WorkSafe New Zealand has announced it has entered into a partnership with the Young Farmer of the Year competition, an event primarily sponsored by rural insurer FMG.

As part of the deal, WorkSafe will run individual health and safety challenges at each of the seven regional finals, as well as a single event at the grand final. WorkSafe will also be running challenges in the AgriKidsNZ and Junior Young Farmer of the Year sections.

The aim is to connect New Zealand’s future farming leaders with health and safety in an engaging setting, build rapport with rural communities and help create generational change, WorkSafe chief executive Nicole Rosie said.

“We want to help those farmers just starting out to understand health and safety is about caring for themselves and their people,” Rosie noted. “Good health and safety practices are at the heart of every successful farm business.”

The partnership with WorkSafe is the perfect fit, New Zealand Young Farmers chief executive Lynda Coppersmith added.

The FMG Young Farmer of the Year is also sponsored by Ravensdown, New Holland, Honda, Stihl, Massey University, AGMARDT, Lincoln University, Betacraft and Meridian.