Mark Daniel initially worked for Rustons Engineering (Reco) and was a regional manager for E P Barrus and Claas UK before moving to New Zealand in 2002

There he worked for two New Zealand distributors and dealerships before being offered the role of machinery editor for the Rural News Group, the leading farming publication in New Zealand, a post he has held for 7 years.

A Welshman, Mark now lives in the small coastal community of Raglan, near Hamilton in North Island, and he spoke with Chris Biddle for the latest episode of Inside Agri-turf podcast.

First Mark reflected on his time in the UK, on renting a room in Lancashire from Mike Gibson (Chris Gibson’s father) and of regularly falling off quad bikes in Wales.

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Then of his present role of writing about machinery matters for the Rural News Group which has been largely unaffected during the past two years despite tight lockdown conditions in New Zealand.

Farming is central to the New Zealand economy and he described farmers coming to terms working under a ‘green’ Labour government with its environmental credentials, but which is suffering from labour shortages. 

Picking fruit and vegetables was previously undertaken by back-packers, often from the UK, but there have been none allowed in the country in past two years.

He also says that New Zealand farmers have a very commendable ‘make do and mend’ attitude and are very adept at solving mechanical issues themselves.

Despite that, and the fact that agri-business subjects are included in 30% of the country’s secondary school curriculum, he says that there is no university in New Zealand offering courses in agricultural engineering.

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