THERE may be ample job vacancies in rural areas but demographic trends make it unlikely urban people will flood the provinces searching for work.
Emeritus Professor Paul Spoonley from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Massey University said New Zealand’s population growth in the past decade has largely come through migration, spiking at 250,000 arrivals in 2023-24.
The community is not growing and it’s ageing and that is challenging for our rural sector.
This created a net gain for NZ over that period of 133,000, making it one of the top three fastest growing OECD countries. That has now slowed to a net gain of 1000/month with Auckland the primary benefactor.
Significantly, 72,000 New Zealand citizens left for overseas in the past year, many in their late teens or twenties.
Spoonley said the government should adopt a migration policy
similar to Canada’s, which encourages migrants to live in regional centres.
Under its Provincial Nominee Programme, Canadian provinces get to allocate up to 50% of the points required to migrate to Canada, ensuring regions have a say on migration decisions as well as ensuring migrants settle regionally.
Under NZ’s current population trends, Spoonley said, within 20 years three-quarters of the country will live in the top half of the North Island and 40% in Auckland.
“That is not a good thing.
“It would help if the government incentivised people to stay in smaller centres.”
StatsNZ data shows the number of people living in rural communities was virtually static at about 820,000 between 2024 and 2025. At the same time the proportion of people aged 65 and older increased.
Spoonley said many smaller communities are experiencing “hyper-ageing”, where 30% or more of the community are aged over 65.
“The community is not growing and it’s ageing and that is challenging for our rural sector.
“These are big demographic changes occurring.”
Attracting urban people to work in the regions requires access to services such as health, education,
Continued page 3
COMING TO TE AWAMUTU
Eyeing up every opportunity
From hosting homestays to heaping on the hectares, Ian and Kirsten Evans, with children Conner and Lucy, have made some far-reaching changes to their Matahuru Valley farm.
ON FARM STORY 11
SECTORFOCUS
China beef inquiry delay could be good news for NZ.
NEWS 3
Canterbury-based vegetable seed breeder Winseed has opened a 20 hectare site south of Ashburton for its research and development of new seed varieties, adding to its operations in India and Egypt.
ARABLE 15
Local interests must be at the heart of council changes.
NEWS 5
Pirates were pioneers of workplace culture, says Daniel Eb.
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BUSINESS: Henry Hawkins, the chief executive of Harraway & Sons, says the oat processing company is increasing production.
News in brief
National Lamb Day is back again next year, being held on February 13 with a focal point the Southern Field Days at Waimumu near Gore.
National Lamb Day committee chair Jon Pemberton said momentum has been growing and he hopes to build on last year’s success when 1145 Lamb Day barbecues were registered along with mass promotion of the day and the sheepmeat industry.
Lamb day back Kirby appointed
Sandra Kirby has been appointed Rural Women New Zealand chief executive. Kirby is an experienced CEO, most recently with Physiotherapy New Zealand and Arthritis New Zealand.
National president Sandra Matthews said Kirby brings extensive experience from her previous roles, and a career of over two decades dedicated to service and improving the lives of others.
Synlait shareholders have voted overwhelmingly in favour of selling the company’s North Island assets to global healthcare leader Abbott.
At the company’s annual meeting in Christchurch, 99.99% of those who voted supported the sale, which will see the assets sold to Abbot for $307 million. In all, 87.9% of shareholders voted. Synlait chair George Adams said the sale proceeds will be used to significantly reduce Synlait’s debt.
Sale support Farmstrong funding
The government has renewed its investment in the rural wellbeing programme Farmstrong.
It is investing $2.7 million towards a fiveyear agreement between ACC and Farmstrong which will total $6.8m. ACC partnered with FMG and the Mental Health Foundation in 2016 to deliver Farmstrong to address the need for improved psychosocial support in farming and horticulture. Since then, it has been calculated to have delivered a return on investment of $7.85 for every dollar spent.
Dithering on beef sparks China trade hopes
ANigel Stirling MARKETS Sheep and beef
FURTHER delay by China in completing its investigation into beef imports is being interpreted as a signal it may yet hold off on planned moves to impose quota restrictions.
The country’s Commerce Ministry had been due to publish the findings of a year-long beef safeguards investigation last week but said it would delay the release by a further two months due to the “complexity of the case”.
It is the second delay by Chinese authorities who had previously set an August deadline.
A high-level source told Farmers Weekly the latest delay was being welcomed by New Zealand as it seeks to avoid possible restrictions on exports to its second largest beef market.
Exporters have been alarmed in recent weeks as details about the year-long investigation, and possible import restrictions that could follow, began to seep out.
Continued from page 1
banking and retail, which Spoonley said are not always available or of an expected standard in smaller centres or regions.
In the last two decades 200 schools have closed.
“The challenge is if you move to work in the primary sector with your family, do you have the facilities you need such as doctors, schools and retail?”
Spoonley said the latest data shows declining populations in Nelson, Marlborough, the South Island’s West Coast, Gisborne, central North Island and Hawke’s Bay.
The regional economy’s reliance on migrant workers is obvious, with Filipino workers on dairy
Chinese officials have floated the possibility of country-specific quotas or a global quota of 2 million tonnes available to all countries.
Either would end the unlimited tariff-free access for NZ beef exports agreed under the 2008 NZChina Free Trade Agreement.
The source said low profitability in its beef industry had prompted the Chinese government to begin the investigation into imports from six countries, including NZ, last December.
China’s beef industry claimed a doubling of beef imports between 2019 and 2024 had reduced profit margins from 20% to -12%.
But profitability is improving and the source said by holding off completing the investigation into imports, the case for restricting them is diminishing – so long as current trends continue.
“[This] gives them the latitude to be a bit more patient and to monitor rather than [saying] there is a lot of harm still being done.”
China could also have been blindsided by United States
President Donald Trump’s recent decision to drop his 40% tariff on
farms and Pacific RSE workers in orchards.
“The use of temporary migrant workers tells us a lot about the ability to attract locals to those jobs.”
Additionally, families are having fewer children, with NZ’s birthrate at 1.55/births/woman almost 25% below the rate needed to replace the existing population.
The problem is forecast to worsen, with Business NZ predicting a national shortage of 250,000 workers by 2050.
“It’s a frightening figure,” Spoonley said.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said a points system towards residency for migrants choosing to live outside Auckland was removed by the former
Brazilian beef imports into the US.
It is thought a large proportion of the beef that has been shut out of the US by Trump’s tariffs, and which had ended up in China, will now be redirected back to the US.
This could further underpin the Chinese beef industry’s recovery.
The source also believed China’s delays could be designed to retain a bargaining chip in trade negotiations with the US. The US has been included in the investigation as one of China’s largest sources of beef imports over the period being looked into.
“If China came out with beef safeguards tomorrow and the US did something on trade … then [China] has one less tool – they have already used it.”
In the meantime NZ will continue to argue it is not making a meaningful contribution to China’s beef imports relative to other larger exporters. Trade rules also “allow” China to exclude NZ from any safeguards.
“Those arguments have been well heard but we have got to wait and see now.”
government, and the cost and other priorities have so far prevented her from reintroducing it.
“Returning a more flexible points system that encourages people to settle in the regions will be a work programme priority in a second term of government,” she said.
Two residency pathways for employers looking to attract skilled migrants will be available from next August. Stanford said they target those with long-term skilled work experience, as well as technicians and those in trades.
“These changes will benefit sectors like construction, infrastructure and health, which are essential in our regional communities.”
Synlait shaves forecast to match Fonterra’s
That index had not moved positively since early August and the prices of dairy products have dropped 13% over that period.
SYNLAIT has updated its forecast base milk price for the 2025-2026 dairy season, decreasing it from $10/kg MS to $9.50/kg MS.
It excludes the additional incentives Synlait pays farmers for best practice and special milks.
The price matches Fonterra’s after the co-operative lowered its midpoint forecast by 50 cents on November 25, following seven consecutive falls in the Global Dairy Trade auction price index.
The softening in prices is a result of an increase in global milk supply. In New Zealand, the latest NZX data for October shows that 3,130,000 tonnes (268,743,000 kgMS) of milk was collected. Production for the month was up 1.7% year on year (up 3.4% on a milk solids basis) and up also by 1.7 for the 12 months through to October (up 2.5% on a milk solids basis).
MORE: See page 7
PRESSURE: China’s beef industry claimed a doubling of beef imports between 2019 and 2024 had reduced profit margins from 20% to -12%.
Photo: Pexels
New QEII covenant approvals sharply reduced
Hugh Stringleman NEWS Conservation
REDUCED funding has led to a sizeable number of recent conservation applications by landowners to the QEII National Trust being deferred or declined.
Regional representatives and landowners submitted 34 proposals for funding in November. Only 11 were approved, and 23 were turned down.
The November funding round is one of two in the 2026 financial year during which revenue has been curtailed, and is the first of a new priority system for assessment.
QEII chair Alan Livingston said the trust received a temporary funding increase earlier this year from the minister of conservation of $1.5 million a year for three years.
But that supplementary grant
did not replace the Jobs for Nature funding now ended.
The trust gets $4.28m annually by way of government
appropriation but that has not increased since 2015, trust chief executive Dan Coup said. It also has some investments and
NZ cows break milk production records
MS (made up of 234 kilograms of milkfat and 181 kg of protein), which is up 14kg MS from last season.
NEW Zealand dairy farmers achieved record per cow milk production with fewer cows, the latest New Zealand Dairy Statistics 2024/25 show.
The annual publication from DairyNZ and Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) shows that total milk solids production rose 2.9% in 2024-2025 to 1.94 billion kilograms.
That translates to 21 billion litres of milk – a 2.3% increase in milk volume.
The lift in production was achieved despite a 0.5% fall in cow numbers from 4.701 million to 4.68 million.
The lift was driven by record high productivity per cow, with the average cow producing 414kg
Total herd numbers decreased from 10,485 to 10,370 while the total effective dairy hectares lifted from 1,703,404ha to 1,704,182ha.
Average herd sizes also continued their upward trend, lifting from 448-451 cows.
DairyNZ chief executive Campbell Parker said the results reflect farmers’ strong focus on performance and adaptability despite a range of challenges.
“Farmers continue to focus on doing things smarter and driving productivity, including managing their herds more efficiently, improving feed use, and leveraging science and technology to lift production per cow, while also responding to higher milk prices last season.
“The trend towards fewer, larger herds is continuing, but the focus on high-performing, healthy animals remains strong, with fewer cows producing more milk. It’s a real credit to farmers’ skill, resilience and ongoing investment in herd improvement and farm management.
“That combination of efficiency and innovation keeps New Zealand dairy farming at the forefront internationally.”
The data shows herd improvement activity has strengthened, with farmers continuing to invest in data and genetics to support long-term gains.
Herd testing among cows lifted 5% with 3.84 million cows tested and 82% of the national herd now tested in 2024-2025. The proportion of cows mated to artificial breeding (AB) also
deposits from which interest is earned.
When budgeting for FY26, the trust had been looking at having to significantly scale back new open space protection work.
“While the minister’s announcement provides a very welcome pipeline, the number of new covenants we can approve this year is still limited,” Livingston said.
A new prioritising process would enable the trust to protect the highest-quality areas.
Proposals are assessed against a range of criteria including open space values, biodiversity, cultural, heritage, recreational, strategic values and value for money.
The establishment of a new covenant costs QEII about $25,000 on average.
The trust has an approval process for covenants at no cost to QEII, when in addition to fencing and surveying, a $7000 processing fee is payable for a new covenant
on a property and $1000 for each additional one.
“We hope that the reduction in our new protection work will be a temporary situation,” Livingston said.
“When we have to say no to a covenant we are not just declining or deferring the protection of an area, we are potentially consigning that piece of land to future clearance or development.”
The trust said 63 applications had been received this financial year, including those proposed with landowner or community funding.
Covenant registrations completed between March 1 and September 30 totalled 73 and the grand total now exceeds 5000, covering more than 200,000 hectares nationwide.
The QEII Trust annual accounts for FY25 ended June 30 have been completed and will be sent to the minister and Parliament before public release in January.
increased slightly to 81.5%.
LIC chief executive David Chin said farmers now have access to the most accurate data and advanced genetic tools ever available and they are using them to make smart, highly targeted breeding decisions.
“The record milk production per cow is no coincidence. It’s the result of decades of genetic improvement and a relentless
focus on cow efficiency. Genomic evaluations, milk quality, and herd testing have all become integral as farmers identify and breed from their top-performing cows.” Including dividends, the average dairy co-operative payout was up from $8.90 to $10.75/kg MS. When adjusted for inflation, the 2024/25 payout was $0.90 above the fiveyear inflation-adjusted average of $9.25/kg MS.
FUNDING: QEII chair Alan Livingston says the trust received a temporary funding increase this year from the minister of conservation, but that did not replace the Jobs for Nature funding now ended.
YOU GO GIRL: New Zealand dairy cows produced, on average, 414kg MS each, a 14kg MS lift from last season.
Feds welcomes plans to reform local govt
Neal Wallace NEWS Local government
FEDERATED Farmers has welcomed government moves to reform regional councils but warns local interests must be at the heart of any change.
“This discussion is long overdue and will be welcome news for farming families and rural ratepayers,” said the federation’s local government spokesperson, Sandra Faulkner.
The government has put forward two proposals it says are needed to reduce bloated bureaucracy and to handle pending changes to the Resource Management Act.
The first would abolish regional councils, replacing them with new Combined Territories Boards made up of mayors from the region’s city and district councils.
These Combined Territories Boards would empower the mayors to work together to govern their regions through regional collaboration.
The second proposal would have Combined Territories Boards prepare a regional reorganisation plan within two years of establishment.
Faulkner said the organisation supports a single layer of local government based on communities of interest, which means exploring unitary councils that separate large cities from rural and regional areas.
“This reflects the reality that those in urban areas have different needs, priorities and interactions with local councils than those in rural areas.
“This would allow the efficiency of a single layer of local government while maintaining connection with the people and communities they serve.”
Faulkner said rural representation must be maintained. She said this is currently diminishing in councils that share large urban centres.
This reflects the reality that those in urban areas have different needs, priorities and interactions with local councils than those in rural areas.
Sandra
Faulkner
Federated Farmers
“Rural communities pay a significant share of rates under the current structure and those rates bills just keep climbing.”
Deon Swiggs, the chair of Local Government NZ’s regional sector, defended councils, saying the democratic mandate drives the balance between growth and protection.
“New Zealand’s rural and urban communities, along with our natural resources, face growing threats from weather events, biosecurity risks, pollution,
water scarcity, transport and infrastructure challenges,” said Swiggs.
“Our work in building flood resilience, supporting the productive economy, and protecting the environment is what makes our country special.
“It’s vital we get the future model for delivering these responsibilities right.”
LGNZ interim chief executive Scott Necklen said local government wants change and efficiency.
“Our membership passed a remit in July at LGNZ’s annual general meeting calling for change to the current functions and governance arrangements of local government.
“So local government recognises a need to evolve and that one size doesn’t fit all,” said Necklen.
The proposal contains the most significant changes to local government since 1989 and it must have buy-in.
“It must be workable and ratepayers must get bang for buck from any new local government system,” he said.
“Regional councils carry out critical work. We know the new resource management system aims to accelerate growth.
“We believe the functions of regional councils are critical to the success of these reforms.”
Southland
Mince price rise begins to bite NZ shoppers
Staff reporter NEWS Food and fibre
BEEF mince’s long-standing position as a cheap red meat option for New Zealand consumers is under serious threat after its retail price jumped 18% over the past year.
The latest selected price indexes (SPI) data from Statistics New Zealand for the year to October found that the price percentage lift for a 1 kilogram pack of beef mince was almost four times the increase of overall annual food prices, which jumped 4.7%.
Beef mince is currently averaging $23.17/kg, making it slightly more expensive than lamb chops at $22.27/ kg.
This is a trend that has persisted for most of the past 18 months, RaboResearch senior animal protein analyst Jen Corkran said. This is despite significant increases in lamb prices
over that same period, particularly in 2025, with lamb chop retail prices having also climbed steadily this year.
“Beef mince is also priced higher than other popular proteins, including chicken breast at $15.33/kg and pork loin chops at $16.15/kg.
“While red meat generally commands a premium, beef mince has traditionally been the most affordable red meat option for consumers. Over the past two months however, the gap between beef mince and these alternatives is as wide as it has been at any point in the past.”
The high prices will be altering the perception of beef mince and weighing on the decisions consumers make when it comes to meat purchases, Corkran said.
The strong beef prices are being driven by supply and demand dynamics in the United States, one of the world’s largest beef importers.
may provide a taste of things to come. The Local Government Commission is investigating reorganisation options for Environment Southland, Gore District Council, Invercargill City Council and Southland District Council, which could see regional council roles absorbed by an entity or entities.
Environment Southland chair Jeremy McPhail said the government’s proposal adds urgency to those considerations.
“This announcement means those discussions are now more important than ever.
“We need to make sure any new system reflects the needs and priorities of the region and our people.”
This week’s poll question: Have your say at farmersweekly.co.nz/poll Will rural New Zealand be better off without regional councils?
“The US beef herd is currently in a rebuilding phase which means there are fewer cull cows being processed domestically in the US.
“As a result, there is less beef being produced in the US, and this has flowed through to hot US demand for beef out of New Zealand and Australia.”
Demand is particularly high for lean grinding beef and the US is importing significant volumes of it, which it then blends with locally sourced fatty feedlot beef to produce hamburgers, she said.
“Across the past 12 months, about 40% of New Zealand’s beef exports have gone to the US – up from just under 34% in the 20222023 export season.”
That demand has been filtering through to elevated domestic pricing. New Zealand’s relatively small domestic market means the vast majority of beef (roughly 80%) is exported, she said.
WELCOME: Federated Farmers local government spokesperson Sandra Faulkner says reform of that tier of government is long overdue and will be welcome news for farming families and rural ratepayers.
Fonterra cuts forecast amid supply surge
Gerald Piddock NEWS Fonterra
INCREASES in milk supply has led to Fonterra lowering its milk price forecast for the 2025-2026 season from $10/ kg MS to $9.50/kg MS.
It also narrowed the milk price range from $9-$11/kg MS to $9$10/kg MS.
The co-op has also increased its forecast milk collections for the 2025-2026 season from 1525 million/kg MS to 1545m/kg MS.
Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell said there was strong milk flows this season, both here in New Zealand and other milk producing nations.
“This increase in milk supply has put downward pressure on global commodity prices, with seven consecutive price drops in recent Global Dairy Trade events.
“As a result, we have narrowed the forecast farmgate milk price range for the season and adjusted our midpoint.”
The GDT auction price index has not moved positively since early August and the prices of dairy
products have dropped 13% over that period.
New Zealand milk production is also up. The latest NZX data for October shows that 3,130,000
Grain wanted as Harraways ramps up
Neal Wallace NEWS Arable
NEW Zealand’s only oat mill processor will be seeking more grain as production ramps up on the back of an $11 million capital expenditure programme.
Rolled oats production at Dunedin-based Harraway & Sons, which was established in 1867, has been at capacity for the past few years. That will be increased in the next 12 to 14 months once multiple projects are completed.
Chief executive Henry Hawkins said that after a recent sales trip to southeast Asia he is encouraged by the opportunities.
“We have been hamstrung by not being able to export because we have been at capacity.” Hawkins said Harraways will be looking to contract addit-
ional supplies of oats from the 2027-28 season, which will also coincide with a new oat cultivar being available.
The industry has been trialling several new cultivars and the Oat Industry Group, which has overseen the project, hopes to select the best performer after this season.
Hawkins said demand for oats picked up after covid as people sought healthier food that was also easy to prepare and affordable.
There has also been growing demand for oat milk.
The investment in the Green Island plant includes an upgraded grain intake complex to allow a quicker turnaround of truck deliveries, a new sachetpacking line, some seismic strengthening, a new boiler and an upgrade of milling equipment which includes a new building to house it.
tonnes (268,743,000kg MS) of milk was collected.
Production for the month was up 1.7% year on year (up 3.4% on a milk solids basis) and up also by
Farming is cyclic and so are the prices.
Karl Dean Federated Farmers
1.7% for the 12 months through to October (up 2.5% on a milk solids basis).
Federated Farmers dairy chair
Karl Dean said the drop was no surprise, given the GDT auction results in recent times, which had put downward pressure on the milk price.
Given the rarity of two seasons in a row of high dairy payouts, there was always going to be an easing of the price, he said.
“World supply has increased. The world is in a bit of economic hurt at the moment, does that mean we’re going to see a bit of a trough, potentially? There’s not the signals to say it’s going to be anywhere near what it was a decade ago.
“Farming is cyclic and so are the prices.”
The new forecast was still well above DairyNZ’s Econ Tracker
break-even milk price of $8.66/kg MS, he said.
Hurrell said the new $9.50/kg MS midpoint remained a strong forecast for the season.
“We continue to be focused on maximising returns for farmer shareholders through both the farmgate milk price and earnings.
“This includes through building strong relationships with customers who value our products, utilising price risk management tools, and optimising our product mix,” Hurrell said.
In an email to farmer suppliers, Hurrell said Fonterra has also updated its advanced rate payment schedule.
“To minimise the impact on farmers, the co-op is holding payment at the current level for the next payment period –November paid December. This step is outside our advance rate payment guidelines.
“Beyond this period, we will continue to monitor the situation and may need to adjust the advance rate schedule if there is further downward pressure on the farmgate milk price.”
Digital ID boosts traceability
Annette Scott TECHNOLOGY Food and fibre
NEW Zealand Merino has taken a lead with digital tracing, giving brand partners 100% farm-togarment authentication.
The NZ Merino Company (NZM) has expanded its collaboration with TextileGenesis, a Lectra company traceability solution, to deliver full traceability for 100% of ZQ certified wool and ZQRX regenerative wool.
The move gives brand partners further verified farm-to-product data, enabling authenticated sourcing claims.
The expansion builds on a successful pilot with three global brands, building on ZQ’s track record of traceability and transparency, and marks a major step forward in aligning ethical and regenerative wool sourcing with digital traceability at scale provided as a standard feature for all brand partners sourcing ZQ and ZQRX wool.
to the consumer, guaranteeing authenticity and origins.
ZQ and ZQRX wools represent NZM’s commitment to the highest standards of animal welfare, environmental care, and grower wellbeing with both wools only supplied via direct contracts and approved supply chain partners.
GROWING
BUSINESS: Henry Hawkins, the chief executive of Harraway and Sons, says the oat processing company is increasing production.
“This marks a step-change in how regeneratively grown and ethical wool is tracked and trusted,” NZM general manager for integrity systems Henry Tallott said.
“Brands working with ZQ and ZQRX wool now have access to real-time, verified supply chain data helping them meet rising consumer and regulatory expectations.”
In the coming months NZM brand partners will be invited to set up access to TextileGenesis that provides a software as a service platform enabling fashion brands and sustainable textile manufacturers to ensure a reliable, secure and fully digital traceability of their textiles, from the fibre
While ZQ has always been fully traceable, offering visibility back to the supplying farm via a manual chain-of-custody traceability model, now with digital traceability embedded across 100% of ZQ and ZQRX wool supply, NZM is enabling brands to validate their sourcing practices with precision and transparency.
“Traceability underpins every claim our customers make about their sourcing.
“By embedding TextileGenesis’ technology across all ZQ and ZQRX fibre, we’re not just meeting expectations, we’re raising the bar ensuring growers are visible and valued, while brands get the data they need to support credible product claims.”
Tallott said the expansion responds to growing industry and
regulatory expectations around material traceability, including upcoming frameworks like the European Digital Product Passport and global greenwashing laws.
“By making traceability the default, NZM and TextileGenesis are setting a new benchmark where traceable sourcing is the baseline, not the exception.
TextileGenesis founder and chief executive Amit Gautam said NZM is leading the way in aligning regenerative sourcing with digital traceability at scale.
“Together, we’re building a more resilient, transparent wool supply chain; one that empowers growers and gives brands the verified data they need.”
NZM is the world’s largest single supplier of certified ethical wool working with over 600 growers across three southern hemisphere sourcing regions, offering two premier ethical wool programmes: ZQ, which sets the benchmark for animal welfare, environmental care, and social responsibility; and ZQRX, the regenerative platform that supports continuous improvement.
PRESSURE: The increase in milk supply has put downward pressure on global commodity prices, which saw Fonterra lower its milk price forecast by 50 cents to a new $9.50/kg MS mid point.
TRACKING: NZM general manager for integrity systems Henry Tallott says making traceability the default is setting a new benchmark.
China’s govt digs in for innovation push
Richard Rennie in Shanghai NEWS Trade
LEADING southeast
AAsia economist says China is now firmly and deeply in the throes of a transition to an innovative knowledge economy, a move not without its hurdles along the way.
Dan Wang, director of the advisory company Eurasia Group, addressed the annual New Zealand Business Roundtable in China breakfast in Shanghai last month. Her address coincided with the release of the Chinese government’s 15th five-year plan.
It clearly signals the Communist government wants the country to pivot into more tech-focused production, which also includes more “indigenous” and original innovation.
This has been apparent in such moves as the “K Visa” programme aimed at attracting young graduate talent in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) from around the world.
“We are not just talking about engineers from India, but top talent from Europe and the United States. “
Meantime part of the cost of this transformation is ensuring
opportunities exist for the 12 million university graduates a year with skills increasingly mismatched to the drive for innovation in areas like quantum computing and chip production.
They are a generation increasingly facing the prospect of their jobs being filled by automation and artificial intelligence.
Earlier this year the BBC reported on delivery drivers with PhDs and high school handymen with graduate degrees being increasingly common as graduates competed fiercely for lower skilled occupations.
Reports on youth unemployment rates have ranged from 15% to 20%.
“To be very clear this is a war between China and the USA. There is very little room for China to rely on an old engine.”
Playing alongside the shift is the engineered collapse in the housing market that the government prompted when it saw property values spiralling upwards, overexposing the four main banks.
The resulting surplus is estimated to be 750 million square meters of commercial and residential property.
Prices have dropped about 30% over the past four years in a nation where home ownership represents a key means of saving, and there is little sign the slump is ending any time soon.
FOOD AND SECURITY IN CHINA
With this has come a slump in consumer confidence, exacerbated by the lockdowns and limitations covid bought with it.
“Today the consumer market is quite divided. The premium end is doing well, but if you go into malls in cities, they are quiet.”
“These differences mean we should never focus on the headline figures for the Chinese economy. They have essentially lost their meaning as most people are not dealing with an ‘average’ market.”
With only a passing reference to the housing market in the latest five-year government plan, Wang said there is no indication the government is wavering from its stance on deflating the sector.
“They are not bailing out on that decision. This downturn will last well beyond 2027.”
She said the pivot to an innovative tech economy is a high-risk one. She likened it to the 1950s “Great Leap Forward”, which also came at a cost for two generations afterwards.
“But there is a plan to put social support in place, including pensions and family support.
TWO TRACKS: Economist Dan Wang told the New Zealand Business Roundtable in China that China is experiencing two tiers of growth, with a wealthy premium sector continuing to thrive while everyday Chinese wage and salary earners are struggling with lower wealth levels.
“China is on the right track but most people want cash now but the government has decided to push this strategy [for innovation] forward.”
She expects by 2035 China will become a major high-income economy, even with its lower growth rate of 4.5% per annum.
• Rennie’s Meeting the Market tour has been made possible with grants from Fonterra, Silver Fern Farms, Rabobank, Zespri, Alliance Group, Meat Industry Association, Wools of NZ, Beef+Lamb NZ, NZ Merino, European Union and Gallagher.
WORK by Silver Fern Farms to declutter supermarket meat chiller space is starting to pay dividends for it and its retailer customers in the company’s key markets throughout China.
Dave Courtney, Silver Fern’s chief customer officer, said the “perfect store” layout is now in 120 stores across China, better defining the company’s grass-fed market offerings in what can be a notoriously cluttered display space.
“Stores will typically have several different brands of chilled product on offer. We have worked to break down the display space with our retailers to be able to present two grass-fed options to customers to try to cut through the clutter.”
Silver Fern works to present its own grass-fed, predominately beef, products, but also provides space for a viable local grass-fed competitor.
It is a move appreciated by the retailer who may already have strong ties to a local provider they
do not wish to usurp with 100% SFF product. The refined space is aimed to grow the entire grass-fed category for customers to consider.
“They appreciate the fact we are working with them to grow the entire category, not just our own brand.”
The display method has also provided a means for SFF to launch its snack-sized hamburgers aimed at busy households seeking a healthy option that includes Fonterra cheese and quality brisket sourced beef.
They appreciate the fact we are working with them to grow the entire category, not just our own brand.
Dave Courtney Silver Fern Farms
The burgers had a relatively soft launch earlier this year, leveraging off the halo effect the company is generating with its grass-fed promotion.
Sales and logistics staff have also worked hard to ensure that what has been promised retailers will be delivered.
“And that is ringfenced down
FOOD AND SECURITY IN CHINA
to a container level, and even if the option comes up to send it to a higher value market, we remain committed to whatever we undertook to deliver.”
Matt Baker, SFF’s head of China Strategy, said there is a growing awareness about the high fat content in the likes of Wagyu meat cuts.
“You will find a younger consumer may be keener on a product that has a marbling score of 3, compered to say 9-7.”
Meantime the grass-fed products are starting to build a premium that puts them close to those grain-fed products.
“That has been happening over the past 12 months, we are seeing values around 100-120RmB (NZ$25-$30) per kg.”
SFF has also been working with Freshippo, the Alibaba-owned high-tech, high-end supermarket chain, taking specific cuts from the prime steer programme for highend, high-value grass-fed retailing.
While beef products predominate, Courtney said SFF aims to ultimately include lamb
to expand the grass-fed offerings, in a market quite familiar with grass-fed lamb sourced from areas including Inner Mongolia.
The grass-fed angle carries strong health connotations for Chinese consumers with links to sustainability still only starting to be understood.
With Fonterra pushing harder on its “grass-fed” message, Courtney said there could be potential for NZ companies to collaborate in coming years across food types on that message.
“But it is still only just starting to resonate for consumers.”
Courtney acknowledged the tougher environment food producers have faced in China post-covid, with the days of being able to simply ship a container and sell its contents with ease well past.
“And in the meantime, the average Chinese consumer has become more sophisticated.”
The domestic offering from Chinese producers has also improved significantly.
“Fresh domestically processed product can command a higher price. Demand is still growing, but you have to work a lot harder and smarter now.
“In many respects it’s no different to selling into Europe in terms of expectations and competition.”
• Rennie’s Meeting the Market tour has been made possible with grants from Fonterra, Silver Fern Farms, Rabobank, Zespri, Alliance Group, Meat Industry Association, Wools of NZ, Beef+Lamb NZ, NZ Merino, European Union and Gallagher.
AVERAGE auction prices for rams have been $100 to $400 higher this November compared with the prices at the opening of the previous ram selling season in the upper North Island.
The Proffit family’s Raupuha Stud, Mahoenui, made a top price
of $11,500 for a Perendale ram bought by Andrew Savage, St Ledger Stud, Gisborne.
Russell and Mavis Proffit at Raupuha sold all 47 Perendales offered, averaging $2791, about $400 higher than last year.
Further stud transfers were made to Otapawa at $10,200, another to St Ledger at $9700, to Rangiora at $5200 and Awapiko at $5000. Raupuha also sold all 50
Romdales with a top price of $5000 paid by Rangiora and an average of $2346.
A full clearance of 55 Suftex rams averaged $1378, 25 Suffolks averaged $1456, and 20 Harre Suffolks averaged $990.
Paparata Romneys at Tatu Ohura, King Country, sold 80 of 129 and averaged $1581, on a par with last year, with a top of $4000 twice, sold commercially.
The North Island Perendale ram sale at Te Kuiti sold 32 out of 42 and averaged $1356 with a top price of $2000 five times, one paid by Raupuha and the other transfer to Glenorchy Perendales.
The average was up $150 on last year.
Triple Farms Sheep Genetics, Taumarunui, had a full clearance of 26 Coopworth rams averaging $1850, with a top price of $3800
paid by Raupuha, along with 17 out of 20 Coopdale, averaging $1170, and 20 out of 22 Suftex, averaging $1595.
The average prices for Coopworths and Suftexes were $400 up on last year.
Nikau Coopworth Stud, Waikaretu, sold 78 from 85 offered and averaged $2769, with a top price of $6100. The average price was up $400 on last year.
DECLUTTERED: Silver Fern Farms account manager Rita Liu and head of China strategy manager Matt Baker, with the company’s latest burger offering in a Shanghai supermarket.
Trans-Tasman agreement sets up region as market of choice for new products
Amilestone agreement between New Zealand and Australia will give the region’s primary sector faster and more efficient access to important new agricultural compounds and veterinary medicines.
“Together, Australia and New Zealand want to position our region as a market of choice for industry to bring new products for the benefit of farmers and growers,” says New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.
“To that end, NZFS and the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority signed an agreement last week that will see us sharing assessments of new products and reciprocally recognising them. This builds on our existing strong relationship and, at a practical level, it will mean streamlining workflows, reducing duplication of effort, and delivering faster turnaround times.”
Earlier this year, a Ministry for Regulation (MfR) review made recommendations that recognised the critical importance of the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) and Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) systems working together efficiently in the interest of safety and innovation.
One of the recommendations was that NZFS should increase its use of international regulators’ assessments to save time and resources.
“This closer collaboration with Australia is a significant step in that process and will be a blueprint for future agreements with other regulators. We have also initiated work with the UK’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate to align assessment activities for new veterinary medicines,” says Arbuckle.
“In fact, NZFS has made progress on all the recommendations that fall under our purview, and we have worked closely with our colleagues at the Ministry for the Environment and the Environmental Protection Authority, which administers the HSNO Act.”
Other recent highlights from New Zealand Food Safety include:
ACVM application queue reduction
With more than 90% of ACVM applications currently being completed within the statutory time (up from 55% in November 2024), we are ensuring farmers and growers
get the products they need as quickly as possible.
In the 12 months to 30 September, we approved 928 applications: 648 for changes to registered products, 91 for new or changed label claims, and 189 for new products - of which 22 were novel products.
We exceeded the Minister for Food Safety’s target of a 20% reduction to the application queue from October 2024 to June 2025. Our actual reduction was 30%.
Inhibitors
Since December 2024, we have approved
three urease inhibitors, which allow farmers and growers to use less fertiliser, reduce input costs over time, and lower greenhouse gases and nitrogen leaching. We are also welladvanced towards assessing the first methane inhibitor application for use by farmers and hope to have a decision on the application in the first quarter of 2026.
Sector Leaders Forum
We helped establish a Sector Leaders Forum to help guide our work. Three meetings have been held since April 2025, and Bruce Wills has been appointed as the independent chair.
Streamlining registration
In addition to the insights from the Sector Leaders Forum, we have continued to make the approval paths easier to navigate. This has included developing options to increase use of registration exemptions, and self-assessable changes.
We are working with industry on proposals on new self-assessable changes - which will enable minor changes to chemistry or labelling without the need for ACVM approval - with one workshop held in October and two in November. We’re also exploring a prioritisation framework to enable us to focus on and prioritise applications with the greatest benefit and value to farmers and growers.
New ACVM Approvals Online system
The first phase of our new user-friendly ACVM Approvals Online system is complete. The new system allows businesses to easily confirm whether the products they want to import, manufacture or sell in New Zealand need to be registered or if they are exempt from registration.
Driving export growth through strong trade relationships
Recent visits overseas reinforced the strong recognition of New Zealand’s safe, high-quality food and fibre, and the trust placed in Kiwi producers by our trade partners, says Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Director-General Ray Smith.
Ray Smith recently visited the United States, Japan, Korea, and China to meet with counterparts, senior officials, sector groups, and New Zealand and local food and fibre businesses.
He said one of MPI’s key roles is to grow New Zealand’s food and fibre exports, by building trusting trade relationships and helping exporters succeed in overseas markets.
“My visits underscored New Zealand’s strong commitment to deepening partnerships, strengthening ties, and growing two-way food and fibre trade, worth a combined $33 billion in 2024/25.”
In the US, Ray Smith met with senior officials from the US Department of Agriculture and the Member of Congress for California, a state with a prominent agriculture sector.
“I met with key organisations in the agriculture sector including the American Farm Bureau Federation, Meat Import Council of America, National Cattlemen‘s Beef Association, and the International Wood Products Association.
“It was a good opportunity to reaffirm New Zealand’s commitment to our agriculture and trading relationship with the US.”
He also saw the agricultural science and innovation efforts underway to reduce agricultural methane emissions, which MPI is backing through its AgriZeroNZ investments.
Ray Smith said meetings with the Petfood Association and local media in Korea were good opportunities to talk about New Zealand’s premium grass-fed meat and the New Zealand Grass-Fed Administrative Standard launched earlier this year.
“Korea is the highest consumer of beef in Southeast and East Asia, so it’s an important market for New Zealand farmers, processors, and exporters.”
In Japan, Ray Smith saw first-hand the MPIapproved pre-shipment biosecurity inspection services in action, at the Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Centre at Yokohama Port.
“Pre-shipment inspections and treatment of used vehicles, machinery and parts are our first line of defence against hitchhikers like brown marmorated stink bug making it to New Zealand.
“If these made it into New Zealand, they could significantly affect our food and fibre production.”
Ray Smith says his team will keep working hard to deliver positive outcomes for farmers, growers and other producers across the country.
“I’m proud of the work my team does to support the sector’s success. We’ll keep working hard to deliver for rural communities and the economy.”
Maria Trainer, executive director for science and assurance at the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, and New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle, sign the MoU. Joining them online was APVMA chief executive officer Scott Hansen.
Ray Smith with a dead brown marmorated stink bug he spotted at the Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Centre at Yokohama Port.
Keeping an eye out for every opportunity
From homestays to heaping on the hectares, Ian and Kirsten Evans have made some far-reaching changes to their Matahuru Valley farm.
Neal Wallace ON FARM Sheep and beef
IAN Evans likes to have eyes open and head up, looking at what is coming over the hill.
It was that approach that led to some significant changes at Te Punga, the 1140ha farm he and his wife Kirsten run in the Matahuru Valley in north Waikato. Evans attended the Smedley Station cadet training farm in 2002-03 and was a recipient of the Smedley Cadet Foundation AGMARDT Scholarship, which allowed him to undertake the Rabobank Executive Development Programme.
It really reinforced that farming is what I wanted to do.
Ian Evans Te Punga
That programme involved two week-long courses over two years and the completion of a project. His was to look at the optimum
land use of their farm, Te Punga.
Evans said that resulted in them planting Class 7 land in carbon and commercial forestry, removing the most sensitive areas by planting in natives and using stock management on the balance so current stocking rates were retained.
As part of the same philosophy of looking for opportunities, Ian and Kirsten opened a homestay, launched a small native nursery and are part of a three-family business that operates the Matahuru Valley Walk.
It is about making use of opportunities.
“We are in the golden triangle of Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga, which opens us up to the population,” Kirsten said.
Ian said attending Smedley taught him not only the skills needed to farm, but also life skills, a work ethic, standards and how to work with other people.
“It really reinforced that farming is what I wanted to do.”
His time at Smedley also created connections and a network that will serve him for the rest of his career.
On graduating Smedley, Ian worked on farms in Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay before taking a role managing Tautāne Station, a 30,000 stock unit property south of Cape Turnagain. They returned to the family farm in 2019.
Ian said he likes to see progress whether it is in the development of the business, aesthetics or
infrastructure.
“It’s a bit cliched but I guess it’s about leaving the land in a better place than we found it.”
One initiative they embarked on was to expand.
By leveraging the business and through family assistance, in 2020 they added a 255ha adjacent farm and then in 2022 a neighbouring 485ha.
That took the business to 1140ha, of which 890ha is effective. They run 9500 stock units a 50:50 mix of sheep and cattle.
Ian and Kirsten have two children, Conner and Lucy, who have a lifestyle Ian proudly said exposes them to daily farm operations.
“One of the advantages of a rural upbringing is that they are fully immersed in the business.”
By keeping his head up and eyes open, Evans said, he can see emerging challenges and opportunities.
“There are opportunities,” he said.
“There will always be challenges from climate and regulation, but farmers are adaptable and there is nothing prohibitive.”
This article was made possible with support from AGMARDT and the Smedley Foundation.
SKILLS: Ian Evans says attending Smedley Station taught him not only the skills needed to farm, but also life skills, a work ethic, standards and how to work with other people.
MIXED: Ian and Kirsten Evans farm Te Punga, a 1140ha property where they run 9500 stock units, a 50:50 mix of sheep and cattle.
TREES: Ian Evans has planted Class 7 land in carbon and commercial forestry.
GROWTH: Ian Evans says he likes to see progress, whether it is in the development of the business, aesthetics or infrastructure.
From the Editor
We have
to arrest the flight from regional NZ
Neal Wallace Senior reporter
IT IS a scenario evident throughout much of rural NZ, and it bears the ominous label “doom spiral”.
That is a situation where a community loses facilities, services and infrastructure, which makes it less appealing for people to move there, meaning businesses close or relocate, and services and facilities decline, making it less appealing for people to live there …
Many regional communities face this outlook.
Regional New Zealand is once again leading the country out of recession and there is an abundance of jobs.
Once upon a time that would have drawn people to uproot and move, but as we report this week, New Zealand’s demographic profile has changed markedly.
Kiwis are getting older and are having fewer children. As has been widely reported, 70,000 NZ citizens, many aged in their late teens and twenties, have in the past year left
LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULT
for the brighter lights and higher incomes abroad.
This loss of people accentuates challenges facing the regions where people were already leaving for urban jobs.
In the past two decades 200 schools have closed, many of them rural.
StatsNZ data shows declining populations in Nelson, Marlborough, the South Island’s West Coast, Gisborne, central North Island and Hawke’s Bay.
The regional population, defined as “rural settlements” and “rural other”, was static between 2024-25 at about 820,000, but the number of those aged 65 or more in those communities increased.
The influx of Filipino dairy farmworkers and horticulture’s reliance on RSE workers from the Pacific illustrate the difficulty the primary sector has in recruiting locals.
National population trends offer little hope.
New Zealand’s population growth in the past decade has been driven by migrants, spiking at 250,000 arrivals in 2023-24.
This resulted in a net gain for NZ over that period of 133,000, making us one of the top three fastest-growing countries in the OECD.
That growth is now slowing to a net gain of 1000 a month.
There were 57,393 registered births in the year ended September 2024 according to StatsNZ, down from 58,047 for the same period a year earlier.
That has seen the birth rate over that
Voters were split on whether changes to the Firearms Act are likely to encourage more people to seek a licence. Of the 55.3% who voted no, many believed those who intended breaking the law would not bother to get a licence, regardless of the changes.
“Those of us that maintain a licence don’t find it daunting, but I can see for those that break the law it should be a problem,” said one.
“Crims are the issue, not licensed users,” another said.
One voter said the changes are likely to mean more cost to the taxpayers.
“I can’t see how it will make licence renewal or application more efficient.
The people applying for a firearms licence will apply regardless.”
One believed the process of applying or reapplying remains “excessively burdensome. New licences require attendance at a safety course, these are only held in main centres which disadvantages rural applicants.”
Of the 44.7% who voted yes, one thought it “might mean less illegal sharing of arms and ammunition in rural areas”.
period fall from 1.57 to 1.55. To sustain a population, a rate of 2.1 births per woman is required.
On current population trends, within 20 years three-quarters of the country will live in the top half of the North Island and 40% in Auckland.
All this comes as Business NZ forecasts a shortfall of 250,000 workers by 2050.
It concludes that without migration, by 2048 there will be shortages in education, engineering and healthcare but there could be a surplus of workers in management, commerce, creative arts, food hospitality and personal services.
This forecast is a bitterly cold southerly blowing through regional NZ, which is already short of workers.
The further bad news is that many Western countries face a similar demographic challenge and are seeking migrants to fill the gaps.
This forecast is a bitterly cold southerly blowing through regional NZ, which is already short of workers.
While there are no simple answers, there is much in rural work and rural lifestyles that is appealing. We have got to get better at telling people about it.
And that message will need to target a much broader audience than previously.
Last week’s question: Will changes to the Firearms Act encourage more people to seek a licence?
Letters of the week Farming within a broken system
Dave Stanton Geraldine
WE CANNOT borrow heavily from banks, take risks, invest millions of dollars in machinery, dairy shares, dairy animals, employ contractors, bury pipes in the ground, buy pivots, employ people, build them housing and spend big time, hoping to create exports and income to pay it all back … only to find we are denied the renewal of the essential resource consents for the irrigation water on which the whole mountain is built.
This resource and consent is the foundation upon which all of the above depends. It is this that gives the bank the assurance this business will continue and the millions of dollars of loans will be repaid.
We can’t have the rug pulled out from under our agricultural business every eight to 10 years.
We can’t be paying $120,000-$250,000 to battle through courts with lawyers and environmental consultants just to be able to continue farming.
The regional council resource management system is totally broken, not working for anyone and has to change.
This week’s poll question (see page 5):
Will rural New Zealand be better off without regional councils?
LIFELINE: The renewal of resource consents for irrigation water is vital for farmers.
Live and lead like a pirate
Eating the elephant
Daniel Eb
Daniel Eb helps Kiwis connect with farming through his agency Dirt Road Comms and Open Farms. His family farms in Kaipara. eating.the.elephant.nz@gmail.com
THERE is a lot of utter rubbish on the internet.
But every now and then, a gem shines through.
An-arrgh-chy: The Law and Economics of Pirate Organisation is one such gem.
Only the AI gods know what unholy machinations prompted my algorithm to feed it to me, but I’m glad it did.
The report argues that our traditional understanding of pirates is wrong. Instead of ruthless madmen held together with an autocratic iron fist and cruel discipline, pirates were actually the pioneers of modern Human Resources and workplace culture. Despite working in a context of
high seas thievery and murder, they built flat, high-performing organisations based on trust, transparency and teamwork that outdo many modern teams and companies.
It’s a wild thought. It challenges my thinking. And I love it. Here are a few of the myths it busts and lessons it offers for us modern folk.
Myth No 1 – pirates were just bad dudes.
It turns out that the business model of the day created the pirates which would then attack the business model of the day. The majority of pirates started out as ordinary merchant seamen who were driven to piracy – either through mutiny or voluntary capture – by cruelty or unfair treatment from their captains. Basically, they were desperate men forced to do desperate things. Having worked under a few bullies in my time, I can squint hard enough through history and context to empathise. A captain was God on the ship. Bestowed with sweeping powers over the crew by far-off merchant owners, he could invent his own regime –from food rationing to docking pay and physical punishment. I’m sure that the majority of these leaderled arrangements worked just fine, but I shudder to picture what a few ex-bosses of mine could turn into with complete control and a few hard months at sea. Ultimate power corrupts ultimately, after all.
Myth No 2 – pirate captains were all Blackbeards and brutality.
Once driven past the point of piracy, life changed abruptly. In sharp contrast to the autocratic leadership of a captain, pirate crews were surprisingly egalitarian and democratic. With no owners to serve, daily life and goals were aligned only to their interests. That said, a ship always needs a captain and pirate ships were no different. Elected through popular vote, captains were empowered to act autocratically during battle only. In quieter times, decision-making responsibility was passed to a similarly elected quartermaster.
Arguably the more challenging role, the quartermaster was responsible for allocating provisions, settling disputes, distributing loot and administering discipline. Power on a pirate ship was shared and ultimately rested with the crew, who could depose and elect new leaders at will. We used to refer to this system in the army as a Command Team. Officers call the tactical plays to achieve the tasks and non-commissioned officers (sergeants and the like) represent and administer the troops. I rate it as a leadership system.
Myth No 3 – pirates were undisciplined cutthroats.
Tying the crew and its leaders together was a ship’s constitution. These agreed rules dictated everything from election processes to ship rules (generally no gambling, fighting or women were allowed on board), punishments and even insurance payouts for injuries (the loss of a right arm
I shudder to picture what a few ex-bosses of mine could turn into with complete control and a few hard months at sea.
would fetch 600 pieces of eight, an eye only 100). We talk a lot about “bottom-up” or “grassroots” change these days. This is what it looks like. Not a contract imposed from above, but a team’s commitment to a shared mission and each other, enshrined in a constitution of their own making. It’s about setting the operating procedures, the agreed standards, the rules and penalties that grease every interaction from the people who actually do the work. Visionary stuff that most modern organisations still can’t do.
I’m not sure why this report speaks to me so much. I definitely
get a kick from having my perspective flipped and have always been interested in team culture and leadership. But there’s something deeper here about big moments of change. Those inflection points in life that ping us off into a direction we can’t see from here.
I find myself imagining how a young sailor must have felt, stepping out of the dictatorial grip of a captain and into the flat structure of a crew where he has a real say. No doubt I’m glamorising the pirate’s life a bit here. It’s probably hard to feel “empowered” when you are riddled with scurvy and taking a broadside from a ship of the line. But that sense of possibility and ownership of one’s destiny must have been intoxicating. Even more so, maybe, than the rum.
Wellington’s America-first policy won’t fly
Alternative view
Alan Emerson Semi-retired Wairarapa farmer and businessman: dath.emerson@gmail.com
THE recently released Rabobank research note on trade challenges in 2026 should be compulsory reading.
It tells me that “agriculture is no longer playing by supply and demand rules, it’s also playing by geopolitical ones”.
That the influence of global politics will dictate “agricultural trade flows, prices and production decisions”.
That “New Zealand will be hoping to fly largely under the geopolitical radar again in 2026”. I wish.
The government appears to be launching into an era of United States sycophancy and I have a major issue with that approach.
In a highly informative Newsroom article on US-China relations, Sam Sachdeva quotes Australian foreign policy expert Sam Roggeveen, who tells us that the US is declining in influence while China is gaining. That we must “prepare for life in a postAmerican Asia”.
Acknowledging that point, the government penalising the Cook Islands for signing a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with China was interesting. Would they have been so dictatorial if the Cooks signed a similar agreement with the US?
China, as we all know, is our largest market. Experts tell me that China won the trade war with the US hands down. That Chinese win was also highlighted in The Economist.
Of additional interest is that you can read in the US media about the “end of the American empire”.
In recent days at the G20 Summit, a motion was unanimously passed addressing the climate crisis and other global issues. The US wasn’t involved.
All of that tells me that our future is with China and Asia. In the past we have prided
ourselves on our independent foreign policy. That’s opened many doors for us. In the past few months, it would appear to me that we have been banging those doors firmly shut.
It started with us sending a navy ship through the Straits of Taiwan, which China claims as theirs. That was provocative enough but the government’s loud distress over Chinese warships in the Tasman Sea came across as hypocritical.
Then we had the head of the FBI, Kash Patel, in Wellington to open an office here, to the surprise of many.
It appears to me that we have a government out of control when it comes to foreign affairs.
The relevant New Zealand ministers “welcomed” the news, only after it was broken by a journalist.
Patel then boldly claimed that a role of the FBI office here is to “combat China’s influence in the Pacific”.
That encouraged a severe bout of huffing and puffing from cabinet ministers.
China’s reaction was to suggest that the comments “were part of a Cold War mentality”. A valid point.
Previously US Secretary for War Pete Hegseth had claimed that “China poses an imminent threat”.
Surprisingly, we’ve recently had Defence Minister Judith Collins in Washington for a week. She visited the CIA headquarters, had a meeting with Hegseth, his deputy and the attorney-general and homeland security secretary and told the world that she was “extremely happy” with the response from Trump officials.
We’ve also had Minister Collins attend a meeting that talked about countering the threat of China. We sent senior Defence staff to London to discuss the same issue.
I’d also suggest that our ridiculous position on not recognising Palestine further aligned us in the Trump circle, not to mention branding us internationally as pariahs.
We’re also out of touch with our Pacific neighbours, whose greatest threat is rising seas caused by climate change. Trump views climate change as “a hoax”.
My strong belief is that tying ourselves to the coat tails of old America has the potential to massively hurt our trade. It appears to me that we have a government out of control when it comes to foreign affairs. There’s no discussion and no debate just seemingly arbitrary decisions.
Decisions that have the potential to hurt us.
Decisions that reek of a cold war mentality and old allegiances with little reference to the world of today.
I accept the absolute commitment of Trade Minister Todd McClay. He has achieved much in a difficult market.
I also applaud the recent Asian trip by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon where he finalised “comprehensive strategic partnerships” with both the ASEAN nations and South Korea. He also met with the leaders of a host of important countries in Asia.
It was good to see him at APEC. The key point is that China is our biggest market and not to be trifled with.
It has been a friend of New Zealand since the early 1970s. We were the first country to get a free trade agreement with China. That agreement is largely responsible for the wealth we enjoy today.
As Rabobank tells us, the world is changing, with geopolitical issues as important if not more so than supply and demand.
We need to recognise that and look to the new world order and not that of the past.
More of your favourite opinion pieces now online farmersweekly.co.nz/opinion
AITCH AARGH: Power on a pirate ship was shared and ultimately rested with the crew, who could depose and elect new leaders at will.
Photo: Pexels
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Sector Focus
Winseed plants R&D flag in Ashburton
Annette Scott TECHNOLOGY Arable
WINSEED has opened a 20 hectare site south of Ashburton for its research and development of new seed varieties.
The Canterbury-based vegetable seed breeder has operations in New Zealand, India and Egypt.
“This investment means we can invest in long-term infrastructure and further invest in research and plant breeding to develop and market new seed varieties to growers around the world,” Winseed chief executive Tom Sherratt said.
“We are a growing company; there are global opportunities out there, the scale of our R&D programmes is growing, and this will ensure ability to drive new initiatives.”
Last year Winseed acquired a beetroot breeding programme from a leading French vegetable seed company.
“That expanded our base of beetroot plant genetics for our
breeding programme alongside some of the expanding base of carrot and other crop plant genetics that we have in our cupboard and that allows us to position ourselves as a global leader in the seed breeding industry.
“These plant genetics allows us to breed novel varieties that we can develop and commercialise and target markets around the world.”
Sherratt said while some varieties are commercialised in NZ the bigger markets are global, citing India as the biggest, with R&D operations in both Canterbury and in Hyderabad, India.
“That’s where the majority of our sales go. NZ’s only a small market and to really justify or get return on the investment that we’re making in plant breeding we need to be able to commercialise our products to many markets around the world.
“If we just focused on NZ, although NZ’s very important, it’s just too small of a market for what we do for our part in the supply chain.
“So that led us to India, providing us an opportunity to scale our plant breeding research while developing varieties that are more targeted to market.”
The operation out of Hyderabad employs 40 people dedicated to the commercialisation and marketing of Winseed products in the Indian market.
The global seed market is
forecast to be worth around $175 billion by 2030 as farmers around the world continue to switch to superior hybrid seed.
NZ’s vegetable seed export revenue increased by 87%, to a total of NZ$124 million between 2014 to 2024.
Winseed has recently set up camp in Cairo, Egypt, to serve emerging markets in the Middle
There are global opportunities out there … and this will ensure ability to drive new initiatives.
Tom Sherratt Winseed
East and North Africa, joining other key markets including Europe, South America and Australia.
The new development enables Winseed to establish its research farm operations onsite with state-of-the-art glass houses and nurseries, grow houses and test plots.
Heading the Winseed advisory board is John McKenzie, recently awarded life membership of Seed and Grain NZ for his decades of service and leadership in NZ’s seed sector.
“I look forward to supporting Winseed’s continued focus on innovation, quality, and delivering world-class seed solutions to growers here in NZ and around the world,” McKenzie said.
US tour underlines Kiwi irrigation leadership
Staff reporter TECHNOLOGY
Irrigation
NEW Zealand growers are holding their own on the world stage when it comes to irrigation.
That’s the message from Sarah Elliot and Haidee McCabe, following their involvement in the 2025 Trailblazer Irrigation Study Tour through the Pacific Northwest of the United States in September.
They said the tour reinforced just how technically strong New Zealand already is in irrigation practice, and how important it is to nurture the sense of pride that drives it.
The tour was part of the Zimmatic Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards, which recognise excellence in water management, innovation, and environmental stewardship.
Held every two years, the Trailblazer Tour brings together award winners, alumni and sector leaders from New Zealand and Australia to exchange knowledge and strengthen collaboration.
This year’s 20-strong tour took participants inside largescale family farming operations, irrigation districts and leading infrastructure sites.
They got a firsthand look at how water reliability, community backing and long-term planning are treated as essential foundations of agricultural success in the US.
“Across the board, our growers here in New Zealand hold their own on the global stage,” said
Elliot, a senior marketing specialist at Lindsay Corporation.
“What stood out on tour was the depth of understanding around water management back home and how deliberately our farmers think about efficiency and environmental performance. We’re definitely not short on capability. We should be proud of the standard our irrigators set every day.”
A key contrast between New Zealand and the US wasn’t technical skill, but the environment around it, particularly the level of community backing, industry confidence, and investment in water security.
McCabe, managing director at Irricon, said everything starts with reliable water.
“In the regions we visited, reliable water is treated as essential national infrastructure. That certainty gives growers confidence to plan, innovate and reinvest. Here, many Kiwi farmers feel they’re fighting just to hold onto reliability through every consent process. That can wear people down.”
IrrigationNZ CEO Karen Williams said the tour reinforced for her how reliable water becomes a strategic enabler for productivity and resilience when it comes to food production.
“Where water reliability is locked in, everything else follows – investment, innovation, generational succession and community confidence in agriculture.
“The lesson from the US is that reliability isn’t purely an operational issue, it’s nation-
building infrastructure. For New Zealand to keep leading the world in sustainable irrigation, we need the same level of long-term certainty behind it.”
It is clear that New Zealand growers are often the first globally to adopt technology.
“The same tools are available overseas, but Kiwi growers are often hungrier to find solutions that work in their environment,” said Elliot.
“A lot of the technology that’s now used globally, like Precision VRI, was developed here for exactly that reason. We’re problem-solvers by necessity, and in many cases, adoption is faster here because our farming conditions demand it.”
Seed sector has to stand up to resistance
Scott NEWS Arable
WHILE chemical resistance is a problem for the seed industry, it is manageable at this stage, but industry must stand up, PGG Wrightson Seeds arable business manager Graeme Jones says.
Addressing the recent New Zealand Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science forum at Lincoln, Jones told the more than 150 attendees that industry has work to do and agronomists must take a lead.
“We have developed a handson approach between ourselves and our arable customers, but to compete in the global market we
cannot rely on that alone,” Jones said.
“There is also a technical requirement to produce seed at the highest quality and yield per hectare.
“Customers rely on quality seed. If we fail, we lose markets.”
The impact of chemical loss on farms also affects farm support businesses.
“Broadleaf weed resistance has an impact on export markets for all crops, and we have got to be looking at how we provide quality turf seed into these markets.
“We have to strive for best and consistent product quality to get more value into the industry that really needs it.
“We have got to maintain the viability for the grower and the NZ seed industry.”
Jones said it is not an individual problem.
“Industry must stand up. Don’t blame ag chemicals, farmers, agronomists. This must be addressed industry-wide.
“Go away from blame. Testing is essential; agronomists must take a lead and ensure growers are testing.
“We have to educate growers and make growers aware the biggest thing with the herbicide testing is getting samples. The amount of testing we are doing is not enough.
“We need more emphasis on this as an industry.”
Annette
OPTIONS: The new farm development will open further opportunity for Winseed to grow global business. Photo: supplied
PIPE DREAM: The 2025 Trailblazer team at the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District in the US.
FEDERATED FARMERS
Vol 3 No 47, December 1, 2025
KiwiSaver promise hits roadblock
Apromised change to KiwiSaver rules to help young farmers buy their first home or farm appears to be stalled by a disagreement inside the coalition.
Federated Farmers has pushed hard for a fix that would let young people in service tenancies gain financial security by using their KiwiSaver to get a foot on the property ladder, but progress has ground to a halt.
National campaigned on the issue in 2023 with a clear promise to deliver the change, but more than two years later young farmers are still waiting.
Frustrated by a lack action within the coalition, Federated Farmers wrote to each of the major political parties to clarify their position on the policy – and the responses are telling.
“What’s become obvious is that while two of the coalition parties want to make the rule change, one party is blocking it,” Federated Farmers dairy chair Karl Dean says.
“Unfortunately, that political stalemate has very real consequences for thousands of young farmers working hard to get ahead but locked out of the property market.”
National MP Suze Redmayne has put forward a member’s bill to address the problem, but Dean says that’s not enough.
“With more than 70 bills sitting in the ballot box, there’s no guarantee Suze’s bill will see the light of day – we need it to be picked up and passed as a Government bill.”
Although National hasn’t yet done that, it insists it’s still on board.
“The National Party supports the policy to allow young farmers to use their KiwiSaver to buy their first home or farm,” the party said in a response to Federated Farmers.
“Ministers are currently considering proposals, and we will have more to say when we can.”
ACT’s position is similarly supportive, stressing people should be able to spend their money how they like.
“To that end, we’re open to reforms to give farmers more flexibility in accessing KiwiSaver.
“The timing of any change would be determined by the responsible Minister, or the luck of the member’s ballot.
“Real property (land or buildings) is a relatively safe investment that builds equity, regardless of whether the purchaser lives on the property.
“We’re open to updating the rules so that people in service tenancies are not unfairly disadvantaged in their access to KiwiSaver.”
If we want strong rural communities, we need to make it possible for the next generation to set roots in New Zealand, the party said.
“Ownership and equity are ways of achieving this.”
But the momentum stops with NZ First, which has signalled it’s not convinced.
“New Zealand First has concerns about broadening the scope of KiwiSaver withdrawals from the current policy for First Home buyers and would like to understand the impacts of National’s policy.”
Dean says that position is out of step with what young farmers desperately need and that, if the
What’s become obvious is that while two of the coalition parties want to make the rule change, one party is blocking it.
Karl Dean Federated Farmers dairy chair
party has questions or concerns, they could be raised during the Select Committee process.
“New Zealand First has typically been vocal in its support for farming, but on this issue its stance will have young farmers questioning whether they’re truly backing the sector’s future.
“We urge the coalition to get on the same page and make this change
happen, because the next generation of farmers are counting on them to get the job done.
“National has just pledged to increase the default KiwiSaver contribution rate if re-elected at the next election, so it is clearly forming its policy position.
“Changing the rules to help the next generation of farmers must be part of that policy.”
Outside the coalition, Labour also opposes any widening of KiwiSaver access.
It said KiwiSaver remains an important part of our financial infrastructure – helping New Zealanders to save for retirement.
“The exceptions to waiting until retirement are withdrawals for a first home, or in cases of financial hardship.
“Expanding that scope opens up
PROMISE PENDING: National said in 2023 that it would change KiwiSaver rules to help young farmers – but they’re yet to deliver.
a number of other questions which Labour would want to investigate, such as whether this would mean other businesses or assets should be included, and what the overall effect on people’s retirement savings would be.”
The Green Party is firmly against the idea, saying the priority should be ensuring every New Zealander has a comfortable retirement, not climbing the property ladder.
“It’s important that KiwiSaver firsthome withdrawals are used only for purchasing a home to live in.
“First-home withdrawals shouldn’t be used to purchase an investment or rental property and push up house prices.”
Dean says Federated Farmers will continue challenging the Government to follow through with this important policy change.
Hard-won wilding gains slipping away
Despite $20 million already poured into beating back wilding pines in the area surrounding Southland’s Cupola and Mid Dome ranges, the land is once again at risk of disappearing under a tide of green.
Former Environment Southland biosecurity manager Richard Bowman says years of hard-won gains against the invasive trees will be lost unless the Government urgently invests greater funding.
“In 2023 we got to the point where we’d made real progress, but now we’re very much on the back foot and in danger of going backwards,” Bowman says.
“For the last couple of years we haven’t had the money to do much. This year we’ll be able to aerial spray about 100 hectares – but that level of control work is only a stopgap.
“We’re fighting a desperate rear guard to try and stop re-growth pushing seed back out into the country we’ve spent huge money and many years clearing.” Mid Dome is a prominent landmark halfway between Queenstown and Invercargill and has been
described as ground zero for wilding control work.
In the 1950s and ’60s Crown agencies planted Pinus contorta and mountain pine to prevent erosion and runoff into surrounding farmland.
It wasn’t long before alarm bells were ringing over the spread of wildings into adjacent conservation reserve.
The Mid Dome Wilding Trees Charitable Trust – of which Bowman is a member – was formed in 2007, made up of landowners and community members, as well as representatives of Ngai Tahu and local government authorities.
But it wasn’t until 2017 and government funding from the National Wilding Control Programme that real gains started to be made.
Between then and 2023, the Mid Dome project delivered 2643ha of aerial herbicide spraying, 8629ha of ground control work and 47,204ha of aerial basal bark control, a technique for killing scattered wilding pines in steep country.
The work has protected tens of thousands of hectares of vulnerable
high country from reinvasion of wilding conifers.
But then Jobs for Nature was cut, and other funding pruned – which Bowman describes as “a knife to the guts” for the Mid Dome Trust.
We’d made real progress, but now we’re very much on the back foot and in danger of going backwards.
Richard Bowman
Mid Dome Wilding Trees
Charitable Trust member
“Federated Farmers is advocating for the Government to increase wilding control funding from $10 million to $50 million annually – and I fully support that.
“With wilding control work, you need to do the maintenance for at least three cycles before you nail the thing down.
“We’ll spend perhaps $500,000 at Mid Dome this year but really we should be investing three or four
times that to keep the programme moving forward.”
The trust estimates that without funding restored to around $2 million a year, the project will be set back a decade, increasing eradication costs by $13 million by 2032.
Meanwhile, further north, on Braemar Station on the eastern shores of Lake Pukaki, Federated Farmers members Julia and Hamish Mackenzie are also fighting to hold the line against wilding pines.
On the fully developed parts of their 4100ha sheep, beef and deer operation, the combination of grazing and fertiliser is keeping wildings in check.
But it’s a different story on land above about 750m, where fertiliser is uneconomic.
Thanks to significant funding help from MPI, the Mackenzies have run two major control operations in the last 10 years at a total cost of more than $800,000.
“We’re doing quite a bit this year, with Environment Canterbury very kindly matching us in funding,
so we’ll get about half the infested area done. But they just keep popping up behind us,” Julia says.
That’s because to their north are huge areas of Department of Conservation land and Mt Cook Station, one of the biggest seed sources in the Mackenzie Basin.
Julia doesn’t blame either.
“They’re both doing their best. It’s a big, big job – and they’re battling with insufficient money too.”
The Mackenzies are very aware that if they don’t do wilding control work on their station, seeds from their conifers will be blown further down the basin, infecting other areas.
Julia says as well as the dollars, the mental toll is huge.
“It’s very stressful.
“We don’t have a rabbit problem. We don’t have a gorse or broom problem. The only weed problem we’ve got is wildings and it just goes on and on.”
Both the Mackenzies and Richard Bowman are backing Federated Farmers’ calls for urgent, greater investment from the Government –before it’s too late.
RELENTLESS SPREAD: This series of three photos shows the rapid march of wilding pines in the Upper Tomogalak catchment, near Mid Dome, with the 2022 photo showing dead wildings after aerial spraying.
Consent ordeal ‘an appalling joke’
Martin and Penny Murray thought going above and beyond to prove their environmental stewardship would make the consent process easier – but it’s counted for nothing.
The couple, who farm Maryburn Station in Canterbury, have already spent 18 months and more than $100,000 to regain consent.
“We had a huge battle to gain our original consent in 2017, and we decided back then that we’d do everything we could to demonstrate our land and water stewardship,” Martin says.
“At one stage we were paying $3000 a month to monitor and labtest the water, we put in moisture meters, and we did our very best to manage the water we’ve got.
“We went the extra mile to put ourselves up there on an environmental pedestal so nobody could challenge us next time round.
“And what goodwill did it earn us with reapplying for consent from Environment Canterbury? None at all.”
Martin and Penny have scored A-plus grades on their Farm Environment Plan audits, which they thought would make re-gaining consent straightforward.
“You’d have thought the attitude would be ‘great, these farmers have absolutely ticked the boxes all the way through. Stamp that approval’,” Penny says.
“But ECan’s comeback was that Farm Environment Plans and consents are different council departments, and actions for one don’t correlate with the other.
“It’s appalling – a joke.
“I’m worried about the future generations and how they’ll be able to farm.”
Federated Farmers has launched a petition calling on the Government to roll-over all existing consents until the new resource management system is in place.
“We’ve heard story after story like what the Murrays are going through,” Federated Farmers vice
president Colin Hurst says.
“The consenting system is broken. The whole process has become so uncertain and complex that most farmers now have no option but to rely entirely on consultants and expert advisors.
“Farmers and growers are exhausted, stressed, and shelling out thousands for a piece of paperwork that could be worth nothing once the RMA is replaced next year.”
Maryburn Station, in the shadow of Mt Cook in the Mackenzie Basin, has been in the Murray family since 1957.
With their two sons also now actively involved, Martin and Penny have won awards for their merino sheep and wool.
But their battles with councils to keep farming successfully have tested their perseverance.
When Meridian took over from ECNZ, irrigators’ shares of Lake Tekapo water were lost in the transfer.
This plunged the Murrays and other Mackenzie farmers into a seven-year Waitaki water allocation dispute.
“It cost all of us an extreme amount of money,” Martin says.
“For us alone, gaining water rights and the 2017 consent easily ran to hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
Then came tenure review, which
saw Maryburn Station surrender 4000 of its original 9000 hectares to the Department of Conservation.
At the same time, environmental groups were pushing for tougher Mackenzie District Plan rules after disputes over large dairy farms in Twizel and Simon’s Pass. The Environmental Defence Society, DOC, and Mackenzie Guardians were all involved.
“The spotlight fell on all the other farmers up here – and we got drawn in too,” Penny says.
“Tenure review overlapped with the district plan review, and at the same time we were trying to secure water rights.
“It was a harrowing time. Everybody wanted a say, and the goalposts were constantly shifting. We lost more land under tenure review than we should have.”
As with many other Mackenzie Basin farmers, more conditions and restrictions came in with the entire area designated an Outstanding Natural Landscape.
Two pivot irrigators, installed and ready to be switched on under
SYSTEM: It’s not just dairy farmers grappling with overly bureaucratic consent processes. George
and Henry Murray will take over from their parents Martin (centre) and Penny on Maryburn Station, which faces more and more restrictions with each consent renewal.
Photo: Maryburn
agreement with ECan, became stranded assets after a Mackenzie District Plan change and an unsuccessful hearing that cost the Murrays $100,000.
This year’s consent renewal process has been equally frustrating – and not just because consultant and ECan bills may reach $120,000.
A wetland area in an 800-hectare block where the Murrays graze 120 cattle will also need to be fenced off, meaning a loss of grazing land and requiring a new stock water source.
Penny points out inconsistency in the rules: on other local farms, wetland delineation wasn’t even discussed in one case, and in another, the farmer was given a year to complete it.
“So that’s three different interpretations of the rules. It shouldn’t be a lottery based on which planner you’re dealing with.”
The Murrays say they 100% support Federated Farmers’ petition.
“That would be a welcome dose of common sense in a system that’s sorely lacking it,” Martin says.
REPAIRS: Federated Farmers vice president Colin Hurst says the consenting system is broken.
BROKEN
(left)
Feds hosting public meetings with PM
Federated Farmers is finishing the year on a high by hosting two public meetings with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Hawke’s Bay and Waikato this week.
The events are open to all farmers, and Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says they are a chance to celebrate a strong year for the rural sector, while setting the tone for 2026.
“It’s been a huge year for rural New Zealand, and farmer confidence is really starting to lift,” Langford says.
“High commodity prices and low interest rates have breathed life back into the sector, and you can see that confidence flowing through every part of the rural economy.”
Langford says the signs of
optimism are everywhere.
“Farm sales are up, tractors and machinery are rolling off the lot, and the rural economy has really kicked into gear. You can feel that momentum building again.”
Much of that lift, he says, comes from a dramatic easing of regulatory pressure.
“For too long, farmers were buried under layer upon layer of unworkable red tape.
“It crushed confidence and made it incredibly difficult to run a business – but this Government has listened.”
Federated Farmers entered the 2023 election with 12 clear policy priorities, and Langford says the progress since then has been excellent.
“The Government has already
Farmer confidence is at an all-time high, and we’re determined to keep building on that in 2026 – bring it on.
Wayne Langford
Federated Farmers president
ticked 11 of those priorities off the list.
“That really speaks not just to the influence of Federated Farmers as a grassroots advocacy organisation, but also the Government’s willingness to listen and work with us.”
With confidence now at its highest level in years, Langford says the focus is on maintaining that momentum.
FACE
“Farmer confidence is at an all-time high, and we’re determined to keep building on that in 2026 – bring it on.” He says this week’s meetings are
the perfect opportunity for farmers to put their questions directly to the Prime Minister and help shape the year ahead.
Feds appeal ‘unworkable’ lagoon decision
Environment Southland’s botched handling of the Waituna Lagoon consent process has left the community with a mess of bad outcomes, Jason Herrick says.
“The new consent fails the
environment and the ecological health of the lagoon, while at the same time leaving public and private infrastructure at serious flood risk,”
the Federated Farmers Southland president says.
“It’s entirely unworkable, which is why we’re stepping up on behalf of farmers and the wider community to appeal last month’s hearing panel decision.
“We’re extremely disappointed that Environment Southland and the Department of Conservation (DOC) have mismanaged the process from the start.”
Independent commissioners in October granted a new 20-year consent – to DOC, local iwi Te Rūnanga o Awarua, and Environment Southland – for periodic opening of the lagoon to the sea.
A channel can now only be cut when lagoon levels are higher than those that have previously triggered openings.
Herrick says the terms of the new consent applies the untested idea that higher water levels will help the lagoon.
But it puts surrounding farmland at serious risk of flooding, saturates highly erodible stream banks, and
compromises catchment drainage systems.
As a waterbody fed by three primary creeks and enclosed by a beach, with no natural ability to drain, Waituna Lagoon needs periodic opening to the sea, he says.
The very least Environment Southland should do is to join our appeal as a supporting party, and help with the costs.
Jason Herrick Southland Federated Farmers president
“This protects the ecological integrity of the lagoon, enhancing biodiversity, and preventing roads, walkways and productive farmland from being flooded.”
Opening the lagoon periodically flushes nutrients and sediment
washed down from the catchment, which at high water levels creates a risk of algal blooms and ‘dead zones’ unable to support aquatic life.
It also allows brown trout to enter from the sea, and for eels/tuna, lamprey/kana kana and inanga to exit the lagoon so they can carry out their migratory life cycles.
The reduced lagoon level is also important for habitat for a range of wading birds.
Herrick believes the new consent, with its higher water level triggers and 53 conditions, will make it nearly impossible, and very expensive, to cut a channel in the lagoon.
Herrick says Federated Farmers Southland is calling on DOC and Environment Southland to acknowledge their missteps, and to work with farmers to fix the situation.
“The very least Environment Southland should do is to join our appeal as a supporting party, and help with the costs.”
TIME: Farmers got a chance to discuss the big issues with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at last year’s ‘Restoring Farmer Confidence’ meeting at Mystery Creek in the Waikato.
RESTRICTIONS: A channel can now only be cut when Waituna Lagoon levels are higher than those that have previously triggered openings, says Jason Herrick.
Hawke's Bay 1262 - 1520 Maraetotara Road, Waimarama
Maraetotara magic
For those serious about farming in the picturesque Maraetotara Valley, this ascetically pleasing 472 hectare sheep and beef property is an easy 26 kilometre drive via sealed roads to Havelock North Originally an amalgamation of two farms, the offering provides for parties to purchase as 231 hectare or 240 hectare blocks
Located in a district regarded as summer safe, the farm is a compact shape, of mostly easy to medium contour and well subdivided A spring fed, solar powered water system has recently been reticulated to much of the farm, complementing good streams and dams A set of buildings and yards at each end of the farm provides for excellent workability and stock handling Other improvements include a main dwelling, a two bedroom with sleepout Lockwood home, and a four stand Woolaway style woolshed and covered yard bayleys co nz/2854275
Manawatu 1163 Mangamako Road
Excellent hill country breeding and finishing farm
Whether you are looking for a balanced hill country farm with potential as a stand-alone breeding and finishing farm or an additional property to compliment a larger hill country breeding operation, this property will not let you down This 376 96 hectare (more or less) farm located in the Ohingaiti area of the Northern Manawatu/Rangitikei districts has been run in conjunction with a larger hill country breeding farm The property has benefitted from a solid fertiliser history It has an estimated 114 hectares of crop able country, which has been utilised over the years for growing a variety of fodder crops for livestock finishing One of the outstanding features is a fully reticulated stock water system fed to all 55 paddocks There is a three-bedroom home and two woolsheds with covered yards and all the required stock handling facilities bayleys co nz/3053217
472 3 ha
Tender (unless sold prior)
Closing 4pm, Wed 17 Dec 2025
15 Havelock Road, Havelock North
View by appointment
Tony Rasmussen 027 429 2253
tony rasmussen@bayleys co nz
James Macpherson 021 488 018
james macpherson@bayleys co nz
Waitakaruru 165 Canal Road East
leading agribusiness
Colliers is privileged to be exclusively appointed to present ‘Patoa Farms’ to the market offering an established free-farmed pig farming operation and land portfolio spread across three distinct farming properties This significant farming asset is being sold as a full ‘going concern’ only and offers an excellent investment with its modern farm infrastructure, staff accomodation and efficient farming systems
Edward Sparrow 027 272 0510
Richard O’Sullivan 027 292 3921
A well-established 154-hectare dairy unit (more or less) in a prime Waikato location, milking 370 cows through a 44-ASHB shed with meal feeders averaging 155,0 0 0kgs/ms Supported by multiple buildings and a feed pad Reliable bore water supply and three hous es Easy to rolling contour, well subdivided which includes a duck pond and established trees This is a productive, wellmanaged farm clos e to Matamata, Cambridge, Hamilton and Tauranga
CAMBRIDGE, 440 Fencourt Road
Held for over 50 years - Offered for the first time
Just five minutes from the boutique township of Cambridge this exceptional 30-hectare (more or less) property combines the appeal of premium sandy loam soils with a strong income profile and superb location Flat, highly productive pasture is bordered by established barberry hedging creating natural shelter and structure A central race ensures ease of management, while the quality of the land lends itself to a wide range of agricultural or equine pursuits
Currently leased to the neighbouring dairy operation until 31/5/2026, the property contributes to the milking platform and provides a reliable return with total income of approximately $100,000 per annum across the farm lease and residential tenancy
Infrastructure includes a disused cowshed with concrete yards and a loading ramp offering flexibility for future use along with a three-bay half-round barn, four-bay pole shed and lockable workshop shed with power and a concrete floor Boundary lines indicative only
AUCTION: 12:00 p.m. Wednesday 3 December 2025, NZSIR Cambridge Office (unless sold prior) VIEW: nzsothebysrealty com/CAM1741
CATHERINE HAYWARD: M +64 27 562 4598 catherine.hayward@nzsir com
50/50 Sharemilker
Skylark Farm, Pukehina
We’re seeking an experienced, motivated 50/50 Sharemilker to take full responsibility for day-to-day dairy operations at Skylark Farm, milking 560 cows OAD near the beach in Pukehina, Bay of Plenty.
You’ll work in partnership with the farm owners and consultant to achieve sustainable, profitable production, demonstrating strong herd and pasture management, financial capability, leadership, and a genuine passion for cows, grass, and people.
Start: 1 June 2026
Term: 3 years
Apply with CV & referees: support@perrinag.net.nz
Closing date: 12 December 2025 For the full job description see: farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz
BUTCHERY ASSISTANT
STONEY CREEK BUTCHERY
We are looking for a positive, energetic and reliable person to join our friendly butchery team.
Full time, permanent position – can start immediately. Start early, finish early.
30 hours per week, Monday-Friday.
Enjoy hands-on in a supportive, friendly environment. Must be committed, healthy and physically fit.
Job includes:
• Packing • Cleaning
• Taking phone orders • Following orders
• Heavy lifting etc
Must have a driver’s licence.
To apply, please email a cover letter and CV, including at least two referees of recent employers, to the Manager - rae@scb.co.nz
Call Julie Hill 027 705 7181 classifieds@agrihq.co.nz
Growth promotant / stock health food. As seen on Country Calendar. Orders to: 03 322 6115 or info@nzkelp.co.nz
LEASE LAND WANTED
DUE TO SALE of current leased farm. Sheep and beef breeding block of any size considered. Experienced leasees. South Island preferred. Phone 027 517 7154.
LIVESTOCK FOR SALE
SHROPSHIRE RAMS available now. Easy lambing, early finishing. Visit www.nzsheep.co.nz/ shropshire to find your local breeder.
PERSONAL
ALONE IS NO FUN. Join our community of people seeking friendship/love! Connect via personal phone calls, not a computer. City/Rural & Outback members of all ages (seniors welcome) Call 0800 315 311 to make contact today! www. newbeginningsnetwork. co.nz
HIGH PRESSURE WATER PUMPS, suitable on high headlifts. Low energy usage for single/3-phase motors, waterwheel and turbine drives. Low maintenance costs and easy to service. Enquiries phone 04 526 4415, email sales@hydra-cell.co.nz
RAMS FOR SALE
WILTSHIRES-ARVIDSON. Self shearing sheep. No1 for Facial Eczema. David 027 2771 556.
WANTED TO BUY
WHAT’S SITTING IN your barn? Ford, Ferguson, Hitachi, Komatsu, JD. Be it an excavator, loader or tractor, wherever it is in NZ. Don’t let it rust. We may trade in and return you a brand new bucket for your digger or cash for your pocket. Email admin@loaderparts.co.nz or phone Colin 0274 426 936.
MACROCARPA AND PINE TREES. Plantations, Shelterbelts, Farm lots, Big or small, Lower North Island, Good $$$ paid. No obligation free quote. Call Grant 021 246 4329 HSF Ltd.
WORD ONLY ADS. Phone 0800 85 25 80.
NATIVE LOGS WANTED. Salvage logs and Green standing trees, all species. Top prices paid. We acquire all necessary MPI and Council consents. All enquiries welcome. Phone Mike 027 458 5250.
WORK WANTED
53-YEAR-OLD lady offering home organisation, cleaning and meal preparation. Friendly trustworthy companionship for the busy farming household. Please email smartsetwoman@ outlook.com
SALE TALK
An aged farmer and his wife were leaning against the edge of their pig-sty when the old woman wistfully recalled that the next week would mark their golden wedding anniversary.
“Let’s have a party, Homer,” she suggested. “Let’s kill a pig.”
The farmer scratched his grizzled head. “Gee Ethal,” he answered, “I don’t see why the pig should take the blame for something that happened fifty years ago.”
BELMONT STATION ON FARM SALE
DATE: THURSDAY 11 DECEMBER 2025 TH TIME: 2PM
ADDRESS: 202 BLUFF ROAD, KIMBOLTON
COMPRISING OF APPROX:
5,000 UNDRAFTED M/S TERMINAL LAMBS (POLL DORSET & SOUTH SUFFOLK)
2,000 MIXED AGE CAPITAL STOCK SHORN EWES (6TH-5YR)
2,000 SHORN WORKS EWES
REBATE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO AGENTS WHO PURCHASE, BY PRIOR ARRANGEMENT
CARRFIELDS LIVESTOCK AGENTS:
ON FARM RAM SALE TUESDAY 16TH DECEMBER > 32 Suffolk > 19 South Suffolk > 19 Charollais > 10 Charollais/Suffolk x > 6 Kerry Hill > 5 Kerry Hills/Suffolk x Sale will be livestreamed via Facebook: Waterton Sheep Stud Catalogue available via contact details below or at www.hazlett.nz/whats-on
Chris Hampton (Vendor) 027 202 5679 or cahampton@xtra.co.nz Wayne Andrews (Hazlett) 027 484 8232 Callum Dunnett (Hazlett) 027 462 0126 Keegan Gray (PGW) 027 288 7529 Simon Eddington (PGW) 027 590 8612 Aaron McCall (RLL) 027 685 5702
Belmont Station, CJ & AE Hampton 50 Kerr Road, Cave 3pm Start - Viewing from 1pm hazlett.nz
WAIKURA STATION ON
LAMMERLAW RAM SALE
LOCHAIRE
143/50 PW 161/67
cows contracted to LIC for 2011 matings to calve from 16-7-12, 6.5 weeks
Check out Poll Dorset NZ on Facebook nzsheep.co.nz/poll-dorset-breeders
Jersey and Kiwi cross
Estimated to be 420 cows after non pregnant, culls, older cows & 5% rejection
STOCK REQUIRED
Lines Wet/Dry Ewes or MA ewes
1 yr Friesian Bulls 300 –370kg
1 yr Angus steers 300–360kg
Aut or 2YR Fries Bulls >450kg
2YR Beef Bulls 450 –560kg
2YR Ang, Exotic or xbred Strs >450kg FOR SALE
130 Fries/Here 3YR Heifers – 2nd calf with Simmental calf at foot info@dyerlivestock co nz www dyerlivestock co nz Ross Dyer 0274 333 381
Glenrobin Stud
Beltex X Two Tooth Ram sale
SALE DAY
Monday 8 December 2025 AUCTION at Gore Showgrounds
Viewing from 10am Sale starts 11:30am
FULL BLOOD WAGYU DISPERSAL SALE
Wednesday 10th December 2025 11.30am ON A/C OF: FULL BLOOD WAGYU NZ LTD (DR PERCY SHARP)
We will offer the following: 8 x FullBlood Wagyu Cows with Calves at foot
5 x FullBlood Wagyu Mixed Age Cows
Also on – hybrid livestreamed auction
Photos & Catalogue available on Bidr or below contacts
Long established Autumn calving Ayrshire herd, recorded ancestry 93% and replacements.
Approximately 240 Ayrshire MA cows, DTC from 1st April 2026 to nominated Ayrshire AB and tailed with beef bulls.
Production last season 347kgs ms/cow, 1000kgs ms/ha, on rolling to steeper contoured farm, no meal, palm kernel or maize replacement stock also available
Sired by top Beltex Rams
• 19 Beltex X Suffolk Two Tooth Rams
• 14 Beltex X Poll Dorset Two Tooth Rams
These cattle have been faithfully bred by Dr Sharp over the past 10 years and are bred on FullBlood Pure Japanese Genetics imported from Australia. They come on the market because of a change in farming policy and will be sold in 12 Lots.
Outstanding genetics & potential to be one of countries leading suppliers of Genetics to industry for years to come. Full details
500kg MS/cow 2024/25 season, consistently 430-480kg MS/cow. System 3, rotary cowshed. All cows carry SmaXtec monitoring Boluses. 50 well-grown Autumn calving Ayrshire in-calf heifers, DTC from 1st April 2026 to Ayrshire bulls.
55 Autumn 2025-born Ayrshire heifer calves. Located North Waikato.
to the sole marketing agents: Robinson BRLL 410051 or 07 8583132 Falkner
Further details contact: Brian Robinson Phone 0272 410 051 b.robinson1@xtra.co.nz
• 3 Beltex 3/4 & 7/8 Two Tooth Rams
All Rams are showing the unique double muscling and the higher yielding density characteristics of the Beltex breed.
Michael Robinson 027 210 5977
Brent Robinson 027 206 4958
Callum
If you are looking to increase your Wagyu Herd or start a new prefix we recommend you attend this elite sale.
For Catalogues or more information please phone:
Vendor: Dr Percy Sharp 021 945 334
NZ Farmers Livestock Agents: Rod Harper 027 451 5321
NZFLL Stud Stock – Brent Bougen 027 210 4698
Fairlight Station
On the property, signposted at Fairlight turnoff on the Lumsden, Queenstown Highway
Wednesday 10th December
Commencing 11.00am ( Viewing from 10 00am)
A fast-track Helmsman Auction will be held on sale day.
24 x 2 Year Old Sire Stags
Bodyweight, growth rate, temperament
All stags have a W12BV of over 25
90% yearling stags killed pre-Christmas at 64kgs average carcass weight
These later born shifting hill-country Yearlings are Angus Angus/Hereford x & Hereford
Angus Bulls have been purchased from Stokman and Waitangi with Hereford from Kokonga
The cattle will be drafted into lines and weighed 10 days prior to the sale with viewing on Sale Day from 9 30am – 12 30pm
A list of yard addresses will be available upon request from the Auctioneers
A catalogue will be available on Bidr and MyLivestock prior to the sale
A 2% purchasing rebate will be paid to recognised companies making arrangements prior to the sale The cattle will be shown at the auction via video taken at drafting and weighing
For more information contact: Marty Cashin (PGW ) 027 497 6414 Vaughn Rogers (NZFL) 027 452 1568
US unleashes a beast with Brazil tariff moves
The
Lhas potentially been
in
Alex Coddington MARKETS Beef
AST month the United States dropped its 15% tariff on New Zealand beef, meaning our beef imports into the US are back to being taxed at less than 1%.
This puts more money in the back pockets of US importers and NZ exporters but, most importantly, it puts us back on a level playing field with Australia, our closest competitor in this space.
The current state of demand from the US set the tone for immediate reaction to this announcement.
This provided unprecedented lifts for some exporters, who got returns up to 30c/lb more than the week before.
Add a weak New Zealand dollar into the mix and it could be expected that processors would get quite competitive over the bull that supplies the US imported 95CL market.
However, that’s about the extent of the good news. The end result for the US imported beef market is still uncertain and prices are expected to remain volatile.
This is especially so since the US also dropped its reciprocal tariff on Brazil.
That was something of a bombshell announcement for the global beef trade as it removes a 50% tariff that was previously
to
holding back an absolute beast of a competitor.
With only the 26.4% tariff left for being over its allocated quota, the door has potentially been opened to a lot more Brazilian beef entering the US in the new year.
It’s hard to wrap your head around just how much beef Brazil is shipping to the world right now. It is expected that its total export volumes this year will reach 3 million tonnes. Its herd is mature and in liquidation phase. This means its production volumes blow everyone else out of the water.
So far this year, Brazil has exceeded its quota into the US, and shipped around 1.3 million tonnes into China. Australia has been the largest exporter of beef to the US for the few months that
Brazil has been out of the picture and it only manages roughly half that output at best.
With so much Brazilian beef heading to China, and a 26.4% penalty still hanging over its head into the US market, it would seem less likely for it to flood the US market.
However, just to keep things interesting, China is in the middle of an anti-dumping investigation. This has put everyone in the firing line for changes to trade conditions.
With China signalling oversupply, Brazil may start looking elsewhere, leaving the US as the obvious target for 2026.
More beef from Brazil was the obvious move by the US to appeal to consumers frustrated with high beef prices, especially considering the volumes ready to go in bonded storage for the US.
But even before the reciprocal tariffs were applied, that 26.4% tariff for being over its quota never slowed Brazil down; it kept supplying beef and prices were still strong.
What is important to remember, as more announcements are made and headlines come and go, is that none of these back-and-forth shifts really change the bigger picture. The largest cattle herds are still in liquidation, and there will only be more people to feed over the coming years.
Demand for New Zealand beef isn’t going anywhere. From a pricing perspective, that supplydemand imbalance points to even stronger beef prices ahead. Hence all the announcements made last week to try to alleviate the current trajectory.
At least one beef processing plant closure in the US – possibly easing procurement pressure –and tariff relief to powerhouse suppliers to try to counteract demand all point toward a market downshift. But the real impact remains to be seen. The goal for the US government now seems to be in finding middle ground between strong returns for domestic producers and affordable beef prices for consumers.
If you can expect anything over the next year in this space it’s more change and more uncertainty.
BULL IN CHINA SHOPS: So far this year, Brazil has exceeded its quota into the US, and shipped around 1.3 million tonnes into China.
Cattle Sheep Deer
Weekly saleyard results
These weekly saleyard results are collated by the AgriHQ LivestockEye team. Cattle weights and prices are averages and sheep prices are ranges. For more detailed results and analysis subscribe to your selection of LivestockEye reports. Scan the QR code or visit www.agrihq.co.nz/livestock-reports
Boner Friesian cows, 570kg 3.77 Prime ewes, most 123-215
Prime 2-tooth ewes, all 170-199
Prime mixed-sex hoggets, all 171-231
Prime mixed-sex lambs, most 146-295
Rongotea | November 25 | 107 cattle, 55 sheep $/kg or $/hd
Boner crossbred cows, 505kg 3.61
Coalgate | November 20 | 605 cattle, 2144 sheep $/kg or $/hd
Yearling dairy-beef steers, 370kg 4.72
Yearling dairy-beef heifers, 305kg
Weaner Friesian bulls, 105kg 605
Prime dairy-beef steers, 600kg 4.81
Prime traditional heifers, 550kg 4.92
Prime exotic-beef heifers, 525kg
Prime dairy-beef heifers, 515kg
Store terminal-cross mixed-sex lambs, all
Prime ewes, most 120-246
Prime hoggets, most 211-256
Prime lambs, most 160-273
Canterbury Park | November 25 | 224 cattle, 3529 sheep
Prime traditional steers, 595kg
Prime dairy-beef steers, 590kg
Prime traditional heifers, 555kg
Store terminal-cross ram lambs, all
Store terminal-cross ewe lambs, all
Store terminal-cross mixed-sex lambs, all
Store whiteface ram lambs, all 125-135
Store whiteface mixed-sex lambs, all
Temuka | November 20 | 1109 cattle
December: spring weather with summer heat
Philip Duncan NEWS Weather
SUMMER is here on the meteorological calendar and our weather pattern this month looks to be a continuation of November – in other words, spring-like weather but with summer-like heat for many.
As I wrote last week, the atmospheric tug of war continues between La Niña conditions in the tropics, and the more energetic spring pattern to our south. We’ve had more heat, more humidity and more easterlies in northern New Zealand in recent weeks, along with anticyclones east of the country (dragging down that subtropical air with their anticyclonic airflows) and a few subtropical lows.
But south of NZ powerful storms continue. Just in the final days of November a huge storm tracked south of the country, with central air pressure of 955hPa. It was so large it went from Antarctica to Tasmania and Cook Strait, bringing in a surge of windy westerlies. A classic example of
what is shaping our weather as we go into December.
North Island
As we start December the North Island has had a lot of rain in some places, not enough in others. According to the NIWA soil moisture maps (from Earth Sciences NZ) the top of the North Island is much wetter than usual.
That may be true in some locations, but the extra heat and sun in recent weeks means that even though it’s “blue” where I live, I’m now watering the garden.
But the soil has moisture in it.
Eastern coastal North Island (south of East Cape, along with Manawatū and a small western part between North Taranaki and Waitomo) are driest. Temperatures lately have been above normal in most places.
South Island
Many farming regions in the South Island have had good rainfall overall in recent weeks with few extreme areas, but Canterbury has some dry areas starting to emerge – although heavy West Coast rain in recent weeks and months has hopefully
spilled over into some of Canterbury’s waterways.
Temperatures have been above normal for most regions, although Southland has had its fair share of cooler days in the mix (very much spring-like).
It’s safe to say we’re still in ‘neutral’ in NZ, as we’ve been most of this year, having things thrown at us from all directions.
What next?
All eyes are on this atmospheric tug of war (which sounds more dramatic than it is, because on the ground we don’t really notice it).
I think it’s safe to say we’re still in “neutral” in NZ, as we’ve been most of this year, having things thrown at us from all directions, but because the Southern Ocean weather pattern seems most dominant I don’t see an end in sight yet for that. But tropical low pressure and easterlies may also try to find northern NZ.
As we go into December there will be more warmer-than-average days than below average, although
Deficit at 9am on 25/11/2025
still some cooler airflows in the very south. From a rain point of view, heavy West Coast rain (mostly the southern half, south of Hokitika).
Average to slightly above average
rainfall in the western North Island. Eastern regions, from Gisborne to Dunedin, continue to lean drier than average – but a chance of some wet weather sneaking in.
DRY: The soil moisture map shows the westerly winds and heat have started to dry out the east, while the north and west of NZ have had wetter conditions.
