Skip to content
Listed below are the publications and key presentations stemming from our research. While some of the publications are freely available electronically in the public domain, others are not. We have listed our publications according to the type of publication and they are listed chronologically.

Journal articles

2025

Gatiso T, Knook J 2025. Mind the gap: perception of environmental performance of farms in Aotearoa New Zealand through farmers’ and public lenses. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 55(6), 2103–2120. https://doi.org/10.1080/03036758.2025.2502995

Kaine G, Wright V 2025. Measuring Strategic, Tactical, Complex and Simple Changes to Farm Systems. Systems Research and Behavioral Science.  https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.3164

Kaine G, Wright V, Vallance S 2025. Strategic, tactical, complex and simple changes to farm systems. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 42(3), 930–948. https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.3026

Kirchner M 2025. From narrative to actions: Theoretical framework for the integration of reframed narratives into New Zealand's agricultural policy. Forest Policy and Economics 178. 103583. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2025.103583 .

Niles M T, Stahlmann-Brown P, Wesselbaum D 2025. Risk tolerance and climate concerns predict transformative agricultural land use change. Agricultural Systems 223 104195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104195

Stahlmann-Brown P, Milfont T L, Norriss H, Wesselbaum D 2025. Perceived personal control and well-being among farmers. Journal of Rural Studies 113 103487 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2024.103487

2024

Drewry J J, Stahlmann-Brown P 2024. Influences affecting adoption of management to mitigate impacts of intensive winter grazing of forage crops. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288233.2024.2409761

Guthrie G 2024. Farm debt and the over-exploitation of natural capital. Resource and Energy Economics 77: 101439 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reseneeco.2024.101439

Kaine G, Wright V 2024. Social desirability bias and the prevalence of self-reported conservation behaviour among farmers. Sustainability 16(22): 9658. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229658

Kaine G, Wright V 2024. Determinants of the management of native vegetation on farms. Conservation 4: 163–175. https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4020012

Kaine G, Wright V, Vallance S (2024). Strategic, tactical, complex and simple changes to farm systems. Systems Research and Behavioral Science,1–19. https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.3026

Kirk N 2024. The drivers and agents of on-farm change in Aotearoa New Zealand. Impact Connector Issue 16. New Zealand Association of Impact Assessment.  https://www.nzaia.org.nz/nicholaskirk.html

Maclean K, Rist P, Rassip W, Prudames N 2024. A practical tool to enable indigenous enterprise planning and development grounded in culture. Sustainability Science 19: 1205–1220. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-023-01459-1  

Stahlmann-Brown P, Swerdloff S, Wesselbaum D 2024. Climate belief, accuracy of climatic expectations, and pro-environmental action. Environmental Hazards 1-22 https://doi.org/10.1080/17477891.2024.2384406

2023

Dorner Z 2023. How behavioural and experimental economics can contribute to agricultural policy with an application to agri-emissions pricing. New Zealand Economic Papers 57(2): 191–197. https://doi.org/10.1080/00779954.2022.2154252

Dorner Z, Knook J, Yang W, Stahlmann-Brown P 2023. Busy road frontage influences on-farm adoption of visible good management practices. Journal of Rural Studies 99: 45–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2023.02.006

Kaine G, Edwards P, Polyakov M, Stahlmann-Brown P 2023. Who knew afforestation was such a challenge? Motivations and impediments to afforestation policy in New Zealand. Forest Policy and Economics 154: 103031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2023.103031

Vallance S, Espig M, Taylor A, Brosnahan C, McFetridge A 2023. Farmer wellbeing and animal welfare: Exploring the connections using the case of facial eczema. Journal of Rural Studies 104: 103140 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2023.103140

2022

Kaine G, Wright V 2022. Relative advantage and complexity: predicting the rate of adoption of agricultural innovations. Frontiers in Agronomy 4: 967605. https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2022.967605

Research reports, white papers and articles

2025

Kaine G 2025. Truth-telling insights from farmers self-reporting surveys. Moving the Middle Newsletter. May 2025

Guthrie G 2025. Sustainability-linked loans: financing a greener future for farming Moving the Middle Newsletter. May 2025

Van Noppen F, Connolly J.  2025. How different schools help influence positive environmental activity on land  Moving the Middle Newsletter. May 2025

2024

Kaine G, Connolly J 2024. Changing farm practice and casual diagrams. Moving the Middle working paper series. Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research. October 2024.

Vallance S 2024. Pressures and opportunities for land managers: A social practice theory ‘pilot’ study. Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research.

Robson-Williams M 2024. Systems thinking and leverage points. Moving the Middle working Paper series. October 2024.

2023

Vallance S 2023. Moving the Middle interview summary: Meeting the Challenge of Changing Land Management Practice. Manaaki Whenua –  Landcare Research.

2022

Dorner Z 2022. Farmers need certainty over emissions pricing – removing government from the equation might help . The Conversation. 28 October 2022.

Kaine G, Vallance S 2022. Moving the Middle Conceptual Framework. Moving the Middle Working Paper Series. Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research.

Reid J, Whitehead J 2022. Enablers and drivers for Māori agrifood collectives transitioning towards better land management practices. White paper. Earth Quotient Ltd and Matatihi Ltd.

Selected conference presentations and posters

2025

Edwards P, LeHeron E, Finlay-Smits S, Kannemeyer R, Te Ata o Tu MacDonald L, Maclean K, Baker V, Blackett P 2025. Narratives and sustainable change in New Zealand farming. Poster presented at the 2025 International Association for Society and Natural Resources (IASNR) Conference, 9-12 June 2025, Vancouver, Canada.

Finlay-Smits S, Le Heron E, Maclean K, Baker J, Edwards P, Kannemeyer R, MacDonald LTAOT, Blackett P 2024. Exploring the myths that shape narratives and practices of land management and farming in Aotearoa New Zealand . An abstract of the presentation to the New Zealand Geographical Society conference, 20 - 22 November 2024. Tauranga Moana, New Zealand.

Le Heron E, Maclean K, Finlay-Smits S, Blackett P, Edwards P , Baker J, Kannemeyer R, MacDonald LTAOT 2024. A serious game? How boundary objectives may support participatory processes for the re-framing of farming narratives for pro-environmental futures in Aotearoa NZ . An abstract of the presentation to the New Zealand Geographical Society conference, 20 - 22 November 2024. Tauranga Moana, New Zealand.

Noppen F, Connelly J, Robson Williams M 2024. Schools and students as ‘agents of change’ for pro-environmental land use . An abstract of the presentation to the New Zealand Geographical Society Conference, 20 - 22 November 2024. Tauranga Moana, New Zealand.

McFetridge A, Gow H, Dynes R. 2025. What is a fit for purpose extension system for the New Zealand Sheep and Beef Industry? Poster presentation to the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education (AIAEE) Conference. 14-17 April 2025. Inverness, Scotland.

2024

Greenhalgh, S 2024. Moving the Middle: Empowering rural managers to act in complex landscapes. Presentation to Primary Industries New Zealand Summit 2–3 July 2024. Wellington, New Zealand.

McFetridge A, Dixon K 2024. Resilience Through Innovation: Push and pull factors of hill country farming change: the case study of hill country farming in Aotearoa New Zealand. Presentation to the International Farm Management Association (IFMA) Conference, 7-13 July 2024. Saskatoon Canada. 024.

Noppen F, Connelly J, Robson Williams M 2024. Agents of Change - schools as agents of change for pro-environmental change on land. A paper presented at the ‘Fluid Geographies’ New Zealand Geographical Society Conference, 20 - 22 November 2024. Tauranga Moana, New Zealand.

2023

Dorner Z, Knook J, Maris R, Penelope J, Stahlmann-Brown P 2023. Does well-being influence adoption of pro-environmental behaviours or the other way around? Presentation to Australasian Agricultural & Resource Economics Society 67th Annual Conference, 7–10 February 2023. Christchurch/Online.

Le Heron E, Finlay-Smits S, Maclean K, Kannemeyer R, MacDonald LTAOT, Walton M, Edwards P, Blackett P, Baker V, Buelow F 2023. Senses of sustainability: imagining farming futures through narratives. Presentation to the Australasian Agri-Food Network Conference, 4–7 December 2023. Hobart, Australia.

Workshops/Seminars/Podcasts

2025

Kaine G, Holgate B 2025. Farming Decisions: Navigating Change for a Sustainable Future with Geoff Kaine . Rabobank’s Rabotalk - Growing our future podcast.

2024

Robson-Williams M. Agents of Change for the adoption of sustainable land management practices. Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research LINK seminar. 31 January 2024.

Agents of Change Video Presentation

Agents of Change PDF Presentation

Agents of Change Presentation Q+A

 

2023

Greenhalgh S, Morgan F. Moving the Middle: empowering land managers to act in complex rural landscapes. Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research LINK seminar. 9 May 2023.

Moving the Middle Video Presentation

Moving the Middle PDF Presentation

Moving the Middle Q+A