Andy and Tricia MacFarlane started MRB in 1997 with a simple but powerful purpose: To empower agribusinesses businesses to grow and thrive. Since then, our firm has expanded to a dedicated team of specialised farm consultants operating throughout Canterbury, backed by our administrative staff to keep everything running smoothly.
One thing hasn’t changed: our goal. Our dedicated team of farm consultants constantly strive to empower you so your farming businesses can thrive.
One thing hasn’t changed: our goal. Our dedicated team of farm consultants constantly strive to empower you so your farming businesses can thrive.
Our Team
Farm Consultants
Jeremy Savage
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Jeremy has been a farm consultant since 1996. His professional focus is on the dairy sector in Canterbury and Tasman areas.
His areas of expertise include:
Since 2018, Jeremy has been supervising LUDF (Lincoln University Dairy Farm) and has played a key leadership role in presenting on behalf of the South Island Dairy Demonstration Centre. Jeremy and his wife, Rachel, live in Ashburton with their two sons. They also own a 360-cow family farm in Golden Bay. |
Anton Nicholls
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Anton has been in arable advisory for over 26 years. Before he joined our team, he worked at Agriculture NZ, the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR), and as an independent agronomist.
Anton has a strong understanding of arable farm business management and cost efficiencies to maximise profitability of mixed cropping arable production. He has vast knowledge of specialist grain and seed crop management, along with extensive industry knowledge, and has a wide network of national and international contacts he can work with to help his clients achieve their goals. His key areas of expertise include:
He lives in Ashburton and enjoys family and outdoor pursuits in his spare time. |
Mark Everest
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Mark joined our team in 2010, bringing with him comprehensive experience in irrigation design and management, farm systems modelling, and feasibility studies. Mark’s focus is to support farmers to successfully implement a strategy that integrates the many disciplines of agriculture, and to improve productivity while delivering a profitable and sustainable farm system across breeding and finishing, mixed livestock and arable, dairy support and dairy farms. His key areas of expertise include:
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Jamie Gordon
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Jamie had a successful career within the Agricultural Division on ANZCO Foods Ltd before joining MRB in 2016. He operates primarily in the sheep, beef and deer sector and has considerable experience managing businesses involving intensive livestock and farming systems as well as involvement in the red meat industry and international beef markets. He has specialised skills in nutrition and genetics.
His areas of expertise include:
Jamie lives near Christchurch with his wife, Melany, and their children. He operates out of both Ashburton and Christchurch. |
Trevor Gee
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Trevor has over 20 years of experience managing dairy farming systems in Ireland, England, and New Zealand. Prior to joining our team, he worked with Dairy NZ and spent 18 months working with MPI helping farmers effected with M. bovis.
Trevor has an excellent understanding of grassland management for profitable milk production and a real passion for the dairy industry. He enjoys using his expertise to create solutions to problems he encounters daily, with a key focus on profit. His areas of expertise include:
Trevor lives near St Andrews in South Canterbury with his wife, Trudy, and two children. He enjoys many outdoor pursuits and exploring the harder to reach places in New Zealand. |
Richard Chynoweth
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Richard is an independent agronomist with over 20 years of experience supporting farmers and seed producers to optimise production through science-based research. Specialising in seed and cereal crops, he provides practical agronomic advice to improve yields, reduce input costs, and enhance overall production efficiency. He works closely with growers to tailor management strategies that align with their specific needs.
His expertise includes:
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Sarah Hawkins
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Sarah Joined MRB in 2024 after starting her consulting career in the lower North Island where she worked primarily with dairy farmers and their farming systems, but also assisting sheep and beef farmers with environmental concerns and compliance.
Her areas of expertise include:
Sarah lives near Tekapo with her husband on a merino station, currently on parental leave with her daughter. |
Rachael Wood
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Rachael has joined MRB in 2026 from a role at Halter providing after sales support to dairy and beef farms across the upper South Island. Since graduating from Lincoln University in 2020, Rachael has spent time working on sheep and beef farms in New Zealand and England and worked as a livestock consultant with farmers across England and Wales. She enjoys using technology to improve farm systems with a focus on profit and sustainability.
Areas of expertise include:
Outside of work, Rachael enjoys spending time outdoors, tramping, running and travelling. |
Andy Macfarlane - Associate
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Andy has been a practicing farm management consultant since 1981. He has an extensive history of providing useful advice and practical applications across all farming sectors, both nationally and internationally. He is a strategic thinker who is passionate about food production processing and marketing, farm management systems, leveraging of science, education to frame business outcomes and enhance the New Zealand brand. His areas of expertise include
Andrew has retired as a shareholder of Macfarlane Rural Business to concentrate on governance responsibilities. |
Office and Farm Accounts Administration Team
Tia Young
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Tia is our farm accounts administrator offering all aspects of bookkeeping and office administration for clients both in conjunction with the consultants and as a stand alone service. In her spare time Tia enjoys camping and spending time with family and friends.
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Janette Hooper
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Janette is our Office Manager. Not only is she the friendly face you’ll see when you walk through the door, but she keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Her day-to-day activities include handling the financial aspects of our business, such as accounts payable and receivables. She enjoys working with our staff and our clients to make their days as streamlined and pleasant as possible. Outside of the office, Janette enjoys spending time with family and friends, keeping fit, reading, and travelling.
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We don't just help you manage farms; we help build resilient rural businesses. Find out how we can help by getting in touch today
"Trusted rural advisers"
© 2025 Macfarlane Rural Business | www.mrb.co.nz | P O Box 418 Ashburton 7740 | ph 64 3 307 8099 | [email protected]z