NZ Business and Government: How we can work together to reach a more sustainable New Zealand

*The views expressed by this Rangatahi member are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of the organisation(s) they represent.

Name

Ryan MacArthur

Your whakapapa / background

I was Born and breed in Ōtepoti, Dunedin. Despite now residing in Canterbury, I remain a die-hard Highlanders supporter. I attended Lincoln University completing a Bachelors of Environmental Management and Planning, before undertaking a Masters in Agricultural Systems and Sustainability. I’m deeply passionate about turning regulatory pressures in to opportunity for New Zealand farmers and am currently working as On-Farm Sustainability Manager at Silver Fern Farms.

What excites you about the opportunity to be a Rangatahi Advisory Panel Member for The Aotearoa Circle?

I’m really excited to be exposed to the diverse perspectives of other Rangatahi panel members from a variety of industries and backgrounds. Everyone on the panel is aligned towards a common purpose yet brings their own unique perspectives which challenge conventional thinking and stimulates some thought-provoking conversations. Its particularly interesting for me personally, to observe the perspectives of our primary industry from youth leaders outside the sector. I seek inspiration from some of the phenomenal capabilities and involvements of others on the panel and their dedication and passion for protecting New Zealand’s environment.  

Being a part of the panel provides the unique opportunity to influence strategic pathways that ensure the protection of New Zealand’s precious natural capitals. Through this, we can develop frameworks that enable ecosystems in which we can have prosperous economies that nurture our natural resources. I have deep respect for The Aotearoa Circle partners’ willingness to be open and receptive to feedback. These courageous conversations and the organisational governance that support them will help drive intergenerational solutions.

Furthermore, it’s great to have the opportunity to have a look under the hood of some of the Aotearoa Circles leading partners. There’s some great work going on within each organisation and the collaboration facilitated by the Aotearoa Circle encourages the exchange of knowledge, that helps build momentum on the sustainability ambitions of many of these companies. It’s reassuring to know that despite being in different industries, the challenges we face are not dissimilar, particularly when it comes to climate change and environmental decline. The similarities in strategic directions of the participating partners provides a great platform for implementing the radical change required, at scale.

How would you like emerging generations to contribute to decision making and leadership - now and in 20 years time?

I’d like to see emerging generations participate constructively and have the confidence to challenge the status quo when it comes to the degradation of our natural resources.  Emerging generations need to approach their contributions with a profound respect for those that have gone before them. Conversely, they can’t shy away from the need to be bold in their ambitions and have their opinions heard. Ensuring opinions are balanced and not always driven by self-interest remains vital to ensuring we strike the right balance for solutions going forward. When contributing to leadership its important to remain open to the perspectives of others. I’d like to see decision making frameworks that balance the needs of people, profit and planet, placing the environment at the centre of all we do.

What is your vision for the future of Aotearoa New Zealand or the industry you work in?

New Zealand’s primary industries are uniquely positioned to provide nutrient dense nourishment to the world that celebrates our strong provenance story. The red meat sector is poised to feed the world’s most discerning consumers, and this opens the door to a shift away from the commodity markets we’ve historically competed in, to value-add products that celebrate the unique extrinsic attributes of our farming landscapes. I’d like to see New Zealand’s farmers celebrated, with our food production systems being the envy of countries we export to. From the significant regulatory pressures our industry is currently facing, comes this opportunity to position New Zealand and its farmers as the leading nature positive food producers of the world. 24% of all New Zealand’s remaining native vegetation cover is estimated to be on sheep and beef farms, making New Zealand sheep and beef farms large custodians of some of our most treasured natural resources. It’ll require practical policy implementation and market led initiatives to drive protection and enhancement of these areas.

What would you like the leaders of Aotearoa New Zealand to do in order to help bring your vision to life?

Our leaders need to consider how the dialogue we engage in is being perceived by audiences beyond our own industry. As our leaders face into many of the challenges we experience, I’d like to see them proactively encourage the required change, with bold ambition. This requires clear definitive stances on non-negotiable action and the support of shareholders, investors and public.  New Zealand business and government need commitments and accountability to ensure we deliver action, and the conversations regarding the future of our environment don’t just remain around the board table.  The public and private sectors need to work more collaboratively to achieve outcomes that benefit New Zealand and provide returns that allow investment into action on environmental degradation.

What are your biggest concerns when it comes to the state of Aotearoa New Zealand?

I’m concerned that politics tends to delay the immediate need to take action on some of the most pressing issues. Rather than developing and implementing solutions we often see the public and private sector get caught up in the debate, fueled by political or commercial interest.

Ultimately, my biggest concern is that future generation won’t have the opportunity to enjoy our backyard in the same way in which we, or generations before us have. New Zealand’s outdoors is the ultimate playground, be it on the lake or in the mountains. We’ve got a responsibility to enjoy all our land has to offer whilst protecting it for generations to come. To borrow a quote from Air New Zealand’s latest safety video, “we don’t inherit the Earth from our ancestors. We only borrow it from our children”. As the Kaitiaki of this place, it is on us to be bold and take action to ensure we deliver on the Aotearoa circles mission – to restore Aotearoa’s natural capital for future generations.