Jack Raharuhi

Hailing from Kawatiri Westport, Jack has experienced remarkable career success, even winning the Zander McDonald Award in 2020 and the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer of the year in 2016.

By age 15, Jack had left school and started working full-time as a dairy assistant at Bassett’s Road Dairy Unit. Four years later, Jack moved into a 2IC role at Bassett’s Road before becoming Farm Manager just two years after that.

“I left school at a very young age — it wasn’t for me. I had no farming background at all but once I started working with the team and with animals, I discovered my passion for farming”.

After a stint as Operations Manager at Tōtara Farm, Jack’s role expanded to Operations Manager of Cape Foulwind Complex. Two years ago he was promoted to Business Manager, looking after the Cape Foulwind and Buller complexes.

“I’ve worked with great leaders throughout my time here at Pāmu. I’d single out Cameron Walker who has helped me to achieve my goals. I give him a lot of credit. Cameron’s coaching was a big factor in the success I’ve had with Pāmu.”

For that reason, when it comes to the Pāmu values, it’s ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ that resonates the most, because as Jack says, “team work makes the dream work!”.

Jack has many reasons to love what he does, but at the top of the list – the team. 

“I work with an incredible team in the office – we’ve been in the trenches together, we challenge each other, and we eat together! I’m really grateful to work with such an engaged group of people”.

Jack’s advice to rangatahi Māori that aspire to be successful in agriculture reflects his own roots and a Te Ao Māori lens.

“Kīwaha — give it a go! Find the whenua that you are most connected to. Be part of the journey of the soil, animals, and produce that it provides”.

Jack’s career trajectory at Pāmu demonstrates the opportunities that are there for aspirational rangatahi keen to pursue leadership roles. Even with the rapid success he’s had to date, Jack still sees huge potential at Pāmu.

“Right now, I’m focused on being the best business manager I can be. I believe that success will stem from this — and I think that success will be within Pāmu. I’m really grateful for the opportunities that this organisation has given me over the years”.

One of Jack’s focuses in the Te Ao Māori space is the normalisation of Te Reo Māori as part of day-to-day mahi.

“We’re always looking for areas to increase our Te Reo use in our team. Basic communication across our teams always incorporates Te Reo Māori words — especially when meeting and greeting. It’s a continual focus for us — we’re all on the journey”.