Final William Gerrish Memorial Award honours student commited to community impact

The award has been made possible by the Gerrish family for the past 25 years in memory of distinguished Massey alumnus Bill Gerrish, who was widely respected for his commitment to strengthening agricultural capability in developing nations.

At the awards ceremony last week, Professor Nicola Shadbolt presented the award alongside Minister of Agriculture Hon Todd McClay, praising Vetekina’s intellectual curiosity, strong sense of social responsibility and unwavering personal integrity.

“She has a positive vision of the future of agriculture, supported by a broad understanding of the local and global challenges that farmers and agribusiness face. She is set to make a significant contribution in her future career,” Professor Shadbolt says. 

As a recipient of a Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship, Vetekina came to Aotearoa New Zealand as part of a programme designed to foster prosperity, security and sustainable growth in partner countries by investing in future leaders. Over the past three years while studying at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University, she has focused on building the knowledge, skills and connections she hopes to take home to strengthen farming communities in Tonga.  

“I have learned a lot here, most of all how farmers work together and share knowledge. When I go back to Tonga, this award will remind me to continue building on those values. I don’t want it to be an end point, but motivation to keep learning and moving forward.” 

She says social responsibility is a value she wants to keep at the forefront of everything she does.

“It’s important to think beyond myself. When I return to Tonga, I want to find ways to support and uplift our farmers, particularly those who may be missing out on opportunities or advances happening elsewhere.”

Moving to New Zealand on her own reinforced the importance of community and support.

“So many people have helped me, most of all my friends, but also my lecturers, classmates and the people I met through internships and industry placements. I’m the eldest of four siblings, and they need a big sister to look up to, so I may as well set an example!”

Professor Shadbolt, Professor of Farm and AgriBusiness Management within the School of Agriculture and Environment who helps administer the prize, says the award has long celebrated the importance of leadership and farm management in shaping successful agricultural businesses.

“While our scientists create great opportunity and insight, it’s the skills of the farm manager, the integrator, that often have the biggest impact on a farm business’ success. Making decisions on what to adopt, setting strategy, designing systems that work and having the people and financial management skills to bring those plans to life is what it’s all about.”

Previous recipients of the William Gerrish Award include Fonterra Global Key Account Manager James Robertson, LIC General Manager Mark Julian and Farms and Forests Business Operations Manager Kerry Worsnop.

Head of School of Agriculture and Environment Professor Paul Kenyon says that the 25 years of this award have reflected the evolution of New Zealand’s primary industries.

“Today we see talented people entering agriculture from a wider range of backgrounds, experiences and countries than ever before, bringing with them diverse perspectives and ways of thinking that are a real strength for our sector. Many students from around the world come to learn from kiwi agricultural innovation, adapting it to their own environments and farming systems while contributing to our rural sectors in return.

“Vetekina’s commitment to learning, leadership and giving back to her community is very much in keeping with the values Bill Gerrish championed, making her a fitting final recipient of this award.”

In addition to receiving the William Gerrish Award, Vetekina was also the second place recipient of the Excellence in Agriculture Third Year Award.

While she is preparing to return home to Tonga after her exams, she already has her sights set on further study.

“I’m returning to Tonga first, but hopefully in the future I can come back here to learn some more. Three years is not enough for learning!”

Reflecting on her own journey, Vetekina encourages future students, particularly those moving away from home, to embrace new experiences and connections.

“Learn to jump in and make friends! Looking back, I wish I’d socialised more in my first year because by my third year, I realised how friendly and supportive everyone was. Especially in group assignments, people always made me feel very comfortable sharing my ideas. Don’t be afraid of situations that feel unfamiliar.”