," he said. "The incumbent director has held the role for 15 years. I think people would be interested to know that there is a choice for them. I am standing to bring fresh ideas and energy to an important farmer co-op."

Mr Wills has governance roles with QEII National Trust, Motu Research, Todd Foundation, NZ Farm Environment Trust, Hawke's Bay environment protect project Cape to City, NZ Poplar and Willow Research Trust, Ballance Farm Environment awards and others.

That was at the time he produced the CV for the job -- a month or so later he can add chairmanship of a governance group for the $16 million Passion to Profit partnership in the deer industry, an interim group merging major players in the bee industry, and membership of a governance group heading the ministerial Our Land and Water Challenge.

Mr Wills has known Mr Willock many years, and had warned him that he would be a candidate for the Ravensdown position, which is in line with an intention to develop off-farm roles over time as he moved on from the Federated Farmers experience.

He's keen to add Ravensdown to the list and said it was sparked by his "strong support" of farmer-owned co-operatives, and having two farmer-owned operations was a "real strength" of the fertiliser industry.

"I am excited with how new science and innovation around soils and fertilisers is going to help our businesses," he says. "Ravensdown is doing good work here but needs to do more."

With a background of growing up on the family's 1100ha sheep and cattle property, a B.Com (Ag) from his 1979-1982 years at Lincoln University, and 20 years banking/investment in Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton, predominantly with AMP Investments, Mr Wills became Federated Farmers Meat and Fibre sector chairman in 2008, and served one-term as national president from 2011 to 2014.

He turned down the opportunity of a political career when asked to consider standing as a candidate in last year's general election, but has not ruled out in the future.

The East Coast directorate stretches from East Cape to the southern reaches of the Tararua District and the seat is one of eight on the board -- four in the North Island and four in the South.

Mr Willock has been a prominent member, serving more than eight years as deputy chairman. A member of the Gisborne District Council from 1989 to 2001, he had a term as Federated Farmers Gisborne Wairoa provincial president in 1995-1998, has been chairman of the East Coast Rescue Helicopter Trust since 2001 and was awarded the MNZM in the 2015 New Year Honours.