S. A. Robinson

Samuel Amuri Robinson, (1968-71) BAgrsc (hon), Bledisloe Medallist, 2008.

Samuel Amuri Robinson, Bledisloe Medal Citation

Mr Chancellor, Lincoln graduates are characterised by many positive qualities which reflect the philosophical pillars supporting this University’s approach to education. Among the characteristics that recur in the life stories of our graduates is a significant commitment to community and professional leadership.

This year’s Bledisloe Medallist, Samuel Amuri Robinson of Hawkes Bay, has displayed this commitment to the highest degree.

Sam was among Lincoln University’s first group of Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours) graduates in Farm Management. He was capped in 1972 and has referred to his time at Lincoln as the “best years of my life”.

Furthermore, he says “There is no doubt that the education (in the fullest sense of the word) that I received at Lincoln has been unbelievably important to anything that I may have done since leaving”.

What Sam has “done since leaving” is extensive and varied and fully qualifies him for the Bledisloe Medal.

Farming is the central theme in Sam’s life and he has been an active farmer all his working life. From his sheep and beef property “Te Maire” he was named Hawkes Bay Farmer of the Year in 1986. His commitment on his own property to farming in a sustainable manner, recognising the best long term land use for differing classes of country, is to be applauded. His involvement in production forestry  on “Te Maire” and the planting of shelter belts resulted in him being named Hawkes Bay Farm Forester of the Year in 2007.

It is however in relation to the meat industry that Sam’s name is perhaps best known and particularly in connection with Hawkes Bay freezing-cum-food company Richmond. He was a Director of Richmond Ltd from 1991 to 2004 with two periods as Chairman, the second of which culminated in the successful takeover of the company in 2004 by PPCS.

Highlights of his time as Chairman included a change in the major shareholding from the Meat Board to HKM; the Lowe Walker acquisition which doubled the company’s size and gave it the largest turnover in the New Zealand  meat industry (from being ranked fourth), and a brand repositioning of the business from “freezing” company to “food” company.

Since leaving Richmond he has continued to take an interest in the industry doing his best to assist in the facilitation of a merger of PPCS and Alliance.

In reviewing Sam’s career and contribution to New Zealand agriculture and agribusiness, the Richmond connection is but one of a whole catalogue of posts and positions he has held.

For example, he is a past member of the Ministerial Agricultural Strategy Council and a current member of the Ministerial Food and Beverage Taskforce.  He has been a Trustee of AGMARDT, a Director of Farmlands and the SOE AgriQuality and has been reappointed to the new body AsureQuality. He has been a Director of the Port of Napier since 1991 and is a past member of the Hawkes Bay Regional Council and the Hawkes Bay Catchment Board.

Among all this service he has also found time to climb New Zealand’s highest peak  -  Aoraki Mount Cook -  and another 12,000-footer Mount Aspiring!

Sir, it’s often said that if you want a job done, give it to a busy person. That certainly seems to ring true when reviewing the career of Sam Robinson.

In recognition of Sam’s boundless commitment to his industry and country,  Lincoln University proudly presents him with the 2008 Bledisloe Medal for outstanding contributions to the interests of New Zealand.