From town to triumph for agribusiness student awarded John Perrin Scholarship

Oliver’s high academic performance during his first year, combined with his dedication and understanding of key industry issues, made him a standout recipient of the $3,000 scholarship.

Founder and Chair of Perrin Ag John Perrin spoke highly of Oliver’s achievements.

“Oliver isn’t from an agricultural background, so he has done exceptionally well in his studies. His dedication and application in year one, as shown by his results, are extraordinary,” Mr Perrin says.

“I was impressed by his mature and considered assessment of issues facing the agriculture industry in New Zealand at the moment. It was clear he fully intends to use his degree to further our industry and support the farmers within it.”

Oliver says the scholarship will alleviate some of the financial pressures of being a student and has helped him build industry connections.

“I’ve always lived in town. I don’t come from a farming background, so making industry connections with leading organisations like Perrin Ag is invaluable to me.”

He chose to pursue International Agribusiness at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University after enjoying business, geography and agriculture in high school. He also gained practical experience in policy at a youth United Nations Economic Conference and participated in the Taranaki Futures Accelerator Programme, which connects students with industry to help them define their career path.

Over the past two summers, Oliver worked at CMK Chartered Accountants, gaining hands-on insights into the financial aspects of agribusiness.

“Working with CMK’s agribusiness clients allowed me to apply my knowledge in real-world scenarios and continue building my network which I am grateful for. At school, I always wanted to do something business-related. I’ve always done accounting and economics, and I love analysis. Studying agribusiness lets me do all those things,” Oliver says.

“Ultimately, I want to use my skills to help farmers increase productivity and efficiency in a sustainable way.”

He adds that the international focus of his study has opened his eyes to the entire value chain for Aotearoa New Zealand’s primary products, from paddock to plate around the world.

“New Zealand’s products reach an international customer base. My studies are helping me understand the global value chain and how New Zealand’s sustainable farming methods can support and add value. There is huge potential in global agribusiness.”

His major in International Agribusiness also leaves the door open to travel, which he says is an exciting possibility.

“Using my skills to help New Zealand farmers achieve on the world stage would be amazing. I have learned a lot from analysing companies like Zespri as part of my studies and looking at how they approach their value chain.”

Outside of his academic pursuits, Oliver enjoys basketball, football, fishing, hiking and volunteering. He says he looks forward to leveraging the connections made possible by the scholarship, especially with Perrin Ag’s Feilding-based team.

“The scholarship has opened doors for me, and I’m eager to make more of these connections.”

About the scholarship

Named after the founder and current Chairman of the company, the John Perrin Scholarship is one of two awards Perrin Ag offers each year. The scholarship is granted to promising individuals studying agriculture and horticulture science studies at the undergraduate, post-graduate diploma or Honours level at either Lincoln, Massey or Waikato universities, who show passion, dedication, the pursuit of excellence and the desire to make a positive impact on our communities.