6 Nov 2020

The 90s File - Heather Gee-Taylor

From Country Life, 9:19 pm on 6 November 2020
Heather Gee-Taylor with her Charolais cattle

Heather Gee-Taylor with her Charolais cattle Photo: RNZ/Sally Round

She's one of New Zealand's youngest local body politicians but also finds time to breed cattle, work several dogs on the family farm, ride her horse and study part-time.

Twenty three year old Heather Gee-Taylor has just completed her first year on the Manawatū District Council, fitting in council meetings around her farm work and tending to her small herd of Charolais.

It's amazing to see how many younger people have been elected to local councils, she says, but she's found not many are grassroots rural people "out there fighting the good fight for our industry".

Heather took Country Life on a tour of her family's sheep and beef farm at Rangiwahia and talks about revving up facilities for local youth, working her stud and easing into local body politics.

Heather Gee-Taylor with her farm dogs

Heather Gee-Taylor with her farm dogs Photo: RNZ/Sally Round