Chair

Ralph Brown

Ralph is the chair of NZWIG and has been growing walnuts for 9 years. He is co-editor of the New Zealand Walnut Growers Manual and a member of the Communication Stability Promotions sub-committee. In his other life, he owns a business specialising in training in communication skills. He is based in Christchurch. You can contact him at 365 3164 or ralph.brown (at) xtra.co.nz.

Secretary

Grant Rasmussen

Grant is the secretary of NZWIG and has been involved in tree cropping for seven years. Grant also acts as the 'Walnut Propagator Liaison Officer'. In his professional capacity he is a Chief Adviser for the New Zealand Commerce Commission specialising in consumer protection legislation. He is based in Christchurch and can be contacted at (03) 344 3053 or grantrasmussen (at) xtra.co.nz

Treasurer

Hugh Stevenson

This is Hugh's second term on the NZWIG committee and fills the Treasurer's role. Hugh and Jill are just establishing a 700 walnut orchard at Charing Cross. Hugh is a forester and worked in that capacity for 33 years. Hugh is also a member of the Research Sub-Committee of NZWIG.

treasurer(at)walnuts.org.nz

Other Committee Members

Paul Devine

Paul Devine Paul is in his second term as a committee member. He has an education background - most recently being responsible for the administration of an education system in Sydney Australia. He has a walnut orchard, bought in 2003. In his other life, he is involved with a catalogue company that provides non-toxic products for the home and personal care.

Clive Marsh

Clive was on the formation committee and Chair of NZWIG in 2001 and involved in WAG before then. He has chaired the NZWIG Research Committee since the beginning. He is a partner in Lightfoot Walnuts which started in 1998 and which is now producing 'a harvest'. Clive's background is in engineering and science and has worked at universities, and in both public and private sector research and development. Clive currently works as a development engineer for a biotech company. In his spare time, Clive enjoys mountaineering, tramping, running, swimming and cycling.

Nelson Hubber

Nelson has been on the NZWIG committee for three terms and is currently leader of the Education and Events Committee. He and his wife Wilma have 900 walnut and 400 Bianchetto Italian truffle trees at Halkett Road West Melton. He is the managing director of Microfilm Digital Print and has had previous careers in economic development and sheep farming. He sees the Walnut orchard is a return to the land, with many of the features of a traditional farm and pleasant prospects for the future.

Heather North

Heather was on the formation committee of NZWIG in 2001 and was involved in NZTCA's Walnut Action Group before that. Her roles in NZWIG include being a member of the Research Sub-committee and co-editor of the Walnut Growers' Manual. She is a partner in Lightfoot Walnuts which started in 1998 and is now producing a crop. For 10 years until November 2007 Heather was a scientist at Landcare Research, specialising in satellite image processing. However she has recently had a change of scene and now works on a dairy farm near Rakaia. Contact details: 03-303-5499, heather.north (at) xtra.co.nz

Russell Hurst

Russell has been a member of NZWIG committee since it was established. He has been on the standards/quality sub committee for the last few years. He has been growing walnuts for about 20 years with 50 trees now fruit bearing and another 300 trees that are six years old. His walnuts, pears, quinces and 3500 super fine merino sheep are sidelines to his main business of 1900 dairy cows. Russell lives on the Waitaki Plains boardering the Waitaki River.

Mike Caldwell

Mike joined NZWIG when the NZ Tree Crops Walnut Action Group became NZWIG. His interests in the Group are in the fields of quality assurance including the export quality of the NZ crop and "in field" research. He is NZWIGs representative on NUTNZ. He and Margaret own a 700 plus tree orchard part of which is a new cultivar trial block and a second block that has been a pruning trial. Mikes committee activities have slowed down in recent years due to excessive day job commitments which he has recently reduced. Mike can be contacted on phone 03 318 1373 and email m.m.caldwell (at) xtra.co.nz. Mike and Margaret welcome people interested in walnuts to their property.