In August, our Rere ki uta rere ki tai - Living Soil Project team attended Nicole Masters’ Soil Health Masterclass, an event that brought together more than 70 attendees, including industry bodies, farmers, and growers. The workshop was a valuable opportunity to connect with like-minded people committed to regenerative agriculture, with a central focus on building healthy soils.
Ashna’s reflections
Ashna described the workshop as an important chance to connect and learn alongside more than 70 farmers, growers, and industry representatives.
Key discussions highlighted the role of living soil biology, such as fungi and bacteria, in driving farm resilience, methods for improving nitrogen efficiency, and the importance of pasture diversity across farming systems. Participants also explored biopriming of seeds and orchard management practices that support long-term soil health.
A practical component included a visit to a nearby orchard, where attendees could clearly see the contrast between soils managed regeneratively and those under more conventional practices. The key takeaway was powerful: damage to soil is reversible, and through good land management practices, farming can be both environmentally sustainable and economically profitable.
“Through our project, Rere ki uta rere ki tai - Living Soil Project, we are trialling many of these regenerative methods. Our aim is to demonstrate that changes in land management not only improve environmental outcomes but also create commercially viable, profitable farming businesses,” Ashna says.
Nick’s reflections
For Nick, the highlight was meeting Nicole, described as “regen royalty.” What stood out most was her ability to connect people in the room, a true masterclass in engagement.
Nick was struck by the way soil provided a common language. No matter where people had come from, they found connection through conversations about living systems and the role of soil in supporting them.
“The value of connection and knowledge sharing at these events is next level,” Nick says. “It showed me how important engagement really is. We all have a part to play, and when we come together, that is when change really happens.”
Ali’s reflections
Ali describes the masterclass as a wonderful experience that delivered both fresh insights and practical tools.
“It was a great opportunity to share learnings from our Rere ki uta rere ki tai - Living Soil Project journey and get people excited about the mahi we do,” Ali says.
Highlights included:
Learning strategies for proactive pest and disease management
Discovering recipes to transform piles of wood chips into nutrient-rich, fungi-loaded vermicast
Visiting a kiwifruit orchard putting organic regenerative practices into action
There were plenty of surprising takeaways too. For example, fungicides can lower the pH of plant sap, essentially “ringing the dinner bell” for disease and setting off a cycle of knock-on costs. Another gem was discovering the world of mealy bugs. These tiny insects deposit a white hydrophobic wax in the soil that looks deceptively like fungi. Nick and Ali even spotted them during a VSA dig a week later.
“I left energised and inspired to keep growing, sharing, and supporting farmers across New Zealand,” Ali says. “I only wish I could have attended all three days.”
Why it matters
Through our project, Rere ki uta rere ki tai - Living Soil Project, we are trialling many of the regenerative methods highlighted at the masterclass. Our aim is to demonstrate that changes in land management not only improve environmental outcomes but also create commercially viable, profitable farming businesses.
Workshops like this reinforce what Rere ki uta rere ki tai - Living Soil Project is all about, weaving together knowledge, building connections, and supporting farmers as kaitiaki of soil and Te Taiao. They remind us that farming for the future is not just about techniques, but about community, collaboration, and hope.
