Pictured (from left to right): Stephen Guerin, CEO PGG Wrightson, and Jamie Mackay, Brand Ambassador for IHC NZ.

2024 marks 42 years of PGG Wrightson’s support of the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme, and it’s an incredible representation of the collective power of the New Zealand rural community - working together to create a lasting legacy. 

“Committed to helping grow the country, PGW is proud to be the principal sponsor for the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme. For more than four decades our livestock teams and sales yards have put in a massive effort to ensure every year is a success,” says CEO Stephen Guerin.

“Then, for the past two years the wider PGW company has gone pink for a week to raise awareness for the scheme and raise donations on top of what our farmers donate by way of calves and lambs throughout the year at the sales. We’re so honoured to have helped raise $42 million in its 42 years, which is a fantastic figure to reflect on.” 

As the largest provider of support and services for people with intellectual disabilities (and their families) in every region around the country, IHC NZ has a number of important key initiatives that it’s responsible for. These include family liaison work, Australasia’s largest specialist library specifically on intellectual disabilities, advocacy and offering residential support services in almost every community. 

There are also 33 local associations around the country, many of which are based rurally, and are fully funded by donations and local volunteers. 

Pictured: Greg Millar, National Manager of Fundraising for IHC NZ. 

“Our vision is that New Zealand is a place where people with intellectual disabilities are valued citizens and part of the community,” explains Greg Millar, the National Manager of Fundraising for IHC NZ. 

And with the funds pledged by PGW and their network of farmers, IHC NZ have been able to ensure their programmes reach those in need of assistance and specialist services.   

“It’s certainly had a huge impact on the lives and futures of people with intellectual disabilities and their families,” says Greg. 

“42 years ago many people with intellectual disabilities were still locked away in institutions. However PGW, and the farming community, have always understood the importance of living in your community, with family, friends and neighbours. 

“This now happens and having that rural voice and support has been critical.”

Pictured (from left to right): PGG Wrightson Tatuanui team - Karma Nicholson (CSR), Scott Daubney (TFR), Steve Court (CSR), Caitlin Stick (CSR), Rex Madden (Store Manager).

It’s certainly a cause that Rex Madden, the PGW Tatuanui Store Manager on the outskirts of Morrinsville, has always been keen to help out with. So for the past four years he’s been hosting a get-together on site - and it’s now become an annual celebration of Pink Week and the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme.

“Because it’s been such a long-running partnership, I just wanted to play my part in getting involved. This year we stepped it up a notch from a morning tea to a lunch, with our team behind the barbecues and serving up the food.” 

Pictured at the Tatuanui Morning Tea (from left to right): Keith Rae (Waikato South Association Deputy chair), Steve Hannah (Supporter of the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme), Ian Upson (Supporter of the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme).

Inviting members of the IHC community as well as representatives from IHC NZ, PGW and also the farmers who donate their calves to the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme, Rex was keen to ‘close the loop’ of those who support IHC NZ with those who benefit from it, and with some great feedback from all of those who attended, there’s no doubt the event will be even bigger and better in 2025. 

“It was a great success, with everyone saying how much they enjoyed meeting each other. We’re only the facilitators really, it’s the farming community who are donating the animals so the idea was to recognise those people putting the calves up and to say thank you for making a donation, while celebrating with those who the initiative supports,” says Rex. 

“It’s a real competitive landscape out there with lots of other organisations asking for animals, so we really appreciate their involvement with what we are doing. We had one farmer come along who has been doing it for 30 years.” 

Happy with what the lunch achieved, Rex was also pleased with the connections he made himself. 

“I wasn’t aware there was a couple who go out to get the donations, so now that we’ve made that link, I’ve said they are always welcome to come in to say hello and for a cuppa.”

So next year the lunch will be along the same lines, however, he does have one change in mind.   

“We definitely need more pink.”

And it’s the support of people like Rex that Greg says really make a difference to IHC NZ’s offering. Because while the donations are extremely important to the IHC community, he’s also grateful for the far-reaching assistance by PGW and the team, who have rallied behind the organisation whenever - and wherever - they have been needed. 

“It’s about much, much more than money and sponsorship. PGW has been a strategic partner to the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme from the very beginning, but because the staff at IHC NZ are not experts in farming, having PGG Wrightson offering support and advice across the past 40 years has been invaluable,” says Greg. 

“Each year at sale times the PGW livestock team work really hard to get the best possible price for IHC and this is so important to the farmers who you can see often take a huge amount of pride and care in the calf or two they donate to IHC.”

Reflecting on this year’s Pink Week, Greg commends the commitment of the PGW staff who got into the spirit of it all with pink clothes, wigs and decorations - not to mention all the delicious pink baking. 

“There were many events being held nationwide, all wonderful occasions that have grown as the number of attendees have also increased, after the word has spread on how much fun everyone had in previous years. 

Pictured: Members of the IHC community attending the morning tea at the PGW Head Office in Christchurch

“It’s a great opportunity for their staff to get a personal insight into the work of IHC/IDEA Services and the people their ongoing efforts help support. It is also a lovely way to build some of these relationships at a local level. 

“To see PGW going Pink for a Week shows tremendous support for the scheme and we love it.” 

To find out about how you can donate a calf, or support the work of IHC New Zealand, check out their website for more info.