Wool from selected New Zealand farms is being used by Auckland-based tech company Lanaco to make filters for air purifiers.

Lanaco has partnered with Unilever-owned Blueair to launch the world's first bio-based wool filter - made from NZ wool and 100% USDA-certified bio-based material.

Wool material from Lanaco has proven effective in the toughest environments, even selected for NASA's Artemis missions to the moon and back, as part of the vehicle's emergency air protection systems.

Lanaco founder and chief executive Nick Davenport says that being selected for the Lunar missions is a tick of confidence for NZ wool.

Davenport believes NZ wool "stands at the base of a large mountain".

"Air is universal and where people breathe, there will be opportunity for NZ wool," he told Rural News.

Davenport says Lanaco is targeting the global filter media market, valued at more than US$8 billion.

The Unilever partnership is the first of several high-volume market opportunities that the company is pursuing, and more announcements around commercialisations are expected in the coming months.

The bio-based, USDA-certified wool filter based on Lanaco's Ecostatic filter that uses biodegradable alternatives while maintaining its high-performance standards.

Designed for the Blue Pure 211i Max air purifier, the new filters offer an 18-month lifetime and effectively capture allergens such as dust, pollen, and pet dander, removing 99.97% of airborne particles.

Davenport says the breakthrough of having the product make it to a global market is significant, both for Lanaco and for New Zealand wool.

"Just as Icebreaker did for wool clothing, Lanaco is bringing its branded New Zealand wool technology to the global filtration market by partnering with one of Europe's greatest consumer goods companies."

Blueair chief executive Andy Lu says Blueair has stayed true to its mission of helping people breathe cleaner, better air for 30 years, and its partnership with Lanaco, which brings the industry's first filter to market, shows what that mission can achieve.

"We have spent the past two years working hand in hand with Lanaco to bring this groundbreaking achievement to the masses. Thirty years in, and we continue to pioneer what air wellness can means for people's everyday lives."

New Zealand remains a small market for the wool filters, with some used in car air filters and DVS home ventilation systems.

By enabling larger controlled releases before a storm arrives, the new outlet allows OWL to build additional flood buffer within Lake Opuha while downstream rivers are still at normal levels — increasing the dam's ability to temporarily store floodwaters and helping reduce peak flood impacts further downstream.

A Historic First for the Dam

The new Low-Level Outlet (LLO) valve was commissioned on 11 and 12 August 2026, marking one of the most significant safety upgrades undertaken since the dam was built.

During testing, it delivered a historic first for Opuha Dam, with total discharge flows through the penstock of approximately 52 cubic metres per second — equivalent to about 187,000 cubic metres of water, or roughly 75 Olympic-sized swimming pools, every hour.

The upgraded outlet features a new 1.8-metre diameter Fixed Cone Discharge (FCD) valve, utilising a branch of the penstock used during the dam's original construction, which had remained buried within the dam structure until now.

How the New Outlet Improves Flood Management

The project has been designed to significantly increase the dam's ability to safely release water before and during major weather events, giving OWL a powerful new flood management tool.

The new outlet can reduce Lake Opuha's water level by up to approximately 6.5% a day ahead of a predicted significant high-rainfall event. Depending on inflow volume, this would equate to 27–32% of the lake's volume released across a five-day period.

As well as reducing reliance on the dam's spillways, advanced dewatering protects downstream stopbanks, with the dam acting as a buffer for floodwaters.

The $8 million project is one component of the wider Opuha Dam and Irrigation Scheme upgrade, supported by a government loan of up to $20.8 million through the Regional Infrastructure Fund, administered by Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit.

"A Landmark Achievement" - OWL Chief Executive

Opuha Water Chief Executive Bjorn Triplow says the achievement represents an important investment in the safety of the dam itself, as well as the long-term safety and resilience of South Canterbury roads, rail, bridges, stopbanks, productive land and local townships.

"This is a landmark achievement for Opuha Water, our farmer shareholders, and the community," Triplow says. "The successful commissioning confirms that the new outlet is performing as intended and provides a significant increase in our ability to safely manage water levels ahead of and during major flood events.

"While Opuha Water's farmer shareholders have funded this investment, the benefits extend well beyond the scheme itself. Increased flood management capability enhances the resilience of critical downstream infrastructure, rural communities, and productive land throughout the catchment."

Testing Confirms Record Discharge Capacity

Commissioning included operation of the FCD valve alongside the hydroelectric generation plant. Together, the two systems achieved total discharge flows of approximately 52 m³/s — the highest controlled-release capacity through the dam's penstock since it was built.

"This project demonstrates the commitment of Opuha Water and its farmer shareholders to invest in infrastructure that not only supports irrigation and renewable energy generation, but also delivers lasting benefits for the wider region. It is an investment in community resilience and the long-term security of one of South Canterbury's most important strategic assets," Triplow says.

Triplow says that while the new valve represents a step forward in flood control, further work is needed to increase spillway capacity — a significantly more expensive undertaking.

"Given that the primary beneficiary of increased spillway capacity would be publicly-owned river infrastructure, OWL is keen to work with the wider community to explore how this could be progressed," he says.

Primary sector groups say the changes give great clarity, reduce costly consenting processes and are in line with what the sector has been asking for. In essence, while all farmers or growers will need to produce a farm plan as such, only those deemed to be engaged in 'high risk' activities will need to have their plan certified.

The risk activities are defined as dairy farming, grazing pigs, commercial vegetable growing and land used for feedlots.

Exempt from audited plans are orchardists and vineyards, and sheep and beef farming operations will only need to have an audited plan if any of the activities on their properties are deemed high risk. In the case of winter grazing or irrigation, the auditing requirement will only kick in if the land used for this purpose is more than 50ha or 10% of the farm, whichever is the greatest.

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says the changes to freshwater farm plans create a simpler, cheaper system focused on real risk. He says the changes fix a system which farmers said was too costly and too complicated for the risk involved on many properties.

"These changes fix that," he says.

Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard says once the regulations are in place, the Government will be helping farmers get their plans sorted so they're ready to go under the new planning system, where they will play a key role.

He adds that a pathway has been set up for industry organisations to provide certification and audit services to their members when their plans are delivering equivalent outcomes, avoiding duplication.

"As a farmer, I hate having to do a job twice, especially if it involves paperwork," he says.

Hoggard says the changes result in a system that is risk-based, focuses on managing those actual water quality risks, avoids unnecessary duplication and reduces costs.

Greater Clarity

Federated Farmers president Colin Hurst says the changes make the system much more straightforward, practical and give greater clarity.

He says Feds have been clear that farm plans can have a role to play in improving freshwater outcomes, but only if they are practical, proportionate and reduce red tape rather than adding to it.

Hurst says his organisation is particularly pleased that not every farm plan will require certification and auditing, and where certification is required, it'll generally apply only to the higher-risk activity that triggers it, rather than the whole farm.

"That's a really big win for farmers who under the previous approach could have had their whole farm dragged into certification," he says.

Hurst says Feds have long argued that farm plans should replace and not add to regulation and adds that this is the most important issue still to be resolved.

Right Balance

Beef+Lamb NZ describes the changes as pragmatic and cautiously welcomed them.

Chair Kate Acland says B+LNZ had been advocating for a system that is practical and workable for farmers and one that takes a risk-based approach to what is required.

"In principle, we support farmers having a plan for how they manage their land - including their water, biodiversity and soil health. Land is their most important asset, after all, but plans should add value to a farming business - not simply be a compliance tool," she says.

Acland says it's critical to strike the right balance in the level of regulation around freshwater plans.

DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown says the new system is simple, more practical and lower cost. They say this means less duplication, reduced compliance burden, and greater flexibility in how environmental outcomes are achieved on farm.

Brown says DairyNZ welcomes improvements that reduce cost and complexity and provide greater flexibility in plan structure.

NZVeg, which represents commercial vegetable growers, says it applauds the Government for taking action to provide certainty in the key growing areas of Pukekohe and Levin, where regional plan changes could have seen growers walking off the land.

CEO Mike Brown says growers in these areas have been living with uncertainty for more than a decade, due to tortuous and expensive regional plan change processes.

"It was incredible to think that growers could have been forced to arbitrarily reduce vegetable production by as much as a third in some areas. And at the same time, increased prices when New Zealanders are facing a cost of living crisis," he says.

Brown says the changes will restore confidence to the vegetable industry, and support growers to do what they do best: grow fresh vegetables at reasonable prices, for the good of Kiwis' health."

Alongside the annual donation, a new collection of simple, budget-friendly recipe cards is helping families turn a pack of donated mince into a nutritious, filling meal the whole household can enjoy.

Recipes Straight From the Farm

The recipe cards have their roots in Pāmu farms around the country, where staff were invited to share their favourite mince recipes through an internal competition.

The result is a collection of genuine family favourites, including Chilli-Crisp Noodles, Great Nana's Kiwi Gold Pie, and Smuggled Beans Spag Bol — all built around affordable ingredients and everyday kitchen staples.

Pāmu chief corporate services officer Roz Urbahn says the initiative builds on a long-standing relationship between Pāmu and the charity.

"We have donated to Meet the Need every year since its inception. This year we wanted to add more of a personal touch. These recipes came from running a competition for recipe cards with our people on farm, using everyday ingredients, to turn a pack of mince into a family recipe to share. It is a simple way to connect what we produce on farm with the communities we are proud to support," Urbahn says.

A $25,000 Donation, 21,300+ Meals

This year the Pāmu donation to Meet the Need totals $25,000 — the equivalent of one beast per livestock farm.

On the mince end, that translates to more than 21,300 meals for New Zealand families.

The recipe cards are distributed alongside the donated mince through Meet the Need's network of community food banks and organisations supporting people experiencing food insecurity.

Turning Protein Into Practical Meals

Meet the Need general manager Zellara Holden says the partnership shows how food donations can create impact well beyond a single parcel.

"When someone receives a food parcel, having quality protein can make a real difference to what they're able to put on the table. But sometimes knowing what to do with that ingredient can be just as important. These recipe cards take something as simple as a pack of mince and turn it into inspiration for a family meal. They're practical, accessible and designed with real-life budgets and kitchens in mind."

Holden says the support of Pāmu is an example of what is possible when farmers, community groups, and food banks work together.

"It's about making sure good food reaches the people who need it, while also giving families ideas and confidence to make the most of it."

Food Insecurity in New Zealand

Meet the Need's work with Pāmu forms part of a larger effort connecting New Zealand's farmers and food producers with food banks nationwide. In the past year, Meet the Need supported 148 food banks across the country, helping deliver more than 1.27 million mince and milk meals to people experiencing food insecurity.

Holden says demand for food assistance remains high, and it can affect anyone.

"Food insecurity is not always who you think. Families can find themselves needing support for all sorts of reasons, and a food parcel can provide an important helping hand when household budgets are stretched. The generosity of farmers and businesses like Pāmu means we can get good, nutritious food into communities while also finding creative ways to make that support go further."

From Farm to Food Bank to Table

The new recipe cards will continue to be distributed alongside donated mince through the Meet the Need food bank network — bringing a little extra inspiration to the dinner table, from the farm, to the food bank, and ultimately to homes across Aotearoa.

To find out more about the partnership, or to support Meet the Need's work connecting farmers with food-insecure communities, visit the Meet the Need website.

But deputy leader and agriculture and forestry spokesman Daniel Eb says the party’s approach is designed to tackle some of the structural problems affecting both rural and urban New Zealand.

Eb is running in the Kaipara ki Mahurangi seat set to be vacated by former Defence Minister Chris Penk. Prior to entering politics he launched Open Farms, the national open farm day designed to reconnect urban New Zealanders with farming land.

Over the past few weeks, he has travelled up and down the country, attending events with rural Opportunity candidates, with events previously held in Masterton, Wanaka and Whangarei.

“We’re getting into more of the rural New Zealand heartland through public meetings primarily,” Eb told Rural News.

A key part of Opportunity’s pitch, he says, is a willingness to listen to experts and make longer-term changes rather than repeatedly reversing policy when governments change.

Eb points to health as an example, arguing that successive governments have created a “cycle of instability” by restructuring or abandoning policies introduced by their predecessors.

“And that’s been particularly keenly felt in health,” Eb says.

He cites changes to capitation funding, which GP practices rely on when planning staffing and resources, as an example of the uncertainty facing the sector.

“So, things like rural health just can’t really be a political football anymore. We actually need to take the politics out of health care planning as much as possible,” Eb says.

That philosophy also shapes Opportunity’s approach to agriculture.

“We’re more about big systemic, transformational changes that affect everyone because whether you’re rural or urban New Zealand, you have to participate in the tax system, you participate in the health system, you participate in the education system. And so we’re more interested in shifting the really big underlying pillars of our systems rather than little carve-outs to help this industry or little carveouts to help that industry.

“So, we’re more interested in that than, you know, what does this slice of regional New Zealand need? We think that is a recipe for more bureaucracy. And that sort of administration, that’s not always effective.”

Eb says he doesn’t believe the rural versus urban framing within New Zealand is helpful.

“You know, you sort of see this line trotted out, an attack on farming. No one is attacking farming. What we’re trying to do is enable New Zealand’s economy to take a transformational shift, right? Like we did in the ‘80s. We’ve done it prior to that before. The New Zealand story has always been about taking a big shift to the next model.

“I don’t think this reflexive pushback from some in the agricultural sector is helpful. Frankly, it’s rather, sit down, compromise, have mature adult discussions about these things, instead of labelling each other as the enemy.”

Land-Value Tax

One of Opportunity’s flagship policies is an overhaul of the tax system that includes an annual land-value tax (LVT) of 0.5% on rural land and 1.75% on urban land.

The policy is likely to be one of the more significant points of interest for farmers considering the party’s platform.

Deputy leader Daniel Eb says that for those farmers who are land rich but cash poor, a deferral scheme will be in place. This, he says, is because the party recognises farming as a “boom and bust business”.

“Prices are really good right now, but they weren’t two years ago, so that mechanism exists in the system,” he says.

The EPA is responsible for approving and setting controls on the use of new hazardous substances, such as chemicals used on farms and orchards, and also the importation of biological control agents such as parasites to control weeds. But for a number of years the agency has been the subject of widespread criticism for being too bureaucratic and taking too long to approve new organisms and hazardous substances.

Dr Barry O'Neil told Rural News the new board, new CEO and new senior staff have got the message. He says they have developed a strategy that will set the EPA on a pathway to becoming a modern regulator that understands what is happening in the real world, is connected to the stakeholders and is delivering the right outcomes for NZ in an appropriate timeframe.

These changes are starting to show, with the EPA saying that in the past year it reduced the number of applications waiting for approval by more than 36% and the level of applications approved is back to pre-covid levels.

"We are focusing on new technologies such as AI and seeing how we can use this in our regulatory processes. Some of the regulated products we are dealing with are novel, which we have never had to deal with before. What we are endeavouring to do is getting an understanding of what is coming down the pipeline and having systems in place to be able to deal with these," he says.

One of the emerging challenges facing the EPA and other similar regulators worldwide is pressure from consumers about the amount of chemicals being used to control diseases. O'Neil says there's a move away from the concept of one thing/product to solve a problem and an emphasis on 'integrated pest management' (IPM). This involves using several things, be they chemicals or biological products, to control a problem disease. These are exciting times with more tools being added to the toolbox, he says.

Consumer Focus

O'Neil says NZ has a unique environment that it needs to preserve and part of that is reducing the use of certain agrichemical products which are viewed negatively by consumers.

"Consumers are becoming very discerning, especially those who spend more money to buy NZ products which they regard as high quality, safe and nutritious. And we need to provide these for them," he says.

The other issue that is constantly being raised by those in the horticulture sector is the need for a faster approval pathway for products that have been approved in other countries with high-quality regulation - such as Australia, Canada, the UK and Europe.

O'Neil agrees that NZ needs to be better connected with what he calls "like-minded regulators" and points out that just recently the CEO of the EPA was in Australia seeking to build stronger relationships with our trans-Tasman neighbours.

However, he warns that NZ still has to make sure that a product approved in another jurisdiction does meet our specific requirements.

Overall, O'Neil says in a relatively short space of time the EPA has modernised its operating systems, put in place new quality control measures and is shaping the organisation to be a modern, effective regulator that is connected to its stakeholders.

The programme wins the Low Carbon Future category at the New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards in Wellington on 18 August.

Coal-Fired Boilers Replaced Across Three Sites

The four-year programme, delivered in conjunction with industrial heat pump specialist Active Refrigeration, reduces coal use with heat pumps at Alliance's Lorneville, Mataura and Pukeuri sites, using waste heat and local water sources to produce hot water for processing.

Wayne Shaw, Operations Director at Alliance, says the award recognises the scale and impact of the company's investment in lower-emissions process heat.

"This programme is cutting around 24,680 tonnes of CO₂e each year by replacing ageing coal-fired boilers with highly efficient heat pump systems," says Shaw.

"It is a major shift in how heat is supplied at large industrial processing sites and shows what can be achieved when industry invests in practical decarbonisation.

"We are proud the project has been recognised nationally. It demonstrates that large energy users can reduce emissions at scale while strengthening resilience and competitiveness."

Design, Delivery and Site Upgrades

Alliance teams work with Active Refrigeration on the design, delivery and commissioning of the integrated heat recovery and multi-stage heat pump projects.

The programme includes new buildings at Mataura and Pukeuri to house the heat pumps, while the Lorneville heat pump is installed in the existing engine room.

Significant upgrades are also made to site pipework and potable water systems so the new heat pumps can be fully integrated into daily operations.

At Pukeuri and Mataura, water-sourced heat pumps using dam and river water add capacity beyond what can be captured from refrigeration waste heat alone.

This programme is made possible through co-funding provided by EECA under its Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry (GIDI) Fund.

The couple came away with the premier award at the recent awards dinner in Christchurch, the judges citing their industry leadership as much as their on-farm performance.

As well as producing a diverse range of high-quality seed and cereal crops, they were recognised for their "exceptional attention to detail, innovation, and commitment to advancing the seed industry".

While saying it was important for the industry to stay positive and not talk itself down, John McCaw told Rural News that the arable sector faced real challenges around profitability, with near static prices for an extended period while farm inflation had been running rampant.

"Farmers are having to have a pretty close look at their expenses and they really need to consider the contract terms and pricing before signing up, because some of the contracts that are on offer just simply would not be profitable."

McCaw said there was certainly a lot of land use change underway.

He was aware of six current dairy conversions in the Methven area, and others considering it. And for every dairy farm, there was a support block, he said.

McCaw said farmers putting in more kale for wintering stock, grass for silage, or trading more lambs, were decisions that tended to "fly under the radar" but were very significant and add up very quickly.

The real change on farm would be a shift in emphasis over time, from seed to feed.

"People may, for example, choose not to grow autumn feed wheat, but rather go through a crop of green feed oats for winter feed, and then grow a spring cereal crop instead because the value of that winter feed is now greater than the yield penalty of growing a spring cereal versus an autumn cereal.

"These are the things that are happening now and people are making these decisions now.

"It won't be until the autumn when the seed companies are looking to contract Autumn Zone crops that they find that actually that area is no longer available."

McCaw said that once a dairy shed goes on a farm, there's no going back.

"So, we are certainly losing, not only good land, but very good growers and a lot of skill and expertise that are leaving the industry. And that is a real concern.

"But to counter that, I think there will always be demand for high-quality seed production.

"I personally believe that a very clean well-run arable farm producing high-quality seed has a future.

"We're certainly hoping that that is thee case and we're continuing to invest in our businesses on that basis.

"But there are certainly challenges to work through with the seed companies. And I think, to be honest, it's only really just starting to dawn on the seed companies, just how serious this is."

Seed Traders

The family farm 560ha near Methven - the farm John McCaw grew up on, his parents having bought the original property in 1968.

The farm specialises in high-quality small seed production, chiefly ryegrass and cocksfoot and also vegetable seed.

They trade 5000 lambs a year, winter dairy cows and raise young stock for a neighbouring dairy farm, in a multifaceted operation.

The couple also owns McCaw Seeds seed dressing plant in Methven, servicing other growers in the province. John is also th chair of Federated Farmers' heritage seed subsection.

The McCaws also won the Seed Grower of the Year award.

The problem is that many farm tracks have been damaged and the ground remains wet, is still moving and slips could occur at any time.

His comments mirror that of the local police who say that in the last six months they have attended at least six accidents on farms where people have been badly injured and in one case died because of the state of farm tracks or simply unstable and damaged pastures.

Hickson says there have been a lot of slips on farms, including his own hill country property out towards Castlepoint, and these have made tracks impassable. Like the police, he is warning farmers not to take risks

“With damaged tracks, there is often the temptation to get around a slip and try to push on, and that’s when accidents can happen as ground gives way with the weight of the vehicle. They should also stick to tracks and not drive on wet grass. From personal experience, driving on any wet grass is where a lot of accidents can happen because you can lose traction,” he says.

Wairarapa Police Area Commander Inspector Nick Thom says the message is to take particular care as farmers in the region are busy with lambing and calving.

The weather has caused extensive slipping on farm tracks as well as waterlogged paddocks, leaving the ground unstable, uneven, and slippery. He says police are strongly urging all farm owners, managers, and operators to review their safety vehicle protocols, particularly when navigating sloped surfaces and steep hillsides.

“Farmers are urged to choose the right vehicle for the specific job, ensure all machinery is regularly serviced, and verify that every operator is competent, trained, and wearing the correct personal protective equipment,” he says.

Meanwhile, Sarah Donaldson of the Wairarapa Rural Support Trust, says during the lambing and calving season, and through this extra challenging post-storm period, they encourage everyone to be on the lookout for one another, be aware of the impact of fatigue, and take extra precautions on the land.

“History and analysis of incidents over the years shows that injury and death can occur to even the most experienced operators, so all rural folk are urged to think carefully about their own situations and experiences when it comes to operating all rural machinery,” she says

Sarah Donaldson says in response to these ongoing challenges, the Wairarapa Rural Support Trust is actively scoping avenues to offer community farm safety courses.

The report, Adrift: What future does the Emissions Trading Scheme have? says the NZ ETS is not fit for purpose. It says it will not achieve climate goals, nor yield carbon prices high enough to significantly reduce emissions.

“Instead, it will continue to drive the planting of new forests to offset emissions, leading to a significantly larger forestry estate over time.

“That forestry estate will need to be maintained by future generations in the face of increasing risks from fire, disease and extreme weather.”

The report was tabled in Parliament last Wednesday.

Upton said the role of forestry in particular needs a fundamental rethink if New Zealand was to have any hope of achieving its climate commitments and reducing the risks that the inclusion of forestry in the NZ ETS has created.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand says the report “supports many of B+LNZ’s positions and will encourage important discussions”.

Chair Kate Acland says B+LNZ has been calling for changes to the ETS since 2019.

“We have continually raised concerns about the unintended consequences of the current ETS settings, particularly the amount of productive sheep and beef farmland being converted into carbon forests.

“Independent research we’ve commissioned shows the total extent of whole sheep and beef farms sold for afforestation since the beginning of 2017 is now 330,000 hectares. The PCE’s report shows the trees planted on that land will break the ETS from the 2030s, when there will be an oversupply of sequestration.”

But the immediate past president of The Institute of Forestry, James Treadwell, said it was carbon emitters, not forestry, that the commissioner should look to take real action, and reduce their emissions.

“At the moment, the only thing that is helping New Zealand meet its commitments internationally is forestry.

“Whilst we’d like that not to be the case, we have to continue doing that or else every single New Zealander will be paying for it in 2030 and 2050 because we’re going to have to buy units from overseas.”

Treadwell said constant changes to the scheme – for example the national annual cap of 15,000ha for new exotic forestry on class 6 farmland imposed last year – made it hard for foresters to make market decisions and do their part to reduce emissions.

“Is the ETS working wonderfully? No it’s not, but it’s working okay,” said Treadwell.

“But emitters do have to start reducing their emissions, that’s the end goal.

“We are the only people who are actually doing anything about emissions at the moment, to be frank.”

He says there’s a lot of speculation about what this weather system may throw at farmers and they need to plan and be ready for any eventuality.

One thing Tarbotton says B+LNZ is encouraging farmers to do is to plant a crop to give them a feed buffer if things turn for the worse. He also suggests following the advice of a fertiliser company and getting fert – nitrogen and sulphur – on early and making wise use of it to boost pasture growth.

“Put fertiliser on now and don’t wait until pastures dry out. Nitrogen put on now has a more gradual response over a longer period, which is just perfect underfoot of lactating ewes,” he says.

He also recommends farmers check the udders of ewes at weaning and cull any animals with defects immediately. He says it’s important to get poor performing animals off the farm early and give the young stock priority for the quality feed.

Tarbotton says selling some of the poorer lambs and getting others to finish them makes perfect sense. It means that the capital stock they want to hold are in good condition for tupping. Providing that extra quality feed is important, he says, and farmers that have flat land should make more silage and hay to build up that buffer of surplus feed.

“This is an easy management lever to pull,” he says.

Finally, Tarbotton says farmers should have a plan and do stock takes of their animals and feed throughout the season and make decisions based on the latest weather information.

That’s the question from sheep farmers in response to a new sector-led body focused on growing the value of New Zealand wool.

Last week it was announced that Wool Impact and Campaign for Wool NZ have formally merged to form the New Zealand Wool Collective.

Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Richard Dawkins told Rural News that farmers welcome the establishment of the New Zealand Wool Collective.

“New Zealand’s domestic wool industry has shrunk considerably, so consolidating effort and capability is a positive and logical step,” he says.

“For farmers, the important thing now is whether that stronger, more coordinated voice can help rebuild confidence in wool and improve returns over time.”

NZ Wool Collective chief executive Ross McIsaac says the merger builds on two years of partnership between the organisations, aligning their work, expertise and resources. 

“New Zealand wool has value that isn’t being fully realised, and capturing more of that for wool growers will require collective effort alongside the work of individual businesses.

“A number of wool organisations and businesses are doing valuable work to support the sector, and that’s helped to create a strong foundation. Many in the sector have said the lack of one focused wool sector organisation and voice has been a frustration and this merger addresses that.”

Campaign for Wool NZ chair Ryan Cosgrove says the merger secures their work.

“It’s exciting to reach this milestone. We are confident that combining the work and capability of the two organisations will create the focus and efficiencies needed to modernise the wool sector.”

Wool Impact chair Stuart Heal says the merge makes sense.

“Wool needs more coordinated effort to create demand and value across sector good and commercial entities and this supports that.”

NZ Wool Collective will need additional funding and is in discussions with Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand and B+LNZ to secure the long term financial backing needed to realise value for growers, industry participants and the wider wool sector will continue.

A funding model is being developed in consultation with growers and industry.

Sheep farmers facing lower wool prices for over a decade have been given a reprieve in recent months.

Strong wool prices are sitting over $5/kg clean, higher than at any other point in the past decade and up 55% year-on-year. However, prices have come down from their highs of May and June this year.

Supply is tight on both sides of the Tasman; that hasn’t changed and demand is consistently strong.

The Aviation Industry Association of NZ, whose members include commercial drone operators, says the new reforms are rushed and could put public safety, the environment and other air space users at risk.

Regulation Minister David Seymour and Associate Transport Minister James Meager say red tape was getting in the way of farmers using agricultural drones for spraying and other tasks. They claim the changes will slash burdensome red tape and make agricultural drone use for spraying cheaper, faster, and more efficient.

They add that farmers, growers and foresters have been clear that the current certification process is impractical and no longer fit-for-purpose and that existing rules have not kept pace with the evolving technological landscape.

"Drones have become an everyday tool in modern agricultural spraying, offering precise application of pesticides and fertiliser that helps minimise product wastage, while also reaching tricky terrain safely and efficiently," says Meager.

But the association says it was blindsided by the announcement and the changes do not provide the fit-for-purpose safeguards needed for this activity and could increase the risk of serious injuries, fatalities and environmental damage.

NZ Agricultural Aviation Association (NZAAA) executive officer Tony Michelle says agricultural drones must not become an unregulated pathway for aerial agrichemical application.

He says poorly managed operations can cause damage to other crops and infrastructure, breach environmental and regulatory controls, and jeopardise NZ's reputation for safe, high-quality primary products.

"That reputation underpins access to valuable export markets," he says.

Michelle says a national standard is urgently needed to set clear minimum requirements for pilot training, competency, chemical handling, maintenance, modifications, reporting and operational practice.

"Blanket certification for every low-risk landholder operation may be unnecessary, but allowing untrained or poorly supervised operators is an unacceptable risk. Regulation must be proportionate to risk, supporting by licensing, regular competency checks, compliance oversight and accountability," he says.

Meager says the plan is to scrap requirements for lower-risk routine drone operations to apply and wait for certification before starting work, which he claims can take up to nine months and cost thousands of dollars.

He says under the new regime only a notification to the Civil Aviation Authority ahead of time will be needed. Meager says the changes will allow routine activities such as spraying of pesticides and herbicides and the distribution of fertiliser, lime, seeds and manures across cropland, pasture, orchards, vineyards, market gardens and forests.

"These reforms build on earlier changes allowing drones under 25kg to be used for mapping, monitoring and stock shifting without certification or notification. We are now looking at ways to extend that flexibility to larger drones," he says.

He says high-risk or complex drone operations, and spraying from planes and helicopters, will remain subject to existing requirements.

The Minister is confident the new rules will strike the correct balance.

'You're Wrong, Minister'

NZ Agricultural Aviation Association (NZAAA) isn't buying into James Meager and David Seymour's narrative.

Its vice president, Dr Isaac Henderson, is a respected and recognised expert in drone technology.

He says the proposals fail to take account of the reality of flying drones and says the risk to life does not stop at the farm boundary, extending to neighbouring properties, public infrastructure and other airspace users.

"Agricultural spray drones are the size of a dining room table and can travel at more than 70kph and will almost certainly weigh more than 100kg when operating. What happens if a farmer operating one of these has a flyaway or system failure? That drone could strike a vehicle and result in a fatality. And who would take responsibility?"

Henderson says, likewise, a farmer can spray a paddock under an inversion layer and have that chemical travel five kilometres down the road, destroying a multi-million-dollar vineyard.

He says you don't improve national productivity by making one operation cheaper while exposing some of NZ's most valuable agricultural sectors to catastrophic losses.

Stats NZ Food Price Index data for July 2026 shows pork loin chops priced at $16.71 per kilogram, down 2.7 percent over the year, and roasting pork at $12.42 per kilogram, down 9.7 percent.

The same data shows pork loin chops priced close to everyday options such as chicken breast, at $14.80 per kilogram, and sausages, at $13.80 per kilogram, while roasting pork is among the lowest-priced fresh meat options listed.

"These figures, and the current commentary around how expensive some proteins have become, highlight pork's continued affordability and value for households," says Brent Kleiss, chief executive of NZPork.

With many Kiwi families feeling the squeeze from higher living costs, affordable meal options matter more than ever. Pork offers strong value without asking families to compromise on flavour, quality or the meals they enjoy."

"Whether it's a roast, chops, or quick midweek meals, pork's pricing makes it a practical choice for households looking to stretch their food dollar further."

Pork Mince Compared with Beef Mince

Kleiss says pork mince is currently selling for around $18 per kilogram depending on the retailer, compared with over $24 per kilogram for beef mince.

"For households watching their grocery spend, those different price points give consumers more choice when planning everyday meals," he says. "For families who prefer beef mince, combining it with New Zealand pork mince is another simple way to reduce the cost of everyday meals while still enjoying the dishes they know and love."

Local Production and Beef and Lamb Context

Kleiss says a common misconception is that New Zealand pork is largely exported, when in fact almost 100 percent of it is raised on local family farms and eaten domestically.

"New Zealanders are really lucky to have such a strong beef and lamb sector, with international demand driving strong returns for our farmers. But that doesn't mean Kiwis have to pay international prices for their everyday meals," he says.

"Pork is tasty, versatile and offers some really good value at the moment, particularly in the mince category."

"For families looking for practical everyday meal options to keep the grocery bill under control, New Zealand pork is a great option — raised right, right here, for New Zealanders."

Kleiss says around 60 percent of the pork consumed in New Zealand is imported, with much of it produced to lower standards, particularly in processed products.

"Whilst almost all fresh pork is from New Zealand, Kiwi shoppers should look carefully at labelling when purchasing bacon, ham or frozen products," he says.

He advises shoppers to look for "Pork sourced from New Zealand" in the fine print, rather than the "made in New Zealand from local and imported ingredients" wording, which can be misleading.

"They can also ask their retailer where it's from, if they're not sure. That way they know they are getting an excellent quality product that's affordable and produced in New Zealand to high standards."

From Monday, around eight children will share a 4WD 10-seat Toyota Hiace, provided to Kaikōura District Council by Blenheim Toyota as a temporary bus replacement. Parents have organised a roster to take turns driving the school run — a solution expected to save affected families more than two hours a day in travel time, along with significant fuel costs.

Roughly two months' worth of rain fell in the Kaikōura region between 5 and 8 July, washing out roads and cutting off communities.

The damage is still being felt along Inland Kaikōura Road, where the regular school bus cannot cross a temporary ford after the Cribb Creek Bridge was washed out.

Since then, parents have been driving for hours to reach a pick-up point where the bus can continue its normal route.

Blenheim Toyota Provides Vehicle

Blenheim Toyota CEO Scott McDermid says the decision to help was straightforward.

"When the council reached out seeking support and laid out the situation, it was a clearcut 'yes' for us to help out. A 4WD Hiace van seemed like a practical way we could take some pressure off these families, enabling mobility for the school run, while they get on with rebuilding," he says.

"We're lucky to have strong connections with Kaikōura through our customers. When a small and remote region is dealing with this level of disruption, there are always many parts of the community that rally to support, and we're proud to be part of that."

Council Response

Kaikōura District Council Recovery Manager Jo York says the council's recovery team was grateful for the support.

"An emergency event may end, but for those affected, the repercussions can continue for a very long time. Gestures like this make our job easier and make a genuine difference to the people still managing those impacts every day," York says.

"Blenheim Toyota has helped solve one of those ongoing challenges. A school run might seem like a small issue within the wider recovery, but for these families, this vehicle is a real lifeline — giving them back valuable time, reducing costs and easing one of the many pressures they continue to face."

What It Means for Families

Mother-of-four Bub Taylor is taking the first driving shift under the new roster.

"We were staying in town or commuting in and out. For me, it's a 106km round trip. I'm lucky because I have somewhere to stay in town, but that means you're separated from your home. That means you're no longer able to do the recovery work on your property. It's just not viable to keep doing that for six months," she says.

"Having this van for the school runs means we can go home. It means we don't have to stay in town anymore. It means our kids have access to schooling again without being separated from their home."

The shared roster is intended to give parents more time for farming, storm repairs and other recovery work, rather than losing hours each day to travel.

The 4WD 10-seat Hiace was delivered to Kaikōura District Council on Friday, 21 August. Parents began driving the new school route from Monday, 24 August.

Richard Dawkins, Federated Farmers pest management spokesperson, says individual farmers are already doing plenty, but their efforts are being undermined by pests reinvading from neighbouring land.

"We've spent years trying to tackle this species by species and property by property. The numbers tell us that approach isn't working," Dawkins says.

Pests Now Costing Farmers $466 Million a Year

The survey estimates pests are costing New Zealand farmers around $466 million annually through direct control costs and lost production. Two-thirds of farmers now report pest numbers have increased over the past five years — up sharply from around half in 2024.

On average, farmers are spending $6.18 per hectare each year on pest control, a rise of roughly 13% in just two years.

Hunting Effort Is High — But Not Enough

Recreational and on-farm hunting is deeply embedded in New Zealand's rural pest control effort.

Farmers, their families and staff carry out pest control on more than nine in ten farms, with recreational hunters also assisting on around half.

"There's already a huge amount of hunting happening across rural New Zealand, and pest populations are still increasing," Dawkins says. "We are not going to shoot our way out of this problem one weekend at a time."

Stocking Rates Falling as Pests Eat Into Pasture

Nearly one in three farmers are now reducing stocking rates because pests are consuming so much pasture — up from just one in nine farmers in 2024.

Beyond pasture loss, Dawkins says the financial toll extends to crop damage, reduced yields, damage to fences and gates, and disease spread by pests. One farmer reported losing around $100,000 after a leptospirosis outbreak caused widespread abortions in ewes and heifers, believed to be linked to wild pigs moving in from neighbouring properties.

Forestry and Crown Land Named as Main Reinvasion Sources

The survey found farmers consistently point to neighbouring forestry and Crown land — not other farms — as the primary source of pest reinvasion.

"If farmers are expected to control pests, then so should lifestyle block owners, forestry owners and those managing Crown and conservation land, with regional councils monitoring and enforcing compliance," Dawkins says. "Farmers should not be left carrying the cost when deer and pigs spill across the boundary."

Deer Numbers Surge as Culling Effort Doubles

Deer culled per hectare have more than doubled since 2024, and the proportion of farmers actively managing deer has risen 13%. Despite this, deer now rank third nationally for overall pest impact and are named the single worst pest by more farmers than any species except possums.

Dawkins says any national strategy needs clear, independently set population targets based on the actual damage pests cause — not the interests of any single group.

"Eighty-three percent of pest managers in our survey said the pest species on their farm had no economic value to them. This means deer numbers need to be managed around the damage they are doing to farms, forests and native vegetation, not around how many animals somebody would like left in the hills. We don't need any one interest group setting the target and then marking its own homework."

Possums, Wild Pigs, Geese and Wallabies All Increasing

Wild pigs, Canada geese and wallabies are also trending upward. Possums are a particular concern: as historic TB control programmes are wound back, farmers report possum numbers building up again after years of suppression.

"We can't spend decades knocking possum numbers down, declare victory over TB, then simply walk away and let them come roaring back," Dawkins says.

Federated Farmers Calls for a National Pest Strategy

Dawkins says coordinated pest control programmes have proven effective at reducing numbers, reinforcing the case for a nationally funded strategy with clear responsibilities across farmers, forestry, councils and the Crown.

"We've been calling for a national pest strategy for some time. These results show why it can't sit on the to-do list any longer. We've diagnosed the problem to death. It's time to actually treat it."

"This positive detection is not a surprise as these ocean-going birds can arrive on our coastlines, especially in poor weather. We expect we will continue to find more cases in wild birds," van Andel says.

The petrel is found by a Department of Conservation (DOC) ranger, who notifies MPI's exotic pest and disease hotline.

MPI's Response

"There were no signs of other issues at the site, but we will carry out precautionary checks along the remote coastline tomorrow," van Andel says.

"The risk to human health remains low and chicken and eggs are safe to eat," van Andel says.

New Zealand's Bird Flu Detections So Far

There have now been three confirmed positive detections of H5 bird flu in New Zealand, all in the Wellington region. The detections involve individual wild birds, with no mass mortality events and no detections in poultry to date.

Samples are received by MPI's Animal Health Laboratory on 14 August. Initial tests find the bird has a low level of influenza virus, requiring several rounds of testing to confirm H5 bird flu.

"Given this species is known to be affected by bird flu and the location, we wanted to be thorough with our testing despite the low viral load," van Andel says.

Ongoing Surveillance and Industry Support

"MPI remains focused on surveillance to track the movement of bird flu so we can help protect our poultry industry and support DOC's work with native wildlife," van Andel says.

"By building a precise picture through testing, we help egg and chicken producers make good decisions about the best biosecurity measures to protect their flocks and keep operating."

Alongside industry, MPI continues to offer one-on-one support and advice to poultry and egg operations in the Wairarapa and Wellington.

Since the first H5 bird flu detections in New Zealand, MPI reports a strong response from the public reporting groups of unwell or dead birds.

"MPI experts consider every notification and triage them based on internationally recognised processes for assessing H5 bird flu risk. Multiple unwell or dead birds, certain species (sea birds, waterfowl, birds that congregate in large groups), and certain locations take priority," van Andel says.

Public Reporting and What To Do

Anyone who sees three or more sick or dead wild birds in a group is urged to report it immediately to the exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66 from anywhere in New Zealand, or online at report.mpi.govt.nz.

The public is asked not to handle or move the birds.

More information about H5 bird flu is available at mpi.govt.nz/hpai.

New nationally representative research commissioned by HelloFresh finds that 80% of New Zealanders with dependent children say thinking, organising and planning dinner before cooking takes more effort than they wish it did, compared with 59% of those without children.

Across the wider population, 66% of Kiwis feel the same way.

The Research at a Glance

The study, conducted by Talbot Mills Research, finds the responsibility of making dinner is often concentrated to one person. 58% of New Zealand adults say they carry most or almost all of the responsibility for deciding and preparing dinner.

 The findings show the pressure is particularly pronounced among parents and younger New Zealanders. 83% of parents say making everyone happy with the meal should be easier, while 81% say the same about finding time to cook.

One Person, Most of the Load

Women are more likely to carry the load than men. Half of women surveyed say dinner responsibility falls almost entirely to them, compared with 29% of men.

Among younger adults, 75% of 18–29-year-olds and 76% of 30–44-year-olds say dinner planning takes more effort than they wish it did, compared with 46% of people aged 60 and over.

Understanding the Mental Load

Clinical psychologist Jacqui Maguire says much of the pressure associated with dinner builds before the cooking even begins.

"The mental load of dinner isn't just the cooking. It's being the person who has to remember that dinner needs solving in the first place," Maguire says.

"What looks like one task, getting dinner on the table, is actually a chain of cognitive work: anticipating what the household needs, deciding what everyone will eat, keeping track of ingredients and budgets, and fitting it around everything else happening that day."

Maguire says none of those decisions is particularly demanding in isolation. "The pressure comes from their accumulation, particularly when the same person is responsible for anticipating, remembering and coordinating them day after day."

"That distinction matters because we often notice the visible work in a household, such as who cooked, who shopped and who cleaned up, but much of the cognitive work happens invisibly in the background," Maguire says. "Reducing that load isn't simply about making cooking faster. It's about reducing the number of things someone has to hold in their head."

What Would Help

Parents are clear about what would ease that pressure.

85% say quicker recipes would help reduce the stress of organising dinner, while 80% say sharing responsibility would help.

Greater variety would help 79%, while 77% want meals suited to different dietary needs and preferences, and 64% say ingredient delivery would reduce the stress.

HelloFresh's Response

HelloFresh New Zealand Managing Director & VP Operations Claudia Baptista-Fernandes says the findings reinforce that New Zealanders are looking for ways to simplify the entire dinner process, not only the cooking.

"The research shows New Zealanders want fewer decisions, greater variety, meals that work for different tastes and needs, and fewer practical steps before cooking begins," Baptista-Fernandes says.

"HelloFresh brings these elements together through a broad choice of meals, fresh pre-portioned ingredients and straightforward recipes delivered to the door, helping make the journey from 'what's for dinner?' to dinner on the table simpler.

"A midweek win does not need to be complicated. Sometimes it is simply knowing what you are making, having everything ready and being able to enjoy the experience."

More information is available at hellofresh.co.nz.

Export demand for New Zealand trim beef, used to make mince, is expected to remain strong for the foreseeable future, meaning consumers should not expect prices to fall anytime soon, Rabobank senior animal protein analyst Jen Corkran says.

How Much Has Beef Mince Gone Up?

Corkran says beef mince was traditionally considered a budget-friendly protein, but recent price rises mean that is no longer the case.

"Off the back of incredibly strong demand for trim beef across the last couple of years - especially out of the US - we've seen local retail prices for beef climb rapidly," she says. 

"If we go back to early 2024, the average price for beef mince was around $18 per kilo, however, since then it's been on a rapid upwards ascent, and the average price in July 2026 now sits at above $24.40 per kilo – more than 30% higher than it was just two and a half years ago."

Corkran says mince has historically been a go-to red meat option due to its versatility, but that is changing.

"It's not really the cheap option it once was," she says.

Why Are Beef Mince Prices Rising?

Corkran says the price rise is being driven largely by strong export demand for New Zealand trim beef, particularly from the US market.

She says global beef supply remains tight, both in New Zealand and internationally, and this is expected to keep prices elevated for some time.

"Here in New Zealand and around the world, beef supply is pretty tight and, as a result, we're likely to see beef mince prices remain elevated well into 2027," Corkran says. "This is, of course, great for Kiwi beef exporters, but it's much less welcome news for shoppers looking to keep their weekly food bill down."

Beef vs Chicken vs Pork: A Widening Price Gap

Corkran says the rise in beef mince prices stands in sharp contrast to price trends for chicken and pork, which have remained relatively flat over the same period.

"If we look at retail prices for chicken breast and pork loin chops for example, they're currently averaging $14.80 per kilo and $16.70 per kilo respectively, so chicken breast is actually a bit less expensive than it was in early 2024 and pork loin chops nearly exactly the same price," she says.

What Is Happening to Consumer Demand?

Corkran says Rabobank's global research team is closely monitoring how rising beef prices are affecting consumption patterns worldwide.

"In the US beef market, my colleagues there have actually been a bit surprised by just how resilient beef demand has been in spite of the record-high prices," she says. "US consumers aren't quite walking away from beef at this point, but they are changing within the category what they're purchasing, and in 2026 it appears US beef demand is recalibrating at record high prices, rather than collapsing."

She says the main concern in the US market is not that consumers have stopped buying beef, but that retailers and foodservice operators may have pushed prices close to the limit of consumer tolerance, particularly for higher-value cuts.

Foodservice and QSR Chains Turn to Chicken

Corkran says rising beef costs are prompting change at a global level, particularly within quick service restaurant (QSR) chains, where burgers are a key driver of customer traffic.

"In food service, and especially within quick service restaurant channels where burgers are a core traffic driver, operators are increasingly challenged by beef cost inflation," she says. "As a result, many chains continue to lean into chicken-based menu innovation and value offerings to protect margins and capture market share."

Corkran points to recent changes at McDonald's New Zealand as a local example of this trend. "In 2025, McDonald's introduced several new chicken items to its New Zealand menu, including the Chicken McCrispy and Chicken McWings," she says.

Could New Zealand Consumers Start Switching Proteins?

Corkran says sustained high beef prices raise the risk of New Zealand consumers trading down to lower-cost proteins such as chicken, which would reinforce a favourable demand outlook for poultry relative to beef domestically.

"At this stage we're yet to see any evidence of lower demand for beef mince here in New Zealand but, at some stage, we think there will be a point where the consumer says these high prices are getting too much for me, and this might prompt a more concerted switch to either smaller volumes purchased or lower priced protein options," she says.

The SOE says this has been achieved with better farm performance and careful cost management, delivering stronger returns for New Zealanders.

The Government will receive a dividend of $25 million during financial year 2026, with a further $15 million to be paid in early FY27.

Return on equity is 9% up from 7.3% in FY25. Net operating profit (NOP) is $113 million, up 131% from $49 million in FY25.

It points out that NOP provides a better reflection of company performance, as it excludes the impact of large and often one-off revaluations of assets, such as livestock and farms.

The company says that as a state-owned farming business, Pamu farms on behalf of the public of New Zealand, and this year’s result reflects the hard work of its farm teams, improved production, lower debt and disciplined everyday decisions across the business.

Despite global cost challenges, the result shows how practical improvements on farm, growing more feed, lifting animal performance, reducing waste, managing costs with discipline, and looking after people, animals and the environment are flowing through to stronger financial results.

Other financial and performance highlights include net profit after tax (NPAT) of $160 million, compared with $120 million in FY25 and net debt reduced by $36 million, continuing to strengthen the balance sheet.

Milk production of 15.8 million kgMS was 2.1 million kgMS increase since FY23 and 1.8 million kgMS since FY25.

Livestock production of 22 million kilograms of product including wool and velvet converted to carcass weight (2.2 million kilograms increase since FY23 and 0.1 million kilograms increase since FY25).

Pamu chief executive Mark Leslie said the result reflected a sustained lift in farm performance across the organisation.

"This is a fantastic result for Pamu, and it belongs to our people. It reflects several years of hard work across our farms and teams improving how we farm, making good decisions every day, keeping a close eye on costs, and getting more from the land and animals in our care."

While stronger commodity prices contributed to the outcome, Leslie said the result was about much more than pricing.

"Price has certainly helped, but our progress goes well beyond the market cycle. Over the past three years we've seen stronger production, improved cost control, a sharper focus on safety and wellbeing, continued progress in reducing emissions, and a stronger connection between our strategy and what happens on farm every day.

"Those are improvements we can control, and they give us confidence that Pamu is in better shape to keep delivering strong returns for future generations of New Zealanders."

Farmer lobby group Federated Farmers says it welcomes the move, claiming it directly addresses concerns the organisation has been raising for months.

"This is a really positive step for Waikato farmers and a direct response to the concerns we've been raising," says Waikato Federated Farmers president Chris Woolerton.

Why Federated Farmers Pushed for the Pause

Federated Farmers repeatedly called for the Government to put PC1 on pause, including at a public meeting at Mystery Creek. 

The lobby group has argued it made little sense for farmers to face a new set of regional rules when the Government is reworking the Resource Management Act (RMA), freshwater regulations and the national farm planning system.

Woolerton says the intervention gives farmers "breathing room" at a time when regulatory uncertainty is already high.

Relief for Whangamarino Wetland Catchment Farmers

One of the most significant changes affects more than 400 farmers in the Whangamarino Wetland catchment, who faced the prospect of needing a restricted discretionary resource consent simply to continue their existing farming activities.

Under the pause, that consenting requirement has been removed for the next five years.

Woolerton describes the previous requirement as creating a "huge amount of uncertainty and compliance cost" for farmers who were not proposing to change how they farm, only to keep operating as they were.

Removing it, he says, frees farmers to focus on production rather than navigating a consenting process that was set to be superseded by the Government's new national system regardless.

Farm-Planning Delay Aligns With National System

The Government has also delayed new farm-planning requirements in the Waikato region for five years, giving time for a national farm plan system to be developed.

Federated Farmers says this addresses a long-standing concern: that Waikato farmers risked being required to comply with a regional farm-planning framework only to then have to adapt to a separate national system shortly after.

Woolerton calls the delay "a common sense and pragmatic approach" that avoids duplication and confusion for farmers.

Land-Use Flexibility Still Unresolved

Despite welcoming the consenting and farm-planning changes, Federated Farmers says the announcement does not resolve a key issue at the centre of PC1: restrictions on farmers' ability to change land use.

Woolerton says farmers need to be able to respond to market conditions rather than remain locked into a particular farming system under rules set years earlier.

He points to potential implications for vegetable growers in the Waikato, arguing that restricting land-use change  could work against efforts to keep vegetables affordable and locally grown at a time when cost of living remains a pressing concern for many New Zealanders.

The same principle, he says,  applies to livestock farmers, including dairy farmers who may want to shift to another productive land use in response to changing market conditions.

What Happens Next

Federated Farmers says it will continue working through the detail of the Government's announcement to understand how the changes will apply in practice.

"We've got a lot of detail to work through, and we'll be looking closely at exactly how these changes will work in practice, but the direction is right," Woolerton says.

The organisation says it will continue to advocate for a resource management system that gives farmers flexibility to farm productively while still supporting environmental improvements.

His comments come as fears grow about what affect the El Nino weather system may have on the primary sector, and in this case on the unpredictable challenges facing fixed wing and rotary pilots applying fertiliser and spray on properties.

Weir says people are now starting to think seriously about El Nino which traditionally brings dry conditions on the east coast and strong winds and rain on the west coast.

Fertiliser companies are already telling farmers that they should expect greater variability in the weather and fewer ideal application windows. This warning is already being taken seriously – especially it would appear by owners of larger farming operations who are placing orders for fertiliser well in advance of when they may be needed.

According to Weir, farmers need to engage early with his members to be ready for what may evolve in the coming months. He says farmers need to book in early and also be aware that it may take longer than normal to get fertiliser applied because of high winds.

“The other thing that will come into play this season is on-farm facilities and, in the case of fixed wing aircraft, airstrip access and serviceability are key. Have you got a bin and is it dry and weatherproof and can you put your fertiliser in it and have it stored through two or three weeks of showers and wind?

“This is important so that we as an industry can make the most of the narrow weather windows we are expecting to see. In the spray game, with helicopters and fixed wing as well, the spray windows are going to be narrow,” he says.

Weir says they are asking farmers to be patient and understanding given the conditions that are likely to prevail.

He says some farmers have their eyes open and are thinking of going early, realising they need to get fertiliser on before it gets too dry. He says if they get fert on soon and soil does dry out, it will be there and ready to be effective when the rains come.

Demand for Fert

Weir says overall his members are seeing reasonably strong demand for late winter, early spring nitrogen applications.

He says the weather event that went through the Wairarapa recently probably dulled that somewhat. But he says there is certainly plenty of demand to get fertiliser on now and build up good supplies of feed for what looks to be strong lambing percentages.

“But effectively we are in a market that is still very much in the recovery from the downturn,” he says.

The price of fuel forms a large part of the cost of aerial spraying and topdressing, but Kent Weir says farmers understand the need for a fuel surcharge. He says most realised that when the Middle East crisis is resolved, prices will return to some normality.

“Right now, what we are asking from our customers is to understand that as an industry we are operating in some very narrow windows. Whilst it might be fine at your place today, the chances are that we are still trying to get through the stuff that was ordered and we were supposed to do last week."

That’s the view of Professor Paul Kenyon, head of Massey Universities School of Agriculture and the Environment, who told Rural News that graduates from his school are in high demand by employers. He says some students who will graduate in October already have confirmed jobs.

He says those with ag related degrees have no problem getting jobs, especially if they are prepared to work in the regions and not the cities. Kenyon says the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has done some modelling which shows that people with an agricultural or horticultural degree will, in their lifetime, earn a million dollars more than those who don’t have one of these degrees.

Kenyon says enrolments in the School of Agriculture and the Environment have risen steadily over the last three years and now stand at around 370. But he says the option of doing a degree by distance is now proving very popular and that about 40% of the students enrolled in courses are doing it this way, which he says makes perfect sense.

“If you live in the regions and work in an industry that you are passionate about, why wouldn’t you do your degree over five years rather than coming to the Massey campus full time?

“What we are seeing more of is people who have been out of school for a year or two taking the distance learning option. Those that come directly from school tend to do their degree full time at the university,” he says.

Kenyon says a significant number of those working in the horticulture sector go for the distance option, but they also get students in various agribusiness occupations doing this. He says gone are days when 10 years ago a significant number of the students that did ag, hort or agri business came from, and were going back to, a farm, orchard or garden.

“Now they are coming from right across the value chain, including some who are working on farms or orchards. There will be those who are working in the service industries such as exporting, banks and the like,” he says.

There is no formal time limit on how long a student has to complete their degree by distance, but Kenyon says the hope is that they would do this in about six years – double the time it would take a full time student to do the same degree.

Graduate Diploma

To meet the changing needs of industry, Professor Paul Kenyon says in 2027 Massey is offering what is called a graduate diploma in either agriculture or horticulture.

He says this is aimed at people who already have a degree, such as accountancy, and are working for a company in the primary sector and who would like to gain a better understanding of agriculture or horticulture.

“So, they don’t want to do a whole degree, but they would like some upskilling. In which case they might do a set of second year horticulture courses and graduate with a diploma in horticulture. This will help them understand the ins and outs of the industry and what the drivers are, relating to productivity and profitability,” he says.

Kenyon says they may get support from employers but others may do it off their own bat.

Overall, there is an upsurge in young people looking to make a career in some aspect of the primary sector. This is already being reflected in secondary schools where there’s been a high demand for subjects in agriculture, horticulture and agribusiness.

That data may include location, date and time, weather conditions, fuel consumption, hours worked, individual bale weights and dry matter. They are also likely to encompass operating parameters on individual and fleets of machines, looking at location, preloaded job details and the ability to pass details and data between machines on the go.

A recent visit to Australasia by CNH’s chief technology officer, Jay Schroeder, allowed Rural News the opportunity to understand where technology might be heading. Schroeder leads the company’s global R&D community which includes technology, innovation, vehicle & implements, precision technology, user experience and powertrain.

Having visited CNH’s breaking new ground event in Phoenix Arizona in 2022, which showcased where the multi-national might be heading in the tech space, Rural News asked Schroeder which of the ideas we were shown had reached commercialisation.

Currently, those include autonomous operation of prime movers, tandem operation of machine, green on green targeted spraying operations and a greater interest in electrically powered tractors and tractors featuring generators to power electrically driven implements.

Schroeder also spoke about the group’s flagship combine harvesters, which featured impressive technology to maximise output and remove mundane tasking away from the operator. After setting pre-loaded harvesting parameters around losses, the machines are now able to autonomously look at the standing crop, then adjust forward speed drum and cleaning systems to meet the desired parameters, over real-time changing crop conditions.

Noting that CNH invested around US$750 million annually on R&D, around 25% was focused on agriculture. He also compared adoption rates of the latest technologies.

“In North America, we see adoption rates of around 95%, it sits at about 75% across much of Europe and currently, we see about 50% adoption in New Zealand,” he said.

Given that NZ is a largely pastoral landscape, Rural News asked how the latest technology could help livestock farmers justify a sizeable investment. Schroeder explained, “I understand the reluctance, as my father is an 80-year old dairy farmer back in the US. Even using basic systems such as row guidance and maybe automated steering can save up to 30% of input costs of fertiliser or sprays, when compared to application by eye.”

At the same time, Schroeder pointed out reduced operator stress, alongside peripheral savings in fuel and operating hours and a payback on the investment of typically around three years.

As me move into the increasing realm of artificial intelligence (AI) noted the role of the technology played in designing and developing new products more quickly and highlighted by the recent substantial investment at its San Matteo R&D hub in Modena, Italy.

As well as optimising supply chain logistics through highspeed robotics, a new simulation hub establishes a virtual-first methodology, meaning it identifies machine design anomalies early in the product lifecycle, reducing time-to-market by over 30%.

The operation, as an integrated digital twin, is said to minimise engineering risks, optimise field validation, and reduces testing emissions across three technological pillars, including a Dynamic Simulator, Multi-Dyno Test Cell and an Advanced Sensor Test Track.

At the same time, Schroeder acknowledged the apparent risks of access to its systems but confirmed that a dedicated resource team had establish secure and robust procedures and firewalls to thwart unauthorised use.

Speaking at the recent HortNZ conference, he said that the geopolitical tensions between the US and China and the Middle East and Russia are having a significant impact on NZ's trade. He added that the supply chain challenges that have emerged are a refreshing reminder of what we faced during Covid.

Vitalis says in the future NZ needs to be more focused on resilience and how that needs to be handled in an international context. He says this is so that the supply and value chains that we have developed and rely on to export can be sustained.

"The second big feature in the trade policy sense is rising protectionism and that is well and truly back. I think there was a time when some of us were briefly optimistic that protectionism was reducing and the future was looking good for agricultural exporters, but unfortunately, it's not possible to be quite so optimistic anymore," he says.

The other issue he noted was the rise in non-tariff trade barriers. It's well-known that many economies are finding novel and interesting ways to protect their ag sector, often to the detriment of NZ.

One example of this is the USA which has, for whatever reason, imposed 12.5% tariffs on many of our exports. Other countries have from time to time mad last minute 'technical changes' such as new food labelling rules which delay or prevent exports reach destinations.

Vitalis says another factor that NZ is having to deal with is a focus by some key export destinations on the issue of food security. With problems in the Middle East, jurisdictions such as the EU are now thinking about what they call 'strategic autonomy' - code for protectionism and food security.

"So, given all these things, the jungle has grown back and there will be more disorder and uncertainty," he says.

Vitalis says NZ's trade strategy is now about getting a more rules-based trading environment, developing resilience and innovating to try and mitigate the problems we face. He says we are a small country and need to be creative in developing new free trade agreements and dealing with the plethora of non-tariff trade barriers.

More FTAs

Trade Minister Todd McClay says he'll be making a concerted effort over the next five years to obtain more FTAs.

He says the process has already begun with Switzerland with an agreement to establish a Trade and Investment Dialogue. He says Switzerland is an important partner for NZ and one of the world's most innovative and advanced economies.

Two-way trade between the two countries were worth NZ$1.88 billion as at the end of last year.

McClay says the Trade and Investment Dialogue will lead to closer economic cooperation and enhanced collaboration, through bilateral trade and investment forums like the World Trade Organisation, the OECD, and the FIT Partnership.

"At a time of growing global economic uncertainty, it is more important than ever that like-minded countries work together to strengthen trade and investment," he says.

Beside Switzerland, McClay says Brazil and Columbia are high on the agenda for trade talks, as are Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - the latter country, which has 170 million people, has done a trade deal with the USA. He says NZ is also looking towards Africa and in particular Rwanda and Nigeria.

Members were invited to attend a Special General Meeting of the association, due to be held in Christchurch earlier this week as Rural News went to print.

The notice sent to members said the committee considered that grounds for suspension has been met because Cuttance had "behaved in a manner prejudicial to the objects of the Association and has brought the Association into disrepute".

It said the committee's decision was based on "unacceptable conduct relating to the Canterbury West Coast Branch Committee, including persistent, unsolicited, and inflammatory correspondence including personal attacks against individuals; and harassing behaviour towards DINZ personnel (which has involved legal action by DINZ personnel)".

NZDFA chairman Evan Potter said that it was an internal matter for the Association to resolve.

"If you have read the notice, that is all I will be commenting on," Evans told Rural News.

A two-thirds majority was required to confirm the suspension; otherwise Cuttance would return to full membership.

Cuttance, who is a branch committee member and previously stood unsuccessfully for the national board, also declined to go on the record prior to the meeting.

However, in previous correspondence with Rural News, Cuttance has questioned the value of the levy system, not just within deer farming but New Zealand agriculture generally, which he said squandered tens of millions of dollars annually.

He said that deer farmers now numbered less than 1500, down from 4500 in 1999, yet paid $7.7 million in annual levies to support a DINZ staff of 15 full and part-timers and a board of eight. It also spent on programmes he considered a waste of money, including the North American Retail Accelerator programme.

Cuttance farms near Oxford in North Canterbury, exporting deer velvet-based products, predominantly to the North American veterinary market.

The listed company reported operating revenue of $1.1 billion, the first time since it crossed the billion dollar mark since 2019 when it sold its seed business.

Net profit jumped 46% on the previous year to $15.6m for the year ending June 2026.

PGW chief executive Stephen Guerin says NZ's agricultural sector enters the 2017 financial year from a position of relative strength, supported by healthy international demand and favourable conditions across many key sectors.

Strong returns in red meat, dairy, and horticulture continue to provide positive momentum for rural New Zealand, supporting farm and orchard profitability, increasing investment and driving growth.

But he says that while the outlook is positive and we have seen a pleasing start to FY27, some areas of challenge remain.

Geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruption, elevated input costs, and the potential impact of El Niño conditions present risks.

In addition, election-year dynamics may contribute to a degree of caution in parts of the rural economy, particularly the rural property market. Viticulture and arable farming are also expected to remain challenging in the near term.

Guerin says spring is key for his company as 80% of sales occur between September to December.

"The forward orders in place look very good but a lot will depend on customer confidence and weather," he told Rural News.

PGW will provide a market update when it releases its first quarter results in October.

For the 2026 financial year, PGW's retail & water group achieved record revenue and growth across most business units. Operating revenue increased 10% to $851.2 million, while operating EBITDA increased 6% to $44.5 million.

Improved confidence across the sheep, beef, dairy, and horticulture sectors, particularly kiwifruit, supported increased customer spending and investment throughout the year, says PGW.

Labelled "Cool Beef", the four-year programme will explore the relationships between feed efficiency, methane emissions, and production traits. The aim is to come up with new breeding tools to produce cattle that reduce methane by utilising feed more efficiently.

The Ag Emissions Centre has come on board to fund the programme, which will be led by Beef+Lamb NZ.

Following about three years of pilot work, the programme was officially launched last week at the Te Mania Angus Stud on the North Canterbury coast near Cheviot, which will be one of the two main research sites, the other being Pāmu's St Kilda farm near Taupo.

Speaking at the launch, Beef+Lamb chair Kate Acland said it has the potential to deliver practical benefits for New Zealand beef farmers.

"Understanding how efficiently cattle convert feed into production has real value for us in our farm businesses and that's what makes this programme so important."

The goal was to generate robust science and data needed to support future breeding tools.

Acland said that every farm has different breeding objectives, selecting animals for productivity, fertility or productivity.

"Cool Beef will build on that by exploring whether additional information around feed efficiency and methane traits can help support future breeding decisions."

She said that having breeders contribute animals for the research would ensure the results would be grounded in real New Zealand farming systems.

Dr Jason Archer, head of Beef+Lamb NZ Genetics, said the challenge was in balancing three things - feed efficiency (the relationship between feed intake and production); methane intensity (how many kilos of meat are produced per unit of methane); and how much methane is produced per kilo of feed eaten.

"That's something that we really want to work on."

Archer said there were many research questions to be asked.

"What's the opportunity to reduce methane yield and improve feed efficiency together? Is it one or the other or both? We obviously hope the outcomes are both."

Some of the methodology comes from the ongoing Cool Sheep programme, which started in 2006 with similar aims. That uses trailer-mounted Portable Accumulation Chambers (PACs) to measure individual animals' methane and other emissions by shutting animals in and monitoring gas levels over a short period of time.

Cattle-sized PACs have been installed at Te Mania and St Kilda for feed intake and methane emissions data, with animals to be provided by Te Mania and St Kilda and about another eight breeders around the country. Another Pāmu location, Kepler Farm in Te Anau, will collect methane measurements directly from cattle grazing on pasture. The programme will work with Hereford, Angus, and Hereford-Angus crosses, because they represent about 80% of the national beef herd.

Japan and South Korea import almost no apples from New Zealand.

At the recent NZ Apples and Pears conference, calls were made for the Government to open access to these two lucrative markets.

NZAPI chief executive Danielle Adsett told Rural News that New Zealand currently has market access for apples to Japan, however it is limited by strict technical requirements.

Japan is an important market for New Zealand exporters and New Zealand supplies fruit in the counter season to Japan, which supports domestic production and keeps prices stable year-round, she says.

"Improving access conditions to Japan would result in better diversification for New Zealand exporters and would allow our exporters to continue building strong and enduring relationships in the market.

"In the meantime, NZAPI will continue to work with MPI to provide robust technical data to support our request for improved access conditions."

With South Korea, it's not just the apple sector that is waiting for market access.

New Zealand has had a free trade agreement with the Republic of Korea since 2015, however this excludes market access for apples and pears.

The FTA has not been reviewed and this leaves many of our primary products shut out of the market.

Rural News understands the South Koreans aren't keen on reviewing the FTA.

Adsett says, currently, Korea does not import apples from any country, however we remain interested in partnering with Korea should an opportunity rise.

"Again, this would be with aspirations to complement their domestic supply, not to compete with local growers.

"The New Zealand apple and pear industry has a lot in common with these markets - we all grow moderate volumes of premium apples, we all have passionate growers who are committed to innovation, and we are island nations dedicated to robust biosecurity practices to protect our crops from unwanted pest and disease.

"Our relationships in Japan and Korea run far deeper than just the export of apples and we are excited to continue exploring avenues to engage."

She says the New Zealand apple and pear industry supports any endeavours to improve access for New Zealand apples to Japan, as well as any steps to secure access to South Korea.

"We do, however, acknowledge that these are complex issues to tackle and change won't happen overnight."

Dylan George Manthey, 30, was sentenced in the Palmerston North District Court today on three charges of ill-treatment of sheep under the Animal Welfare Act, following a prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

He pleaded guilty to all charges. The end sentence also took into account two driving offences he had been charged with by Police.

How the Investigation Began

The case stems from a nationwide investigation MPI launched in December 2024, after animal rights organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) provided the ministry with 560 hours of video footage showing sheep being abused by shearers.

MPI Director of Investigations and Compliance Support Gary Orr says today's sentencing is the first outcome of that investigation.

"We spent thousands of hours studying video footage of shearing operations and Mr Manthey was identified in footage deliberately abusing lambs on three occasions. This is unacceptable and falls well short of our expectations."

What the Footage Showed

Footage captured at shearing sheds in South Canterbury showed Manthey lift a lamb to shoulder height and throw the animal headfirst onto the hard wooden shearing platform.

On the same day, he was also captured grabbing another lamb by both front legs, swinging the animal and throwing it over a pen wall more than a metre high.

"A veterinarian who viewed the video footage says the abuse would have caused unnecessary pain and distress to these lambs," Orr says.

On a separate day, at different shearing sheds, Manthey was captured on video grabbing a lamb by its back and neck and throwing it forcefully at the wooden doors of a pen — an act Orr says would have caused similar pain and distress.

MPI Response

Orr says the majority of shearers do not resort to abusing animals, even when the work is physically demanding.

"We know the vast majority of shearers don't resort to abusing an animal when the work is challenging. When we find evidence of deliberate abuse, we take action."

Three other shearers identified through the investigation remain before the court, facing charges under the Animal Welfare Act.

Reporting Animal Welfare Concerns

MPI says animal welfare is everyone's responsibility and is encouraging members of the public who are aware of animal ill-treatment or cruelty to report it to the MPI animal welfare complaints freephone, 0800 008 333.

Over the past 12 months, the organisation delivered 1,277,241 mince and milk meals through a nationwide network of foodbanks, pushing the total number of meals distributed since its 2020 launch past 4.2 million.

The milestone lands at a critical moment. Recent figures show one in three New Zealand households experienced food insecurity in the past year, and 68% of those households say they only began struggling to afford enough food within the last 12 months.

A Shifting Face of Need

Zellara Holden, general manager of Meet the Need, says the charity is seeing a marked shift in who is turning up to foodbanks for help.

"These aren't just the families people might traditionally expect to need food support," Holden says. "They're working families, rural households and people who have never had to ask for help before."

Holden says the cost of living is the driving force behind this change.

"The cost of living continues to put enormous pressure, on household budgets, and nutritious protein is often one of the first things families stop buying. That's why the work we do has never been more important."

Connecting Farmers with Families

Meet the Need was founded with the aim to connect New Zealand food producers directly with families experiencing hardship.

The charity works alongside farmers, processors, transport companies, foodbanks, businesses and donors to get beef mince and milk to those who need it most.

Key results from the 2025/26 year

• 1,277,241 mince and milk meals delivered
• 148 foodbanks supported nationwide, up from 135 the previous year
• Over 4.2 million meals delivered since the charity launched in 2020

Demand Still Outpacing Supply

Despite the record year, Meet the Need says growth in impact hasn't kept pace with growth in need.

Foodbanks across the country report more first-time users, longer waitlists, and rising demand specifically for protein.

"The reality is that while we've increased our impact, the need has grown even faster," Holden says.

"Every meal delivered is only possible because of the generosity of New Zealand farmers, our corporate and community partners, volunteers and individual donors," she says. "This report is a celebration of what we've achieved together, but it's also a reminder that our work is far from over."

'The Challenge Isn't Supply, It's Connection'

Meet the Need chair Nick Fisher says the solution lies in collaboration across the agricultural sector.

"New Zealand grows enough food to feed everyone," Fisher says. "The challenge isn't supply, it's connection."

"Meet the Need exists to bridge that gap, ensuring quality New Zealand protein reaches families who otherwise couldn't afford it."

How to Help

Meet the Need is calling on more farmers, businesses and everyday New Zealanders to get involved - whether by donating livestock, milk or cash, or by partnering with the charity directly.

"Our mission is simple," Holden says. "Together, we can ensure more Kiwi families have access to nutritious protein during some of the hardest times in their lives."

"With demand continuing to grow, we need more people alongside us to make that happen," she concludes.

B+LNZ has been monitoring whole-farm sales for afforestation for several years.

Kate Acland, B+LNZ chair, says the latest figures bring the total area of whole sheep and beef farms sold for forestry since 1 January 2017 to almost 330,000 hectares - equivalent to 3,300 square kilometres, or roughly six times the size of urban Auckland.

Another 30,000 Hectares Gone to Trees

New analysis by Orme & Associates found an additional 30,000 hectares of whole sheep and beef farms have been confirmed as sold for forestry since B+LNZ's previous research was released last year.

Revised confirmed sales for 2024 added 11,482 hectares, bringing the revised 2024 total to 41,966 hectares.

A further 15,743 hectares were sold in 2025, a figure expected to rise as additional sales are confirmed through the Overseas Investment Office.

"While we are pleased that total sales have slowed from the height of conversions to forestry in 2021 and 2022, when almost 64,000 hectares were sold each year, we remain concerned that too much is still going to occur," Acland says.

On Track to Lose a Million Hectares by 2050

According to the report, 27,000 hectares of sheep and beef land could still be converted to forestry each year under the restrictions introduced on whole farms entering the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

Before 2018, when it was signalled that the cap on the carbon price would be lifted, average annual conversion was 7,000 hectares or less.

"27,000 hectares a year, combined with how much has already happened, would see New Zealand lose a million hectares of productive pastoral land by 2050, which is unsustainable for our sector, our rural communities and the country," Acland says.

She says restrictions introduced in 2025 are welcome but did not go far enough.

"We are concerned they do not go far enough and we will be keeping a close eye on ongoing levels of afforestation."

"Not Anti-Forestry" - But Right Tree, Right Place

Acland says B+LNZ is not opposed to forestry and supports the integration of trees within farms.

"Forestry presents an important and well-established diversification opportunity for farmers," she says. "Farmers know their land and can plant the right trees in the right places, without affecting overall levels of production."

Jobs Every Year vs a Payday Once a Generation

The research builds on earlier analysis by BERL, which found that sheep and beef farms generate employment and export revenue continuously each year, while forestry mainly generates employment and export revenue at harvest - typically 25 to 30 years after planting.

In 2025, New Zealand's red meat sector generated $17.5 billion, or 4% of GDP, and supported 120,580 jobs, equivalent to 5% total employment in New Zealand.

B+LNZ says converting productive farms to forestry makes it harder for rural communities to retain people and skills, which in turn reduces local spending, school rolls, rural services and future food-producing capacity.

The organisation estimates more than two million stock units have been lost to afforestation since 2017.

A little over six months ago, the company launched a partnership with PR Claims, a specialist provider that manages fuel excise duty refund claims, and says its customers have now recovered more than $500,000 in fuel refunds through their system.

Refunds Going Unclaimed Due To Complexity

Farm Focus CEO Marie-Claire Andrews said that for many farmers, refunds of excise duty on petrol used for on-farm off-road use went unclaimed simply because the process felt too complex to pursue.

And at the current rate of 78 cents a litre, it stacks up. Farmers used a lot of petrol-powered vehicles across their paddocks, she said.

"Even just in some of the smaller machinery, if you think about it, if you haven't claimed for everything you've done in terms of maintenance, chainsaws, all sorts of things, for a couple of years, there's thousands of litres probably, so it's worth getting the money back."

Canterbury Farmer Recovers $12,000 In One Year

The Masterton-based company provides financial management software for farmers and rural businesses and has customers throughout New Zealand and in Australia.

It says one of their clients, Canterbury dairy, beef and cropping farmer Mike Smith, recovered around $12,000 from a single year's petrol use through the PR Claims partnership.

"It's all set up digitally and it's easy to use. For farmers, we don't want something to be a hassle," said Smith.

"I don't have time to struggle with things, otherwise I just won't do it. We ended up with around $12,000 back, just from one year's worth of fuel. We all pay a lot of tax in the farming industry, especially in dairy, so it's nice to get something back."

Reducing the Administrative Burden

Andrews said the partnership reduced the administrative burden on busy farming businesses.

She said PR Claims managed the claim process end to end, and refund statements could be imported directly into Farm Focus, keeping records tidy without extra paperwork.

She said the half-million dollar milestone reflected how much eligible money goes unclaimed each year.

"Farmers are under constant pressure to manage costs, and this partnership is helping put real money back into rural businesses. The fact that customers have already recovered more than half a million dollars in refunds shows the scale of the opportunity."

Why the Claims Process Gets Overlooked

PR Claims head of partnerships, Kevin Breen, believed that about 80% of farmers - or "more than would admit to it" - were not bothering to claim refunds of excise duty because it was a bureaucratic process.

"Nine times out of ten, the reason why people haven't claimed their excise duty refund is because they put it in the too hard basket."

He explained that while most other taxes are administered by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), the fuel excise duty is administered by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

"Not all, but most accountants don't normally deal with it because it's dealing with a different entity other than the IRD."

Integration and Pricing Through the Partnership

Breen said PR Claims also partners with other organisations, but went "one step further" with Farm Focus.

"If the clients give us access, then we can integrate and automate some systems which makes the process even smoother.

"Our normal rate is 15% and but because we partnered with Farm Focus, their customers get an additional two and a half percent off that rate, which makes us by far the cheapest company in New Zealand."

Upton says New Zealand has good environmental information but the problem is that the system used to collect, manage and share it lacks coordination, leadership and long-term stewardship.

Report Points to Reform Opportunity

A report released last week by Upton noted that New Zealand is undertaking major reforms across resource management, science, water services, local government and environmental reporting.

This presents a rare opportunity to place environmental information at the centre of environmental management.

The report - Unlocking New Zealand's Environmental Information - finds that while vast amounts of environmental data are collected across government, councils, research organisations, iwi, industry and community groups, much of it remains difficult to find, access and use.

The report argues that high-quality environmental information is fundamental to good decision-making, effective environmental management, public accountability and investment decisions.

"Whether we're managing water, planning infrastructure, responding to climate risks or protecting biodiversity, good decisions depend on good information," says Upton.

"The problem is not that we lack environmental information - the problem is that the system used to collect, manage and share it lacks coordination, leadership and long-term stewardship."

Fragmentation and Inconsistent Standards Identified

The report identifies fundamental weaknesses in New Zealand's current environmental information system, including fragmentation, duplication, data gaps, inconsistent standards, and barriers to accessing and reusing information.

Rapid advances in technologies, such as remote sensing, automated sensors, environmental DNA (eDNA) and artificial intelligence as well as digital infrastructure and communications technologies, present a significant opportunity to improve how environment information is collected and used.

"Innovative technologies can help us better understand what is happening in our environment, often more quickly, comprehensively and cost-effectively than before.

"But technology alone will not solve the problem. To realise these benefits, we need stronger leadership, common data standards and a system designed to make information accessible and useful."

Budget 2026 Investment A "Positive First Step"

The report notes that recent investments in environmental data and digital infrastructure through Budget 2026 are a positive first step but says broader system-wide reform is required.

"If we can afford to fast-track ports, mines and motorways, we can afford to fast-track the upgrading of our environmental management system.

"Better information will not make difficult decisions for us. But without it, we are making those decisions in the dark."

A bull has taken up residence outside the business in a town where streets are dotted with cows made from fibreglass.

Morrinsville Auto Super Shoppe owner Allan Clark is celebrating thirty years of business in Morrinsville.

His son Jacob, who now works in the business, constructed the bull from sheet metal, cutting the shapes, then bending and welding to create the form.

After 200 names, the unnamed sculpture, which Rural News has named 'Incredibull', has a stance not unlike the bronze Bull of Wall Street.

Finishing with metallic bronze paint shows a multitude of colours in different light, giving life and attitude to the Bull of Super Shoppe Morrinsville for another thirty years.

The bull proudly joins a collection of life-size cow sculptures throughout the town showcasing the dairy history and heritage of Morrinsville.

Next time you're in Morrinsville, don't miss the Incredibull display!

He says NZ cannot just rely on international freight delivering canned food from other countries to us and says the importance of our vegetable sector cannot be overestimated.

His comments come as concerns grow about highly productive land going into housing and vegetable processing plants facing closure, as well as trees replacing sheep on our hill country.

Pressure on Productive Land

Malley told Rural News that it's costly to produce food in NZ and there is an ongoing need to increase crop yields by introducing new and better plant varieties to counter this.

Also, New Zealand needs to look at the distribution of value along the food chain to make sure growers remain financially sustainable.

Water and Māori Land Access in Northland

He says there are also other issues in Northland where his orchard is based.

"One of the issues is making sure we have enough water, and the other one is releasing some of the Māori land so that it can be more productive.

"To do that there needs to be an appropriate investment structure, because that land is currently not in a high production and to change that will require capital investment and require the development of new infrastructure," he says.

With Māori land, says Dermott, there is a need to understand that they will not sell their whenua and new economic structures need to be created so that new capital can be injected without that being linked to debt on their land.

Rural News is aware that this has already happened in Māoridom with iwi joining forces, especially in the kiwifruit sector, to create larger and profitable entitites.

In terms of blueberries, Malley says his company already has a high tech packhouse which is quite capable of handling all the expansion. He says they also see the potential for growing kiwiberries.

Accessing New Varieties

Malley says if NZ is to increase its horticultural exports it must have the same access to new plant varieties as our competitors.

He says he fully accepts the need for a quality biosecurity regime and the need to manage risk and not bring anything into NZ that would destroy the hort sector.

He says this is also linked to an expectation of our customers that we are moving to a softer approach to deal with managing diseases. In the past, much greater use has been made of 'hard' chemicals.

Malley says this means that if we bring in overseas material, we need to be sure that it will fit within our system of managing diseases and pests.

"We need to look at perhaps shifting our focus as a country to getting a guarantee those pests are better managed offshore, rather than just presuming that they are. That means we need to insist that those people overseas show us that they have done the right thing, in terms of what we do, like monitoring our crops every week," he says.

For a career where she has built a reputation as a trusted advisor and mentor, Ewers picked up the New Zealand Apples & Pears (NZAPI) Outstanding Contribution Award in Queenstown last month.

Ewers was one of the 260 people at the NZAPI dinner, unaware that she was picking up the prestigious award.

"Humbled and Overwhelmed"

Horticulture consultant Andrew Kinninmonth, who was sitting next to Ewers, had the task of introducing the awardee.

"It was very unsuspecting and it wasn't until Andrew repeated something I just told him 10 minutes ago and the colour rose," she told Rural News.

"I'm humbled and overwhelmed: I give out awards, but I'm not great in accepting awards."

From Customs Ambitions to a Compliance Career

Ewers had always eyed the job of a customs officer. After working in orchards and packhouses in the South Island, she got a break.

With too many packhouses, MAF decided to handover fruit inspection to the Apple and Pear Marketing Board.

Ewers was offered to join the board's inspection team.

"They presented me with a four-car garage sitting on stilts with a hole cut in each end, and I walked inside and there was nothing there.

"And, they said this is your inspection depot: you set it up and run it, and that's how it started.

"So, my customs offer plan didn't originate, but my compliance did and I still do compliance today."

A Career Built on Mentoring

Ewers is the compliance and logistics manager at Hoddy's Fruit Company in Nelson.

She also helps New Zealand Apples and Pears and exporters especially around training young staff.

NZAPI board chair Andrew Gibbs said Ewers' contribution to the industry extended far beyond her formal roles.

"Mel is one of those rare people whose influence can be felt right across our industry. For decades she has quietly supported growers, businesses and industry initiatives, sharing her knowledge freely and helping others achieve high standards.

"She has never sought recognition or the spotlight, but her integrity, leadership and willingness to help others have earned her enormous respect and multiple nominations for this award. The New Zealand apple and pear industry is stronger because of Mel's contribution, and we are delighted to recognise her contribution."

He says that throughout her career, Ewers has built a reputation as a trusted advisor and mentor, generously sharing her knowledge without hesitation and helping others in the sector navigate increasingly complex industry requirements.

Colleagues describe her as practical, authentic, and deeply committed to helping others succeed.

This follows a shipping mix-up that saw the team's bespoke tractors and ploughs end up in Wellington two weeks ago, instead of landing in Europe.

Mark Dillon, Southland, and Malcolm Taylor, Waikato, have made the difficult decision to leave the equipment at home and rely on borrowed equipment.

Careful Planning Undone by Delays

In the last issue of Rural News we reported on the frustrations of the NZ Ploughing team in trying to ship their bespoke tractors and ploughs to the World Ploughing event to be held in Osijek, Croatia in early September.

Dillon and Taylor are scheduled to represent NZ in the conventional and reversible classes respectively and, being old hands at the game, knew that getting their equipment to Croatia early would allow time for cleaning, inspection and local practice, before heading into the actual event.

Their forward planning, preparation and loading in early May meant an original arrival date of their container in Europe of July 18. Delayed departure had pushed this arrival date to July 24.

On 16 June, inquiries to shipping specialists Oceanbridge advised that the container was still in Wellington, who surprisingly stated that expected delivery was still around July 25.

On July 5, Dillon's wife Sonia used an app to track progress, to find that the boat was off the coast of Tasmania, then sought an updated ETA, to be told that the boat was actually en route back to Wellington, with a revised arrival in Europe of around August 24 - just 12 days before the event commenced.

Alternative Options Fell Short

Earlier in July, there was a heated discussion with Oceanbridge, who suggested reloading the container onto an alternative boat that should be able to get to Western Europe earlier, but added the complication of getting the container and its contents to Croatia by road.

Unfortunately, further discussions suggested that the revised solution would mean an expected arrival of 28th August, with any weather-related or political delays meaning the risk of the date pushing out further.

This has resulted in the duo making the difficult decision to leave the equipment at home and rely on borrowed equipment.

"There Was Never Any Suggesting Of Not Going"

Sonia Dillon says there were just too many variables to ensure that the container would arrive on time.

"The boys decided to head up to Croatia and take up the offer of loan tractors and ploughs from friends and acquaintances from the World Ploughing community.

"It won't be the same as using their own gear, but I'm sure they will give it their best try. There was never any suggesting of not going, as we have already committed a lot of money to travel and accommodation costs, so we'll enjoy the event for what it is."

Refund Hopes, But No Explanation Yet

Meanwhile, Oceanbridge has suggested that they are hopeful of getting a refund from the global shipping company MSC. 

Sonia Dillon remains sceptical about the suggestion, noting at this stage there has been no apology or explanation about how the massive faux pas occurred.

Rural News suggests that Oceanbridge and MSC should get their heads together and commit to getting the duo's container to the 2027 World Ploughing Event to be held in Kenya - on time and at no cost!

He was attending the mega Bharat Textile Expo in New Delhi, which has 3500 stands and attracts more than a million visitors over four days, supporting a NZ delegation to promote our quality coarse wool.

India is the second largest importer of our wool - last year it took 17,000 tonnes worth more than $79 million. China is the largest importer of our wool wool. 

Patterson says, since the Wool Board disbanded many years ago, little engagement there's been with India has been mainly broker-driven and transactional. He says when a NZ wool delegation attended the Bharat Textile Expo last year, they were pleasantly surprised.

"It turns out NZ wool is held in very high regard and there is a real interest in what we are doing in terms of our accreditation systems and the ethical way that we farm our sheep. This is because India manufactures wool carpets for the very high-end markets in the USA and Europe and want the highest quality wool for their products," he says.

A feature of their manufacturing process is that it is primarily hand-knotted by some 30,000 specialist craftspeople. This, he says, is in contrast to China where the manufacturing process is highly industrialised and mechanised.

He says the positive thing for NZ is that Prime Minister Modi is personally leading and promoting a programme that would see the country tripling the size of its textile industry by the end of the decade. This is called the five F strategy - farm, fibre, factory, fashion, and foreign exchange.

"That's the driver and I am absolutely confident that there are real opportunities for our farmers to sell more very high-quality wool to India," he says.

Patterson says a few months ago a delegation from all the major wool manufacturers in India came down to NZ and were blown away by our farming systems, and the way we handle wool in the shed and scour the product.

"A lot of these companies are family-owned, multigenerational businesses and they have got a real affinity with fibre in the same way our multigenerational farmers do. There is a sort of combined respect for the fibre and a meeting of minds in many ways and they are keen to partner with us more," he says.

Patterson says another visit to NZ by Indian wool manufacturers is planned to take place soon.

High-Level Meetings

Patterson says during his visit, which was just after Prime Minister Modi visit to our country, NZ was in the spotlight in India.

He says there is no doubt that this helped get access to some of that country's top politicians and businesspeople. This included having a special bilateral roundtable session, co-chaired by him and his Indian counterpart, Minister of State for Textiles, Pabitra Margherita.

Patterson says he also had the opportunity to meet with the Minister of Textiles, Giriraj Singh, carpet manufacturer Obeetee, the International Wool Textile Organisation, the Wool Research Association, and others, to discuss ways that we can work better together.

"One of the highlights was to see the NZ woolen carpet in their Parliament debating chamber and to meet the Speaker of Parliament, Om Birla, the third highest ranked politician who gave the backstory of the significance of this carpet," he says.

Asparagopsis Technologies Limited (ASTEC) is supplying research-grade asparagopsis armata for animal methane mitigation studies, ensuring continued access to one of the world's largest land-based cultivation facilities dedicated to this emerging field of research.

Following CH4 Global's decision to focus on its Australian operations, former leaders from the business partnered with Ocean Beach Aquaculture Park to retain the specialised infrastructure and cultivation expertise developed in Bluff.

The new company will supply high-quality asparagopsis biomass to research institutions undertaking controlled and commercial-scale methane reduction trials internationally.

ASTEC executive director Nigel Little says the company supplies asparagopsis biomass to Australia, USA, Japan and Europe - especially Scandinavia, Netherlands and Ireland for research.

"These are the countries where a number of universities and research institutes have already been studying asparagopsis and where we believe there is demand for larger scale follow-on trials," Little told Rural News.

Asaparagopsis-based feed additives are being offered for sale in Australia and Europe today where they are already approved for sale as a natural feed supplement.

CH4 Global is the leading commercial supplier with their Methane Tamer product, which is formulated with 100% asparagopsis.

However, in New Zealand, all methane inhibitors regardless of type - from natural plants being used as herbal medicines like asparagopsis - through to synthetic chemicals, like novel ingredients, have been arbitrarily classified as Vet Medicines under the NZ legislation.

Little says only one product (using a synthetic chemical) has been submitted for approval to date, and no products have yet been approved.

He believes asparagopsis would be an excellent solution as a natural, safe and affordable inhibitor for high value dairy applications in New Zealand, such as organics, A2 and infant formula. It could be easily added - less than 50 grams per milking - to existing feed supplements given while milking.

“But a lot more investment will be required to prove the exact benefits of asparagopsis in NZ’s farming systems and to collect the data necessary to make a Vet Medicine application, and there doesn’t seem to be any interest in the research sector in NZ to do this work.”

Interest in asparagopsis continues to grow as research demonstrates its potential to significantly reduce enteric methane emissions in ruminants.

However, access to consistent, research-grade material has remained a constraint for many institutions, with much of the global supply directed into proprietary commercial programmes. ASTEC has been established to address this gap by providing researchers with reliable access to high-quality cultivated biomass for independent trials across diverse production systems, cattle breeds and feeding regimes.

The Ocean Beach Aquaculture Park is among the world’s largest land-based asparagopsis cultivation facilities, with existing production capacity of approximately 20,000 daily doses per month and significant scope for future expansion as international research demand grows. The facility leverages naturally cold Southern Ocean water and purpose-built bioreactor infrastructure, drawing on cultivation expertise developed over several years.

FutureFeed holds and licenses global IP for the use of asparagopsis seaweed as a livestock feed ingredient, shown to lower ruminant methane emissions by 80% or more.

FutureFeed chief executive Alex Baker says methane from cattle and sheep dominates New Zealand’s carbon footprint.

“The rising sustainability expectations and competition in global export markets mean this has to change. Accelerating seaweed supply is critical to bring about change, and we are excited to see Asparagopsis Technologies’ actions towards that goal.”

The scheme allows orchardists and growers to bring workers from the Pacific Islands to work on their properties for a limited period each year.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford announced this at the HortNZ conference last week, saying that over the 20 years the scheme has been running, it has become more complicated and burdensome than it needs to be.

She says the changes that will be implemented over the next two years will provide greater clarity and flexibility to both employers and workers. It will also strengthen protection for workers.

"This move is in response to sector which for a long time has been calling for change," she says.

All told, 17,000 RSE workers come to NZ each year working for more than 200 recognised employers.

In essence, the revamped RSE scheme will reward employers with good track records and put the heat on those who haven't lived up to the spirit of the scheme.

"Bad actors will face consequences," she says.

Stanford says the one-size-fits-all approach when employers are applying to recruit workers is no longer appropriate and, in this regard, established employers with a strong track record will be given special consideration and pathways.

Other key changes include introducing a fixed list of exactly what costs employers can pass on to workers - an area where there has been a lack of clarity, confusion, and angst in the past. The intention is that workers should be aware of this before they arrive in NZ.

There will also be a provision that allows workers the flexibility to do other tasks on a property outside the normal planting, maintaining, harvesting and packing of produce. Under this provision they may be able to, say, drive a forklift. Workers may also be able to work for another accredited RSE employer if work runs out on their property and is available elsewhere.

Stanford says accommodation standards are a major concern and remain a priority for both industry and Pacific partners.

"We need to get this right," she says.

Stanford says consultation on options for change is currently underway with Pacific partners and employers, and she expects to take decisions by the end of September.

"We are also supporting industry-led initiatives that promote best-practice pastoral care. Providing access to the internet will also be added to the prescribed standards, ensuring workers can stay connected with their families back home. There will also be new provisions for sick leave," she says.

Stanford says the changes recognise the important role the RSE scheme plays in assisting the NZ hort sector. The changes will be phased in over the next two years.

Orchardists Grateful For The Changes

HortNZ chief executive Kate Scott says her organisation is hugely grateful for the changes.

She says the decision to modernise the RSE scheme is a positive and practical step that will benefit growers, workers and Pacific communities.

"From our perspective the changes are sensible and will enable the scheme to operate more effectively and efficiently," she told Rural News.

"Little things like aligning sick leave right through to enabling RSE workers to also do some of those other tasks that sometime arise on the orchard like driving the forklift are important," she says.

Scott says the changes will reduce unnecessary compliance for trusted employers.

A graduated accreditation model, clearer expectations and a more transparent cap process will give growers greater certainty to plan, invest and grow. She says the changes will also put worker wellbeing at the centre of the scheme's future.

"HortNZ has consistently called for settings that are fair, future-proofed and sustainable for employers and workers. This reform reflects that approach," she says.

Colin Bond, the CEO of NZKGI, which represents kiwifruit growers, says his organisation is pleased with the announcement.

He says anything that simplifies something that has become a complex scheme will be well received by the industry and getting clarity around what costs can be passed onto workers and moves to improve accommodation for RSE workers is good news and beneficial to all parties.

"This is a fantastic scheme that's been running for twenty years. But over time we have been adding more things to it to make the scheme better, however, we seem to have inadvertently made it more complex," he says.

Bond says NZKGI appreciates the hard work that MBIE staff, the Pacific people and many others have put into creating the new reforms.

He says it is important that through the implementation stage everyone works together to achieve the desired outcomes.

New Zealand Farm Environment Trust (NZFET) general manager Sarah Harris says the campaign was inspired by conversations with previous entrants, which revealed a number of common myths about the awards.

"We know there are exceptional farmers and growers across New Zealand who would make fantastic entrants, but misconceptions about the awards often stop them from putting their names forward," says Harris.

"Attracting a strong field of entrants is essential. The integrity and reputation of the awards relies on recognising high-performing businesses that are willing to share their journey and inspire others."

One of the most common myths is that entrants must be Ballance Agri-Nutrients customers.

"While Ballance is our principal sponsor, the awards are owned and delivered by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, an independent charitable trust supported by a wide range of industry partners. You certainly don't need to be a Ballance customer to enter," Harris says.

Another common excuse Harris said her regional committees hear is 'I'm not ready'.

"The reality is that very few people ever feel ready. The awards aren't about perfection - they're about the journey and peoples' willingness to keep improving."

The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Amendment Bill, also known as the HSNO Act, has fallen victim to a huge raft of other legislation that the Government wants passed ahead of the bill in the current parliamentary term.

The amendments to the HSNO Act are seen as a major priority by the primary sector, frustrated by red tape, long timeframes, complexity of the process, costs and overall uncertainty about when products are finally approved by the regulator, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The changes to the bill came out of a review by the new Ministry of Regulation which made sixteen recommendations to streamline the approval process. It's been before the Primary Production Select committee that has been hearing submissions on it.

One of the proposals in the amended bill would allow for a product that has been approved by a credible overseas regulator to be used in NZ until it gets final approval from the EPA.

The Minister for the Environment, Nicola Grigg, told Rural News that the Government has reached out to end users in the primary sector and is aware of their frustration about the present act and the blockages that it is causing. She says the new EPA board and chief executive are much more commercially driven and connected with farmers and growers.

Grigg says the intent of the changes is to give NZ farmers and growers easier access to products that are available overseas to control pests and invasive species, and for crop protection.

"We still must be risk averse in the sense that you can't unleash any old thing out into the environment. We must be acutely aware of our markets and end users and our own environmental limitations. But also, we also must be at the vanguard of innovation and being able to try and test and keep on innovating," she says.

The progress of the HSNO Bill was front and center of topics discussed at the recent Animal and Plant Health (APHANZ) conference in Wellington. Here, representatives from MPI, the EPA and the former MFE gave presentations and answered questions about the HSNO Bill as well as changes to the RMA and ACVM bills; the latter two are likely to be passed by Parliament this year.

The CEO of APHANZ, Dr Liz Shackleton, says a big concern for her members was the timeframes within the HSNO Act.

She says when you are in business, time is money and uncertainty costs.

She says while they would like to get the HSNO Bill through Parliament, she recognises the huge legislative backlog.

Shackleton says her members want to see new and novel products get approved faster.

A leading Gisborne businessman, Richard Burke, who once headed up a large vegetable growing operation in Tairawhiti, had to deal with the difficulties of getting product to market because of countless road closures. He says today the roads around Tairawhiti are in fact worse than they were fifty years ago.

Burke says the present settings for funding roads are based around use - in other words, the number of vehicles using them - rather than the opportunities they offer and particular needs of the primary sector.

"The consequence of the present settings is that regions like Tairawhiti, Northland, the West Coast and Taranaki miss out on the big funding because they don't have the high vehicle use," Burke told Rural News.

"The present settings don't make sense to me because high export earners such as the primary sector and tourism miss out," he says.

Burke says, aside of the settings the other problem with infrastructure is having a long-term plan and taking this out of the political arena. He says under the present system, infrastructure bounces around due to political influence - the Cook Strait ferries issue being case in point.

"If we had, say, a 100-year plan, that would make a huge difference. In that scenario, the politicians would still control the purse strings, but there would be... a long-term plan," he says.

According to Burke, "commercial settings" should be applied to infrastructure - roads, water, etc. He says knee-jerk reactions are common with what infrastructure is needed and how to deal with adverse weather events.

For example, he says that the pine trees in Tairawhiti are not necessarily in themselves the issue and legislating against them may not be the answer. Rather, better settings or rules could manage the problem and ensure that the environment is not damaged.

"We need to accurately measure potential environmental impacts and not second guess what these may be, because in some cases we overdo stuff in areas and underdo it others," he says.

Burke says in Gisborne there is talk about the need for better water infrastructure. He says this in itself won't attract investment to the region. He maintains that roading is still the big issue and roads need to be able to cope with bigger trucks. He points to what Northland has done to improve its roads and the benefits that have flowed from this.

"Look at Northland and you see how much quicker they will recover from an event than what we will do down here. Most of that is because the infrastructure that they have built up gives them the ability to bounce back.

"We keep asking for more money, but there is a question about whether we are spending it in ways that resolve the problems in the long term."

Finally, Burke says there is a big focus on increasing production to drive export returns, but there is a need to invest in both the market and in the infrastructure to match this.

The message coming back to members is blunt: not one party currently has a specific policy for growing organics in New Zealand.

Manifesto Presented Ahead of November Election

The delegation saw OANZ representatives present the Organic Election Manifesto and its five organic priorities directly to MPs and officials ahead of the November election.

The visit follows months of sector engagement building toward a clear ask of the next government: back organics with real investment and policy, not just goodwill.

OANZ board member Scott Lawson says the sector is pointing to an opportunity as opposed to asking for a handout.

"We're not asking for a favour, we're pointing to an opportunity this government is currently leaving on the table," Lawson says.

"Organic is growing at three times the rate of conventional primary exports, because consumers globally are demanding clean, ethical food," he says.

"This government wants to double exports, and organics is one of the clearest paths to get there. But growth like that doesn't happen without policy and investment behind it."

OANZ says the case for backing organics is a "genuine win-win", pointing to measurable gains in soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and climate resilience, alongside a fast-growing export category it says is aligned with where global demand is heading.

Seven Questions Put To Every Party

During the delegation, OANZ put seven direct questions to every party it met, covering:

• The continuation of a dedicated Associate Organic Minister
• The rollout of the National Organic Standard
• Investment in the sector's growth architecture
• Global market access and equivalency
• Protection of GE-free and organic certification status
• Support for organic transition and domestic procurement
• Whether the party has any policy for growing organics

Scorecard to Guide Voters

OANZ says responses to those questions will be published in an Organic Political Scorecard, using a colour-coded system to show voters where each party stands.

The organisation says the scorecard will be a key resource for New Zealand's organic sector, advocates and consumers as they weigh up their choice at the ballot box this November.

Brendan Hoare, OANZ advisor, says parties and ministers were left in no doubt about the sector's intent.

"Political parties and Ministers have been briefed that the organic sector is organised and means business," Hoare says.

"We are expecting the 2026 election will be an instrumental platform for change.

Food Security a Recurring Theme

Lawson says domestic food supply and security came up repeatedly in discussions with political parties.

"A common theme across all political parties we met with was the requirement for domestic food supply and security," he says.

"It's clear it's an election topic of the utmost importance, and one that requires commitment and development as part of the organic growth strategy."

OANZ is calling on all parties to use the time before the election to develop a clear, funded position on organics, and says it will continue pushing until they do.

The announcement marks a sharp turnaround from the $2 million loss recorded in FY25, as improving farmgate returns drove a rebound in fertiliser demand.

Revenue for the co-operative rose 20% year-on-year to $917.2 million, while total fertiliser sales volumes climbed 8% to more than 1 million tonnes, up from 962,000 tonnes the previous year.

Sheep and Beef Recovery Lifts Demand

The result follows several years of subdued fertiliser demand across the sector.

Ravensdown says improving agricultural returns, particularly for sheep and beef farmers, supported a recovery in nutrient applications and overall sales through the financial year.

Garry Diack, chief executive of Ravensdown, says the co-operative delivered numerous targeted projects designed to drive performance during the financial year. These included investment in the manufacturing commitment, freight optimisation, improved data decision support, and automation supported by AI.

"This result reflects the discipline we've applied across the business to become a more efficient, resilient co-operative," Diack says.

"By improving our operations, we've strengthened our financial performance while continuing to invest in the products, services and expertise our shareholders rely on," he says.

The co-operative's balance sheet remains strong, with an equity ration of 79.1% which is broadly in line with 80.3% in FY25.

Board Approves $15/Tonne Rebate

Ravensdown chair Bruce Wills says the Board weighed global supply volatility against a commitment to returning efficiency gains to shareholders, approving a rebate of $15/tonne on qualifying tonnes.

“This returns value directly to the farmers and growers who own and use the co-operative and who supported the business through the volatility of supply certainty in a high demand year," Wills says.

He says the Board's focus throughout the financial year has been to provide secure access to Ravensdown products at competitive prices.

He says they're pleased to be returning additional value to shareholders through the rebate.

"Fully paid shareholders will receive their rebate as a cash payment, recognising the investment they've made in the co-operative, while partly paid shareholders will this year receive their full rebate in the form of shares, helping them build their ownership in the co-operative," Wills says.

“We encourage shareholders to be fully shared up to access the full value of membership in the co-operative."

Geopolitical Volatility Shaping Global Supply

Diack says the FY26 financial performance demonstrates the value of the co-operative to deliver on its purpose in an increasingly uncertain global environment.

"International fertiliser markets remain heavily influenced by geopolitical events. Conflict in the Middle East, the ongoing war in Ukraine and broader supply chain disruptions continue to create volatility in both product availability and pricing."

He says the co-operative's long-standing relationships with global suppliers and it's joint venture partnership with Ravensdown Shipping Services are valuable strategic assets that have proven their worth to the business and shareholders over the last year.

"Our supplier partnerships have been built over decades. They are founded on trust, reliability and mutual commitment, and they provide Ravensdown access to product through different market cycles," Diack says.

"These relationships, combined with our domestic superphosphate manufacturing capability and national inventory management system designed to handle volatility, mean we're able to provide loyal customers with certainty in an increasingly uncertain world."

Investment in Smarter, Lower-Emissions Farming

Ravensdown continued to invest in tools aimed at helping farmers lift productivity while reducing environmental impact, part of what it describes as a shift toward a "fertliser plus impact-based" relationship with customers.

The next generation of its HawkEye technology, HawkEye Pro, uses AI to generate more detailed nutrient insights and farm-specific fertiliser plans. It's now available to dairy and sheep and beef farmers, with crop and forage functionality due before the end of 2026.

Through subsidiary Agnition, Ravensdown continued to scale EcoPond, its methane-reducing technology which is now operating on more than 200 New Zealand farms in partnership with Fonterra and Synlait.

Diack says global food company Nestlé worked with both dairy processors to reduce emissions intensity across their supply chains.

"The support of our partners has been invaluable in taking EcoPond from an innovative prototype to a proven methane reduction technology that is being deployed on farms today," he says.

Outlook

Diack says global uncertainty is expected to persist, but the co-operative is well-positioned as it heads into the 2027 financial year.

"We know farming businesses continue to face changing market conditions and ongoing cost pressures," he says.

"Our focus remains on being a trusted partner for shareholders by securing reliable supply at competitive pricing, providing expert advice, and delivering value through every part of the co-operative."

FY26 At A Glance

• Total revenue before rebate: $917.2 million ($763.9 million)
• Net profit before tax and rebate: $50.1 million (-$2.0 million)
• Net profit after tax and rebate: $30.0 million (-$5.4 million)
• Operating cashflow: $38.1 million ($103.2 million)
• Equity ratio: 79.1% (80.3%)
• Rebate: $15 per tonne on qualifying tonnes

Kate Acland, chair of the NZMB, says Guy-Meakin is a senior trade policy and advocacy professional with experience across the public and private sectors.

"Esther has held senior roles spanning international trade negotiations, industry advocacy, strategic communications and government relations," Acland says.

“Her deep trade policy expertise and strong understanding of the red meat sector will be valuable to the Board as it continues its important work on behalf of New Zealand’s farmers and exporters.”

Guy-Meakin has had a career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), leading goods negotiations in the RCEP and India-New Zealand free trade agreements, serving as legal adviser to the Trans Pacific Partnership negotiating team, and representing New Zealand as a diplomat in New Delhi, India.

She has also held senior roles at Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the Meat Industry Association, leading trade advocacy and market access strategy for the red meat sector.

Guy-Meakin will start her new role on 3rd August.

She replaces Nick Beeby, who has been appointed chief executive of the Meat Industry Association.

And Ewers’ contribution was recognised last night with the New Zealand Apples & Pears Incorporated (NZAPI) Outstanding Contribution Award at dinner in Queenstown.

Around 260 people, who attended the function, heard that Ewers has quietly made an extraordinary contribution to the sector, supporting growers, packhouses, exporters, and industry organisations through her expertise in compliance, logistics, quality assurance, market access, training, and biosecurity.

Throughout her career, she has built a reputation as a trusted advisor and mentor, generously sharing her knowledge without hesitation and helping others in the sector navigate increasingly complex industry requirements.

Colleagues describe her as practical, authentic, and deeply committed to helping others succeed.

NZAPI board chair Andrew Gibbs said Ewer’s contribution to the industry extended far beyond her formal roles.

“Mel is one of those rare people whose influence can be felt right across our industry. For decades she has quietly supported growers, businesses and industry initiatives, sharing her knowledge freely and helping others achieve high standards.

“She has never sought recognition or the spotlight, but her integrity, leadership and willingness to help others have earned her enormous respect and multiple nominations for this award. The New Zealand apple and pear industry is stronger because of Mel’s contribution, and we are delighted to recognise her contribution.”

Ewers began her career with ENZA, supporting growers in the Nelson region, before spending more than 20 years as compliance and logistics manager at Hoddys Fruit Co. Alongside her day-to-day responsibilities, she has assisted packhouses throughout New Zealand to implement best-practice compliance systems and has played an important role in training new phytosanitary inspectors entering the industry.

The Outstanding Contribution Award recognises individuals who have made a significant and lasting impact on New Zealand’s apple and pear industry.

Exports so far this season sit at 17.3 million tray carton equivalents, up 2 million on last year and 2.5 million on pre-cyclone levels.

Addressing NZ Apple and Pear Conference in Queenstown today, Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay noted that Royal Gala variety was in hot demand at 93% shipped.

He told 300 growers and stakeholders that their growth story speaks for itself.

Exports have risen from $347 million in 2012 to $1.1 billion by November last year. This year's Situation and Outlook forecasts apple and pear exports up 6% to $1.3 billion, within a record $64.3 billion for the primary sector.

“And the June year end is only part way through your season. There is more to come,” says McClay.

He praised the sector for doing this on slightly less land than they had in 2022.

Production is up 40,000 tonnes since then and forecast to be up 70,000 tonnes this year.

The sector has cut agrichemical use by 90% over a decade.

“That is exactly the kind of productivity growth New Zealand needs,” he says.

To help the apple sector and other agricultural exporters, the Government is pursuing new opportunities.

McClay says the global trade environment is uncertain and getting harder.

“My response as Trade Minister is simple. We open more doors, not fewer.

“That is why we have secured high-value agreements with India, the UAE and the GCC.

“We also brought the EU FTA into force many months early, so exporters could benefit from preferential access sooner. And we are not stopping there.”

Under National’s Next Billion Customers policy, they will begin negotiations with seven new markets: in South America, around India, in Africa, and in non-EU Europe. Discussions with Switzerland are already underway.

McClay noted that the India FTA is a once-in-a-generation deal with a market of 1.4 billion people.

“It eliminates or reduces tariffs on 95% of our exports. For apples, tariffs halve from 50% to 25% for 32,500 tonnes in year one, rising to 45,000 tonnes from year six.

“For pears, tariffs halve over ten years with no quota.”

He revealed that the India Apple Action Plan sits behind the deal, growing India's apple sector while securing NZ’s access.

Growers, exporters, researchers, government representatives and industry partners alike have gathered to discuss the challenges and opportunities that are shaping the sector’s future.

The first day of the two-day conference yesterday featured a packed programme of speakers and panel discussions covering topics including research and development, innovation, biosecurity, and what’s likely in the future for New Zealand’s apple and pear growers.

NZAPI’s annual general meeting was also held on day one of the conference, with the organisation announcing the re-election of two directors – Adrienne Sharp, T&G Global, and Cameron Taylor, Taylor Corp – and the election of new director Ross Wilson, Sunpeach Orchard.

Chair Andrew Gibbs also thanked outgoing director and former chair Lesley Wilson for her leadership and service after seven years on the board. 

NZAPI chief executive Danielle Adsett said the strong attendance and engagement demonstrated the industry’s commitment to continuous improvement and collaboration.

“It’s been fantastic to see so many people from across the industry come together to share ideas, challenge thinking and focus on the future of New Zealand apples and pears. The calibre of discussion today reflects the sophistication of our sector and the determination of growers and industry leaders to continue building a world-class industry.”

Conference delegates heard from a range of national and international speakers, with discussions highlighting both the opportunities and challenges facing growers in an increasingly complex operating environment.

Luca Lovatti, R&D Manager at Melinda Consortium, shared fascinating insights and tales of unique problem solving from Italy’s north, while Ministry for Primary Industries’ chief insights officer Jarred Mair gave growers a snapshot of the future of the AI.

Adsett said one of the greatest strengths of the conference was the opportunity for people to connect and learn from one another.

“Our industry succeeds when we share knowledge, challenge assumptions and work together. The conference provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen those connections and ensure we’re collectively focused on a strong future for New Zealand growers.”