24 September 2001 'Clarion Call' for Rural Leaders

Reawakened awareness that primary production is unquestionably the cornerstone of the New Zealand economy is a "clarion call" for strong rural sector leadership, says Lincoln University's Professor Tony Zwart, Director of the country's top rural leadership course, the Kellogg programme.

"In an economy like New Zealand's it is a fundamental fact of life that we enjoy the consumption style we do because of the level of imports made possible largely by the export of primary products.

"Something like 60-70 percent of our exports are primary based, paying for the bulk of our computers, our cell phones, home videos, brand-name leisure wear and other accoutrements of modern living," says Professor Zwart.

"Guidance of the rural sector can never be left to serendipity and that's why, for the past 22 years Lincoln University has been encouraging strong and intelligent rural leadership through a comprehensive training programme."

Applications are open now for Course No 18, starting in January. It has been renamed the Kellogg/Primary Industry Council Rural Leadership Programme to emphasise the name of the principal sponsoring body.

The Primary Industry Council is the organisation representing the interests of the meat, wool, dairy, apple and pear, kiwifruit and game industries, replacing the old "producer board" structure.

Course 18 is in three parts – a residential period at Lincoln University from 28 January to 6 February; a non-residential period involving work on a research project and essentially covering the bulk of the year, from February to November; then a return to Lincoln University over 18-20 November to present the projects followed by a visit to Wellington and the interface of business and government, over 21-23 November.

The aim of Phase I is to improve the leadership abilities of participants by focusing on the dimensions that contribute to leadership.

In Phase II the participants select a topic, research it and write it up, with University staff available to advise each participant during the course of their investigations.

In Phase III the presentation of the research projects gives the participants further communication practice and the experience of "peer review" of their work.

The Wellington visit at the end of Phase III provides an opportunity to study the mechanism of government and the political process and interview chief executives and others about the practical nature of leadership.

Lincoln University's Kellogg/Primary Industry Council Rural Leadership programme is open to all those people who have demonstrated a willingness to assume responsibility in public and rural affairs and have shown evidence of leadership potential.

The course is aimed at rural people and those who provide services for rural society even if they might, for example, live in and work in an urban location.

Application forms are available from Errol Costello, Professional Development Group, PO Box 84, Lincoln University, Canterbury; telephone (03) 3253832; fax (03) 3253840; email costelle@lincoln.ac.nz.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.