WHO WE ARE

B Com Ag (FM)
Jane is a sheep and beef farmer, stud breeder and environmentalist in North Otago and a NZ representative on the Global Farmer Roundtable.

Why the Methane Science Accord?
Jane sees the injustice and irreparable damage to New Zealand’s pasture-raised livestock sector if politics and alarmist propaganda continue. New Zealand's livestock sector has been inept in not asking the right Scientific questions, instead taking an apologist and appeasist position, spending hundreds of millions of taxpayer's money to find 'technical solutions' to an unquantified 'problem'.  This 'technology' goes against low-input, pasture-raised, free-range farming and forces a move to more intensified production systems and irreversible land use change.  We are doing the world a disservice if we don't stand up against this.

BAgr Sc (Hons)
NZ born, raised in Pacific Islands, Deborah returned for secondary school and university. Deborah has worked for Firth Industries, NZ Dairy Board, Anchor Foods, and owned her own businesses. With a curious mind, scientific education and practical experience, Deborah now researches topics that catch her interest.

Why the Methane Science Accord?
Deborah began investigating ‘global warming’, after thorough, ongoing research, including; IPCC reports, extensive research papers, latest scientific literature, she was reassured the evidence does not support the notion of catastrophic, human-induced climate change.
Despite this, Deborah saw farmers unfairly blamed, children burdened with unnecessary fear about the planet’s future, productive farmland converted into pine plantation, undermining food security, and millions of New Zealanders’ taxpayers dollars being spent with no measurable temperature reductions.
 What was once framed as a scientific concern has become a deeply political issue.

Farmer
Hamish is a sheep & beef farmer. His family farms on the hills overlooking Dunback, East Otago.

Why the Methane Science Accord?
Hamish became very concerned at the first mention of a proposed emissions tax on our sheep, cattle and deer. I wanted to fight for farmers against such a nonsensical tax.
Hamish is deeply worried that if farmers are taxed for animal emissions, the days of the family farm will be numbered. This will have negative social impact on heartland, rural New Zealand. It is not just farmers that will be majorly affected but indeed all supporting towns and agricultural businesses. It would be in Hamish’s mind an absolute travesty if New Zealand’s landscape ends up being covered by pine tree plantations and industrial farms and our rural towns become ghost towns.

Dip Ag, Farmer
Hamish farms sheep and beef on 1650ha in Hawkes Bay. With a focus on breeding Romney rams that are highly resilient to internal parasites. Hamish is actively involved in trying to restore the wool industry back to profitability. Wool as a natural fibre, should provide an essential income stream and also employment for multitudes of rural and urban people.

Why Methane Science Accord?
Watching good farms being de stocked to make way for carbon forestry due to a global ideology that humans are inducing catastrophic climate change is a tragedy. When the opportunity to join with scientists and other intelligent people to share the unrefuted scientific facts around methane and green houses gases Hamish jumped at it.

BSc Agri (Massey), BA (Waikato)
John is a dairy farmer near Gordonton. John has studied the Philosophy of Science for over 40 years. For 25 years focused on global warming/climate change, with last 5 years focused on ‘data analysis’. Downloading data from; NASA, NOAA or UAH, etc.. Data on CO2, methane, temperature and emissions. Copy data into spreadsheets, draw graphs, to calculate trends.

Why the Methane Science Accord?
It was obvious, to John, early on that the IPCC was not following scientific rules. Use of arguments from authority and arguments from ignorance was deeply concerning. Science is a process of inquiry with rules of logic and rules of procedure that must be followed if you want to have a chance of valid conclusions.

Dip Farm Mgt
Hamish farms sheep, beef and forestry at Clinton. The farm boundaries the Pomahaka River, one farm away from where it meets the Clutha River. Hamish is demonstrating farms can turn a solid profit while using less energy and building the ecosystem. Hamish and Amy are in their 11th year as joint farm owners

Why the Methane Science Accord ?
Hamish and Amy joined the MSA after realising that HWEN was going to cost their business $5000/year and not a single benefit to our climate. In fact, less money to spend on improving our ecosystems, water, trees etc. To tax the naturally occurring methane from a ruminant is an “ideology” too far, so we are proud to stand up and say NO to this stupidity.”

Farmer
Owen is a retired farmer, Former National President of Federated Farmers. Former Member of Parliament for ACT Party.
Owen helped start the Queen Elizabeth ll National Trust and was a director for 9 years. Owen was also director of various food and health companies.


Why the Methane Science Accord?
Owen is concerned that despite there being no scientific or moral justification for curtailing or taxing ruminant methane the Government and some industry leaders insist on restrictions rather than fighting the injustice.

Farmer
Paige is a sheep and deer farmer in the Waitaki Valley, in North Otago, where her family has farmed for generations. 
Paige is deeply committed to protecting the future of pastoral farming in New Zealand.

Why the Methane Science Accord?
Because the current targets threaten the future of farming families. Paige couldn’t stay silent while apologist narratives, even from within the farming sector , continue to mislead the public. The warming from our livestock is so tiny it’s literally immeasurable. New Zealand’s pastoral farmers should be recognised as the gold standard, not punished for doing the right things.

BSc (Hons) Biochemistry (Otago)
Peter spent half a decade in post graduate research, before switching to secondary school educator. (Science to year 11, Chemistry, Biology to year 13)
- 1995 recipient of a FORST fellowship in the Geology Department Otago University.
-Leader of Vanda Station Antarctica 1985/86 and leader of Cape Hallet demolition team 1987.
Retiring in 2000 to convert his small sheep farm to a deer and cattle farm. Peter has continued to study climate literature and engage with specialists in the field since 2007 with particular emphasis on methane since 2018.

Personal Communications

Extensive dialogues with Jock Allison have been central to refining Peter’s understanding of methane science. Hosting Tom Sheahen during his South Island tour, following numerous in-depth email exchanges that sharpened Peter’s interpretation of critical methane science issues. Regular correspondence continues with Will Happer, William van Wijngaarden, and Cork (Howard) Hayden, ensuring ongoing engagement with leading independent experts.

BSc, Farmer
Helen has a Bachelor Science, specialising in Biological Science, Intermediate level in Advanced Soil Conservation, Sustainable Nutrient Management, Farm Environment Planning. Helen helps her husband manage his family 900 ha drystock farm. She has a strong focus on environmental stewardship, loving farm life and hopes farming may remain an honest industry, so that her children may see a future in it.

Why the Methane Science Accord?
With her solid science background, Helen found it completely illogical to blame ruminant methane as a driver of global climate change. She firmly warns that this misleading politically driven narrative serves to fuel corporate dominance of our food systems, endangering public health and undermining nutritional food quality and environmental stewardship. Deeply passionate about evidence based science and the empowerment of farmers, Helen greatly values the members of Methane Science Accord’s fiercely independent and ethical approach, dedicated to protecting rural communities and preserving honest, farming.

Farmer
John has 50 years + working the family dairy farm. He has 200 cows on the southern boundary of Auckland City, now a syndicate partner 1000 cow irrigated dairy unit in Culverden.

Why the Methane Science Accord?
John has followed the farm emissions saga closely since the early attempts to introduce “fart Tax” 25 years ago. John is concerned, the same bureaucratic system, peddling the same false cherry-picked, data only looking at emissions instead of the whole carbon cycle and what global warming this may cause. John joined the Methane Science Accord as it is the only group demanding answers and reform.

BAgSc
Amy farms sheep, beef and forestry. The pasture and forage crops grown are the ‘large solar panels’ where the sheep and cattle convert sunshine into superfood. Amy has a strong focus on proving farms can be profitable, while restoring ecosystems and building biodiversity.

Why the Methane Science Accord ?
Hamish and Amy joined the MSA after realising that HWEN was going to cost their business $5000/year and not provide a single benefit to the climate, resulting in less money for farms to spend on improving ecosystems, water, trees etc. To tax the naturally occurring methane from a ruminant is an “ideology”

Dip of Sheep Farming, Farmer
Neil has farmed sheep and beef in the 404 hectare farm in hills west of Gisborne on a farm taken up as a bush block by Neil’s grandfather, back in 1892. He runs an Angus breeding and fattening herd and a Romney breeding and fattening flock.

Why the Methance Science Accord?
Initially accepting AGW, it was when Neil found the natural carbon cycle, esp. role of ruminants was being unfairly targeted as a primary problem, Neil re-evaluated more skeptically. Since 2008 Neil, has worked actively on many fronts to counter the scapegoating of ruminant animals. Neil is pleased to be associated with the MSA, a team of common sense, practical people who use critical thinking, unbiased science, data and observation over unquestioned authority or credentials. Neil sees ruminant methane as the Achilles Heel of AGW, requiring honest understanding rather than simplistic blame.

VFM, Farmer
Hugh farms with his wife, Kathie, 7000 sheep at Waikaka, where they breed recorded Texel and Romney rams for both sale and their own farm, with a focus on big lambs and good wool. Qualified with a VFM, graduated through State Advances, working overseas in methane hotspots, both construction and oilfields. Hugh has farmed since 1981, refining; sciences and husbandries learnt at Lincoln. Hugh started with 60 Ha, having grown to 500 Ha with family farming elsewhere. Hugh attributes good ancestors and life experiences, leading him to community service, progressing to local government, advocating for causes that help protect farming communities and viability locally or nationally. Currently Hugh is Chairman of Mataura Catchment Liaison Committee a role that requires lessons from his playing days in the front row: never back down, don't buckle, never give up.

Why the Methane Science Accord?
Loving any David and Goliath challenge, backing the Titans in MSA with the sling-shots every day. Hugh is privileged to be invited and happy to help.