Stephen Newman

I began my career in the IT industry, but at 30, I decided to pursue farming. Taking a year off, my wife Vicky and I started exploring dry stock farms across New Zealand. Ultimately, we purchased a dairy farm near Whangarei. To prepare, I gained hands-on experience by spending a few days on a dairy farm and completing a correspondence course. With the guidance of a consultant, I took over the farm, and my farming journey began.

About 4.5 years ago, we transitioned to regenerative farming after watching Peter Barrett on Country Calendar. Our journey gained momentum through online research and guidance from Jono Frew, who became an essential resource for our shift to regenerative practices.

I soon founded the Kaipara Regenerative Farming Group and later helped run the Farming Diversity Group in Northland, organizing five field days to date. Once those initiatives were established, I started the Kiwifruit Regen/Soil Biology Group in the Bay of Plenty, which has seen great engagement and turnout at its field days.