Graham has an immense passion for the land made apparent by his current and past vocations and interests.  Growing up on a family dairy farm encouraged him to purchase his first farm in 1979.   From there he never looked back.  Graham set up and later sold a successful farm consultancy business and was a director of the local dairy-processing cooperative. 

Graham’s vast wealth of farming wisdom has been invaluable to Southern Pastures allowing the company to see through the volatility of weather patterns, ever changing regulations, animal health, and many more nuances that can only be built through experience.

Within his role at Southern Pastures, Graham, with his savvy eye has hired many of our farming partners and families, a lot still with us today after eight years.  His focus on leadership, team building and mentoring has subsequently built a strong on-farm team to compliment the management structure.

Graham has had a long and distinguished rugby playing career including captaining the All Blacks from 1976-1982. Between 1985 and 1987 he was involved with marketing the first Rugby World Cup and was a director of the New Zealand Rugby Union and the International Rugby Board where he chaired the Rugby Committee. 

Graham’s reputation and wisdom permeates through his current roles as a member of the World Rugby’s Selection Committee, and as a board member of the QEII National Trust.

In the year 1980, a principled stand was taken by Graham Mourie, the then All Blacks captain, who refused to play against the Springboks denouncing South Africa’s then racist apartheid policies. This stance helped bring about the start of a change within New Zealand society.

Graham was honoured and made a member of the British Empire (MBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 

Graham will do anything for a glass of milk – even if it means squeezing down chimneys once a year.