NZYF: Code Of Conduct

1.0 Objects, purpose, and values of New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF Constitution 4.0)

The objects and purpose of the organisation are to advance education in the agricultural sector in New Zealand by:

1.1 Increasing the profile, skill level and knowledge of people both directly or indirectly involved in agriculture in New Zealand through:
• Education and training
• Skills and capability development
• Community network and involvement; and
• Participation and achievement

1.2 Overseeing the carrying on of initiatives including the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Contest Series, TeenAg and the NZYF Alumni network

1.3 Performing any act or thing incidental or conductive to the attainment of any of the above objects or purposes.

New Zealand Young Farmers values commitment, enthusiasm, achievement, and integrity.

2.0 Standards of behaviour

When representing New Zealand Young Farmers, people will:

2.1 
• Act in a fair, honest and proper way
• Be honest and fair in all their dealings
• Behave in a way that maintains and builds the reputation of New Zealand Young Farmers
• Be mindful of the need to protect the environment
• Make decisions impartially, and accept responsibility for decisions made
• Respect and follow New Zealand Young Farmers decisions and policy directions
• Enter only into transactions and make promises on behalf of New Zealand Young Farmers that New Zealand Young Farmers is able to honour
• Model excellent behaviours by not using illegal drugs or suffering from the effects of alcohol while at an NZYF associated event, gathering or meeting.

2.2 Create and maintain good relationships with each other and with the public
• Behave politely, sensitively, and respectfully
• Value differences and behave in culturally appropriate ways
• Avoid behaviour that could be considered as harassment, exploitation, harmful or discrimination
• Recognise and respect other’s roles, contributions, experience, and skills
• Recognise and respect different opinions, and support the right of all points of view to be heard
• Be supportive of all work done in the name of New Zealand Young Farmers.

2.3 Protect information, funds, and assets of New Zealand Young Farmers:
• Abide by the regulations on the use of the brands and logos and prevent their misuse
• Protect information, funds and assets from loss, damage, misuse, waste, and theft
• Use information, funds, and assets for New Zealand Young Farmers not for personal gain
• Respect and maintain confidentiality as appropriate, both during membership and after retiring as a member
• Understand that information, design and intellectual property created for New Zealand
• Young Farmers remains the property of New Zealand Young Farmers.

3.0 Follow the Media Policy

The full policy is available from New Zealand Young Farmers National Office. Key points are:

• New Zealand Young Farmers people may talk to local community media and comment on
local New Zealand young Farmers activities that they are directly associated with and are encouraged to share and publicise local events through these avenues. Local community media means free community newspapers and local non-networked radio and TV stations.
• The Marketing and Communications Manager and/or the Chief Executive are the only officers who nominate other people to talk to regional, national or international media (this includes all media not defined under local media above).
• New Zealand Young Farmers people understand the need for publicity which always includes agreement with the Fundamental Principles of New Zealand Young Farmers and always reflects positively on New Zealand Young Farmers.
• New Zealand Young Farmers people always inform their Regional Chairperson about any media contact
• New Zealand Young Farmers use social media responsibly and adhere to the social media policy
• Disclose any potential or actual conflict of interest

4.0 Disclose any potential or actual conflict of interest

Any member seeking election or appointment to, or holding office in New Zealand Young Farmers, must tell their Region Chairperson or the National Board about any interests they have that may conflict with their responsibility to New Zealand Young Farmers. Conflict of interest occurs when an individual’s interests interfere, appear to interfere or have the potential to interfere, with the interests of New Zealand Young Farmers.

4.1 New Zealand Young Farmers Current Employees Code of Conduct issues relating to current employees of New Zealand Young Farmers are dealt with in their individual employment agreement and relevant New Zealand statutes and regulations. It is prudent, however, to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest issues between current New Zealand Young Farmer employees and the New Zealand Young Farmers Membership and in particular any actual or potential conflicts of interest between the roles of management and governance of the organisation, New Zealand Young Farmers employees are welcome to become both members and volunteers of New Zealand Young Farmers, however to avoid any conflicts of June 2022 interest the following provisions apply to any current employee of New Zealand Young Farmers:

4.2 No current New Zealand Young Farmers employee may be elected to any office of a Club, District or Region, or be a member of the National Board. 

 

5.0 Breach of the Code of Conduct 

If anyone considers that a member or volunteer of New Zealand Young Farmers has breached this Code of Conduct, they should inform their Region Executive Committee, or their National Board representative in writing via the Member conduct complaints process. A breach is misconduct and addition to 15.0 in the New Zealand Young Farmers Constitution outlines how misconduct will be investigated.

6.0 Confidentiality Policy for Members

Respecting the privacy of our clients, funders, members, staff, volunteers and of the NZ Federation of Young Farmers Clubs Inc itself is a basic value of NZ Young Farmers.

• Role holders only accessing information required to fulfil role requirements
• Care shall also be taken to ensure that unauthorised (non-roll holding members) individuals do not overhear any discussion of confidential information and that documents containing confidential information (e.g. personal information, emails, phone numbers, medical information) are not left in the open or inadvertently shared.
• Role holders of NZ Young Farmers may be exposed to information that is confidential and/or privileged and proprietary in nature. The policy of NZ Young Farmers is that such information must be kept confidential during and after role positions.
• Role holders are expected to return all NZYF materials (e.g. downloadable member reports/files etc.) containing privileged or confidential information at the time of separation. Any persons withholding the return of any privileged or confidential information belonging to NZYF may face legal action.
• Unauthorised disclosure of confidential or privileged information is a serious violation of this policy and will subject the person(s) who made the unauthorised disclosure to appropriate discipline, including removal/dismissal.
• Role holders are strictly prohibited from inputting, uploading, or otherwise providing any confidential member-related information to any external or third-party artificial intelligence (AI) tools, platforms, or systems. This includes but is not limited to generative AI tools like ChatGPT, language models, summarisation tools, or any AI-powered applications. Meeting materials contain sensitive and proprietary information that must be protected. Using external AI tools risks unauthorised disclosure and potential breaches of confidentiality. 
• Policies and Procedures are in place to ensure that confidential information is well protected.

Consequences

NZ Young Farmer Role Holders who don't respect our confidentiality policy will face disciplinary and, possibly, legal action.

The CEO will investigate every breach of this policy. We'll remove the NZ Young Farmer membership and remove the role of any Roll Holder who willfully or regularly breaches our confidentiality guidelines for personal profit. Depending on its frequency and seriousness, we may also have to punish any unintentional breach of this policy.

Further information

Email: membership@youngfarmers.co.nz
Postal Details: P.O Box 23141, Hornby 8441
Phone: 0800 699 346