The New Zealand Kellogg Rural Leaders Programme develops emerging agribusiness leaders to help shape the future of New Zealand agribusiness and rural affairs. Lincoln University has been involved with this leaders programme since 1979 when it was launched with a grant from the Kellogg Foundation, USA.The aim of this report is to present solutions to the perceived problem of encouraging successful young farmers of the district to take a more active role in community affairs. This will relate back to the period when the Te Akau complex was constructed, and will then apply the lessons learnt from that time to the present situation. This will result locally in the improvement of living conditions in the Te Akau Waingaro District