New Zealand’s once all-powerful farmers split amid anger over Ardern climate policy

Tractors and farmers drive through Auckland, New Zealand, as part of the Howl of a Protest organised by Groundswell against environmental reforms. Photograph: Xinhua/REX/Shutterstock

For decades, many of New Zealand’s most influential people didn’t hold seats in parliament. They didn’t pass legislation or regulations. They often didn’t even work in the capital, Wellington.

Yet this group – the elected leaders of advocacy groups Federated Farmers, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb – exercised immense power over parliament.