The Guild was established in 1958. We aim to:
- Provide a channel of communication so members can benefit from an exchange of views and knowledge.
- Provide members with information and with opportunities that will assist them in pursuing their careers.
- Maintain a high standard of agricultural journalism, particularly through its annual journalism awards.
- Promote better understanding of agriculture, and its place in New Zealand’s economic and social life.
Code of professional ethics
Members of the New Zealand Guild of Agricultural Journalists and Communicators are writers, broadcasters and communicators of work relating to this country's primary production sector, which contributes around two-thirds of the nation's exported goods and is a major regional employer.
Members agree to follow the Guild Code of Ethics in their work: To strive to achieve the highest professional standards, respect the truth and to always be accurate, objective, thorough, fair, polite and honest in our work, including on social media, whether with interviewees, colleagues, other agricultural journalists, communicators or clients.
In meeting the above statement, members of the New Zealand Guild of Agricultural Journalists and Communicators undertake to:
- Conduct themselves in a way that will not discredit the Guild or any other members.
- Avoid conflicts of interest that may influence them in their professional duties, as well as any appearance of such conflicts
- Not allow professional duties to be influenced by any consideration, gift or advantage offered and, where appropriate, to disclose any offer
- Present work that is fair and accurate and that comment and conjecture are not presented as established fact
- Respect all confidences received in the course of work
- Not allow the publication of false or misleading material, or knowingly allow it to be published or broadcast on their behalf
- Respect the intellectual property rights of others and not knowingly use or appropriate to financial or professional advantage, any material or other intellectual property, whether in relation to written words, photography and graphics, advertising and promotional material, without proper recognition
- Be aware of relevant legislation, such as copyright and privacy laws, and how it applies to their work
- Always identify themselves and their employers before obtaining any interview for publication or broadcast and advise if an interview is being recorded
- Allow fair correction of errors in the next available edition or broadcast programme or podcast. If online content is corrected after it has been posted, the heading ‘corrected or updated version; should be posted at the top of the document, along with an explanation of the correction.
Membership
Membership is open to individuals working in any area of agricultural communication.
The committee has agreed that the following subscription updates will apply for 2026 inclusive of GST.
Standard membership: $120
Committee membership: $90
5+ group membership: $200 total
Corporate membership $360
Student membership: $5
Group Membership is available to media companies employing a number of agricultural journalists and corporate membership is available for allied businesses, but it does not give corporations voting rights at the AGM.
Primary sector companies can join as Corporate Members to support the Guild's activities.
An invoice for the annual subscription is sent out every January – February, but members can join at any time during the year.
The Guild's Constitution and Rules can be found here.
Awards
The Ravensdown Agricultural Communicator of the Year Award and Ministry for Primary Industries Rongo Award for excellence in agricultural journalism will be presented at the Primary Industries New Zealand Summit & Awards in Auckland in June 23.