Aotearoa New Zealand’s primary sector is operating in an increasingly complex environment. Economic pressure, regulatory change, climate expectations and intergenerational transition are placing strain on farm businesses and the relationships that sustain them.

This year’s AMINZ Rural Day, proudly presented in partnership with Tavendale + Partners, will focus on what happens when that pressure builds, and how conflict can be prevented, managed, and resolved in a way that supports both people and outcomes.

Bringing together farmers, advisers, mediators, lawyers and sector leaders, the day will centre on lived experience, practical insight and constructive pathways forward.

The day will conclude with networking and the opportunity to continue conversations with colleagues and peers. 

AMINZ Rural Day is the only event in Aotearoa New Zealand dedicated to dispute resolution in the rural sector.

“Whether you’re a farmer, lender, insurer, lawyer or rural adviser, this day is for you,” says Executive Director Monique Pearson. “The rural sector is at the heart of our economy, and this unique event is a chance to explore the real-world challenges of resolving disputes in this sector.”

Event Details

We are proud to bring you AMINZ Rural Day 2026 in partnership with Tavendale + Partners.

Date: Thursday 27 August, 9.30am-4.30pm
Venue: Tavendale + Partners, 329 Durham Street North, Christchurch
CPD: 4 points

Pricing

Member: 
In person $489 inc GST. 
Online $431 inc GST. 

Non-member:  
In person $581 inc GST. 
Online $495 inc GST. 

To access member pricing, you must be a fully paid, financial member at the time of booking. 

Programme Overview

• Where pressure turns into dispute: What’s coming and where it will hit

  Global and domestic pressures are reshaping the realities of farming.

  This session explores how those pressures are translating into strain at farm level, including interest rates, input costs, market volatility and regulatory change. With a focus on financial pressure, banking relationships and commercial viability, the discussion will highlight where disputes are most likely to emerge across debt, partnerships and supply arrangements – and what that means for those working in the sector. 

• Farm debt in practice: When pressure turns into dispute - Panel Discussion with Anna Kilpatrick and Guy Polson

  This session brings together those directly involved in farm debt situations to explore how financial stress translates into conflict.

  The panel will examine what typically triggers mediation, how conversations with banks and advisors unfold, and where relationships begin to break down. The focus is on real scenarios, practical insight and early intervention. What works, what doesn’t and where outcomes can shift.  The “Journey”. The impact of having a mediator involved – when, and why it’s so important. 

• When the contract no longer works: Supply, pricing and breakdown with Penny Mudford and Leandra Fitzgibbon

  Rural businesses operate through a network of commercial relationships, including sharemilking, grazing, supply and processing agreements. When conditions shift, these arrangements can quickly come under strain.

  This session explores where contracts fail in practice, how disputes emerge when agreements no longer reflect reality, and how issues escalate when not addressed early. The emphasis is on lived experience rather than technical analysis, highlighting key risk points and practical pathways to resolution.

• Succession under pressure: Family, fairness and financial reality - Panel Discussion with Linda Adams, Nick Walls and Mark Copeland, Moderated by Mark Greenside

  Succession remains one of the most complex and sensitive areas in rural practice, particularly where financial pressure is present.

  This session explores the intersection of family dynamics, debt and differing expectations, and how conflict emerges when these elements collide. It will consider how conversations can be approached in a way that balances legacy, fairness and commercial sustainability. Farm equity.

• People in the middle: Conflict, culture and decision-making under pressure

  This session focuses on the human dynamics of conflict. It explores how stress, identity, communication breakdown and cultural context influence behaviour and decision-making under pressure. It will also consider how disputes escalate and how relationships can be navigated more effectively, including cultural contexts.

• Holding the space: Safety, boundaries and resilience for practitioners - Panel Discussion with Penny Mudford and Malcolm Wallace

  For those working in the middle of conflict, the role can be both complex and demanding. This session focuses on how professionals can protect themselves while supporting others. Topics include managing emotionally charged situations, maintaining boundaries, recognising the impact of sustained exposure to conflict, and the role of peer support and reflective practice.

• What good looks like and what we do differently from here

  The day concludes with a forward-looking reflection on the role each participant plays in shaping how conflict is approached across the rural sector. Drawing on the themes of pressure, relationships and early intervention, this session will consider what better practice looks like and how it can be applied in real-world settings. 

More speakers to be announced.