On Thursday, 1 May 2025, an emotional memorial event was held to honour the late Dr Warren Parker, former Chairman of Pāmu Landcorp Farming Limited. The event took place at a 13.5-hectare QEII block on Short Road Organics, a Pāmu farm, which has been renamed the Dr Warren Parker Covenant.
In a touching tribute, a tōtara tree was planted by Dr Parker’s family and blessed by Michael Ahie, former Chancellor of Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University and Chair of Spring Sheep (a Pāmu joint venture).
Pāmu CEO Mark Leslie said, “Warren made significant contributions to our organisation over his five years of dedicated service. He was proud that Pāmu could trial ideas to solve agricultural challenges, strive toward a greater vision for Aotearoa, and share our experiences with neighbours and the wider industry.”
He added that Warren had a passion for leaving the environment better for future generations and for sharing his knowledge and wisdom through mentoring. It was therefore fitting to announce an academic scholarship for a third-year agriculture student at Massey University. He also revealed that the inaugural $8,000 Dr Warren Parker Pāmu Scholarship, which includes the opportunity of a summer placement on a Pāmu farm, has been awarded to Oliver Cayley.
Originally from Taranaki, Oliver Cayley didn’t grow up on a farm, but he has worked hard to earn his place in the agricultural sector. “My parents weren’t farmers, and I had no real exposure to agriculture growing up,” he says. “I enjoyed accounting at school and was always drawn to applying business skills in a hands-on environment. Agriculture seemed like the perfect fit.”
Now in his final year of an agribusiness degree at Massey University, Oliver is making up for lost time with hands-on experience. He’s gained on-farm experience through placements with friends and local farmers, learning the basics of calf-rearing, milking, and farm operations from the ground up. “It was all completely new to me, but I’ve loved seeing how the business side of farming connects to what’s happening day-to-day on the ground,” he says.
Receiving the Dr Warren Parker Scholarship has been a significant milestone for Oliver.
“It’s incredibly humbling. I didn’t know much about Dr Parker before this, but after reading about his work and his passion for education and the industry, it’s clear this scholarship is special. I hope I can honour that legacy.”
Pāmu offers a range of pathways to develop talent for the benefit of New Zealand’s agricultural sector.
Mr Leslie says leadership and on-farm training have been happening at Pāmu for some years. As well as the new Massey Dr Warren Parker scholarship, Pāmu also provides scholarships through the First Foundation
"This year, we also started the Pāmu Apprenticeship Scheme to encourage more young people into farming. The first cohort of nine apprentices is based at Pāmu farm Aratiatia near Taupō. Our new contracting and sharemilking options for dairy teams are another great opportunity for those with ambition in our ranks or those already in the industry who are keen to build equity and progress in their careers," Mr Lesile concluded.
