Resource Management Act changes long overdue P10
The June 2025 Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries
imary report shows the future is bright for agriculture, with export earnings of $59.9 billion forecast – $3b more than predicted last year. P6
latest Rabobank Farmer Confidence Survey shows sentiment remains upbeat.
By Sonita Chandar.
New Zealand farmer confidence has continued to soar after hitting historic lows in 2023. It began to rise to 2024 and in 2025, has continued to recover.
The quarter two Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey has found farmer confidence in the broader agri economy remains at a near-record high with the country’s farmers across all sectors looking favourably at the 12 months ahead
This is positive news for the agricultural sector which has been through some tough times with falling incomes, rising interest rates and increasing operating costs
Following consecutive lifts in the previous three quarters, farmer confidence in the broader agri economy was unchanged at a net reading of +44% Alongside last quarter, this is the second-highest net reading recorded across the past decade, with only quarter two 2017 higher (at +52%).
The latest survey, completed last month, found 48% of farmers were now expecting the performance of the broader agri economy to improve in the year ahead (down from 52% in the previous quarter), while the number expecting conditions to worsen had also fallen to 4% (from 8%) The remaining 44% of farmers expected conditions to stay the same (36% previously).
Rabobank chief executive officer Todd Charteris said sentiment was high among producers across all of New Zealand’s major agri sectors.
“This broad-based positivity is largely being driven by strong commodity prices for our key agri exports,” he said
“Since our last survey in March, we’ve seen Fonterra announce a record opening farmgate milk price forecast of $10kg/MS for the 2025/26 season, while prices for
beef and sheepmeat products have also surged
“On top of this, prices for horticulture products and export revenues have also been on the up and, at last month’s Fieldays at Mystery Creek, we saw the Ministry for Primary Industries release a new report forecasting horticulture export revenues to increase by 19% in the year to June 30, 2025.
“And, with all this positive pricing news coming in over recent months, it wasn’t a surprise to see close to two-thirds of farmers and growers in our quarter two survey citing rising commodity prices as a key reason for their upbeat view on the outlook for the agri economy.”
Among farmers holding a positive outlook on the agri economy, higher commodity prices (62%) was cited as the major source of optimism, while ‘improved marketing’ (16%) and ‘overseas markets/ economies’ (14%) were other key reasons for optimism.
Among the 4% of farmers expecting conditions in the agri economy to deteriorate, ‘falling commodity prices’ (66%) and ‘rising input prices’ (46%) were the major factors cited.
The survey found farmers’ expectations for their own farm business operations were marginally higher than last quarter, with the net reading rising to +40% (from +37%).
Charteris said dairy farmers and sheep and beef farmers’ confidence in their own businesses remained strong and was relatively unchanged from March, while horticulturalists were now much more upbeat.
“In our March survey, we actually saw horticulturalists dip into negative territory on this measure, but confidence has come roaring back this quarter and growers are now up to a net reading of +21%,” he said.
“This upwards shift comes off the back of recent strong export revenues and elevated prices for a host of key
horticultural products including kiwifruit, apples, pears, and vegetables.”
New Zealand farmers also indicated their intentions around investments rose this quarter and are now at their highest level since mid-2018 Dairy farmers had the strongest investment intentions (net reading of +37%), while sheep and beef farmers (+21%) and horticulturalists (+3%) were also up.
“Close to a third of farmers are now looking to increase investment, with only one in 20 looking to invest less, and this lifted the net reading on this measure to +25% from +16% previously,” Charteris said.
Farmers are now more optimistic about the viability of their farm business. The number of farmers self-assessing their own farm business as ‘unviable’ fell to 3% (from 5% previously) while there was also a lift in the number of farmers assessing their own operation as ‘easily viable’ or ‘viable’ (70% from 66% last quarter).
Chandar Editor
Kiwi farmers, growers, foresters, fishers and primary processors have 59.9 billion reasons to smile. That is how much export revenue agriculture is expected to earn New Zealand in the year ended June 30, 2025 – $3 billion higher than projected in December and 12% higher than in the year ended June 30, 2024
And it gets even better, with projected exports expected to reach $65.7b by 2029.
So, once again, agriculture is proving to be the driving force behind New Zealand’s economic recovery, despite having to navigate through geopolitical tensions, trade uncertainties and tariff headwinds.
It would be fair to say the world is a crazy place at the moment and with so much going on, it is enough to make your head spin.
Propping up the country to the tune of $59.9b and contributing 10% of GDP in 2023, is significant and highlights what we all know – agriculture is the backbone of the New Zealand economy.
The June Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries shows that the food and fibre sector accounted for more than 82.5% of the country’s goods exports in the year to March 31, 2025.
Over the past 10 years, food and fibre exports have grown on average by 4.8% per year, whereas other merchandise exports have grown by 1.8%.
Horticulture is having its moment in the sun with an impressive 19% in growth for the year ending June 30, 2025.
This growth is primarily driven by the kiwifruit industry, with exports expected to reach $3.9b, following a record 2024 crop with forecasts for an even larger crop in 2025. Apple and pear export revenue is forecast to increase 18% to $1.1b – the first time it has passed $1b.
Our agricultural products including meat, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, seafood, arable crops and forestry logs are some of the best in the world and sought after by discerning consumers in overseas markets such as China, which is our largest export market.
And this crazy world, even if it is on largely the other side of the globe, is something that does not affect our primary producers on the daily so much, as each day they still pull on their gumboots and head out – day in, day out, rain or shine –to put food on our tables as well as globally.
They are the ones who are at the heart of the primary sector. Our farmers, growers, foresters, fishers and primary processors are some of the best in the world.
We are world-leading in many aspects, including being at the forefront of science and technology. Research is ongoing in the sector, with scientists and researchers always looking at new things and ways of doing things so the industry continues to be robust and sustainable.
Our hardworking men and women of the land and sea, scientists, government
ministers, trade delegations and industry leaders working around the clock to ensure international markets are secure, are out there busting a gut to get us the best deal they can.
The agricultural industry earns the country a tonne of money, it’s a fact. And as one grower I spoke with put it simply: “It’s what we do.”
Indeed, they most certainly do. And boy, do they do it well.
It’s really no wonder that farmer confidence across all sectors has increased in the quarter two Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey.
Global demand is up, tighter supply and higher prices are helping to fill the country’s coffers. That’s definitely worth 59.9 billion smiles.
Agriculture is saving the nation’s economic butt, and townies have 59.9 billion reasons to be grateful, writes Paddy Gower.
How good are farmers? Real good.
Our farmers are saving our nation’s economic butt right now.
Some of the most positive news in a while has just come out of the farming sector, with agriculture revenue expected to reach $59.9 billion this year.
That’s 59.9 billion reasons to thank our farmers – it is actual cash-money coming in and it literally stops us from going broke.
It is this simple: we have an economy based on agriculture, and agriculture is booming. We’re selling heaps of dairy, meat, wool, horticulture, forestry and seafood.
If anything can kickstart this economy, farming can – and farmers are giving it a damn good go.
So if you happen to see a farmer, give them a hug. Actually, give them an extremely firm handshake (their preferred form of human-to-human contact).
I was lucky enough to head down to Fieldays in Hamilton and soak up some of those positive rural vibes (and extremely firm handshakes).
I was stoked to see farmers a lot happier than they have been in recent times –there was even a bit of strutting going on
I truly believe that all townies should head to Fieldays to experience the atmosphere and see farming at its best
Just like visiting a farm, it will change the way they view farmers. As rural folk would say: “There are so many bloody good conversations to be had.”
There is also an incredible amount of innovation and a lot of good buggers about.
And some money being spent, which is good to see in these hard times.
I’d like to report that positivity is well and truly back in our farming sector
Fieldays was positively frothing. This all comes back to the $59.9b, of course. But there is more to it than that in my opinion. Everybody knows there has been a
rural-urban divide for a wee while now, and there is, of course, a hell of a lot of politics out there when it comes to climate change and water
I reckon this divide has left a lot of farmers feeling run-down, unwanted and disrespected by us townie folk.
That’s the perception I get from farmers anyway. They’ve felt a bit hacked off in recent times.
But Fieldays showed me farmers have got back up again.
The $59.9b is a record, the best year for farming ever, according to the Ministry for Primary Industries.
And it is forecast to get even better next year – even in a world where everybody told us that global trade was meant to get
harder. The formula isn’t new: our farmers are working hard and the world wants to buy their stuff. This is a formula that has served this country really well down the years.
Personally, I have huge respect for our farmers I know the rural-urban divide isn’t going to disappear overnight, but we would be a better country if it did.
Right now, our farmers are doing the economic mahi to help the rest of us. That makes them the ultimate Kiwis right now.
I say they deserve our thanks for that. So maybe we could have a ‘hug-afarmer day’, a celebration of farming? Or maybe not.
Maybe we could just give any farmer we happen to see a firm handshake.
Brighter days for agricultural exports are forecast in the June 2025 edition of the Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries with increased revenues. LOUISE RAWLINSON
Despite geopolitical turbulence, shifting trade policies, and elevated uncertainty, New Zealand’s food and fibre sector continues to make a significant contribution to the economy and is on track to surpass $60 billion for the first time.
The June 2025 edition of the Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI), released by Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay at Fieldays, shows farmers, growers, foresters, fishers and primary processors are driving New Zealand’s economic recovery the SOPI forecasts an increase in revenue for the agriculture industry in 2025 and 2026
“The latest Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries report forecasts export earnings of $59.9 billion for the year ending June 30, 2025 – $3b higher than projected in December. This momentum is expected to continue, with exports reaching $65.7b by 20 McClay says.
“These figures reflect the hard work and resilience of the hard working men and women of provincial New Zealand.
Despite navigating trade headwinds and geopolitical tensions, primary industries are producing record export revenue.
By Sonita Chandar.
4.8% per year, whereas other goods exports have grown by 1.8%.
Dairy export revenue is expected to lift 16% to reach a record
$27b China is our largest market for dairy products
“Strong global demand and healthy prices across key markets are positioning our high-quality, safe and sustainable food and fibre exports for record growth.”
This SOPI forecasts food and fibre export revenue is expected to bounce back by 12% to $59.9b in the year to June 30, 2025, after bottoming out in 2023-2024, lifting to a record $58.3b in the year to June 30, 2026
The rebound in 2024-25 is expected to be driven by stronger global demand and tighter global supplies for key commodities, including dairy and beef and a weaker New Zealand dollar against the United States dollar
The sector accounted for more than 82.5% of the country’s goods exports in the year to March 31, 2025. Over the last 10 years, food and fibre exports have grown on average by
The Government has an ambitious plan to double exports in 10 years, in the report, McClay said to support this, it had built momentum in cutting red tape and creating the right foundations to help drive the sector forward.
“The numbers speak for themselves, but the Government remains laserfocused on doubling the value of exports in 10 years, driving higher farm- and forestgate returns, and backing the long-term capability, resilience and health of rural New Zealand,” McLay said.
“This Government is backing all farmers, growers and producers to succeed. We’re focused on restoring confidence in the sector, lifting on-farm productivity and profitability, and cutting the red tape that’s been holding rural New Zealand back.
“We’re investing heavily to deliver tools and technology to farmers and growers to tackle agricultural emissions with more than $400 million in continuing funding over the next four years and making targeted reforms to support farmer and
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay says the latest Situation Outlook for Primary Industries figures reflect the hard work and resilience of the hardworking men and women of provincial New Zealand.
KAVINDA HERATH/ SOUTHLAND TIMES
grower success. Through the Budget, we launched the new $246m Primary Sector Growth Fund (PSGF) to boost on-farm productivity and resilience. Our trade work continues at pace to open doors for Kiwi exporters, and our new Investment Boost tax incentive will encourage businesses to invest, be more competitive, grow the economy and lift wages.”
Also in the report, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith said this was an “outstanding result”.
“This SOPI tells the story of a food and fibre sector managing a complex trading environment to get its trusted products to consumers. Uncertainty emerges as a recurring theme in this report, reflecting the complex and evolving nature of the current macroeconomic landscape, especially regarding trade policies in major economies,” Smith said.
“In general, macroeconomic conditions have improved for the sector, with solid growth in key markets such as the United States, China and India. The inflation outlook improved, interest rates dropped, providing much-needed relief for farmers, and farm input costs moderated substantially during the year.”
Our 10 largest markets are China at $17.891m, followed by the US at $6.902m, Australia ($4.817m), the European Union,
excluding the United Kingdom, at $4.058m, Japan ($2.960m), South Korea ($1.606m), Taiwan ($1.574m), Indonesia ($1.681m), UK ($1.394m) and Malaysia ($1.376m) rounds out the group Dairy had the highest percentage of exports on 45%, which equated to $26.240m, with China our biggest dairy market. Meat and wool on 21% was $12.024m with the US being the largest market. These were followed by horticulture at 14%, $8.187m, forestry 10%, $6.006m, seafood 4%, $2.204m, processed food on 6%, $3.373m and arable 1% at $349m.
Export revenue for 2024-25 is expected to be supported by higher export prices, thanks to strong global demand and tighter supply.
New Zealand’s food and fibre sector exports are largely unaffected by the increasing uncertainty in global trading conditions that have unfolded in the latter part of the year. With downside risks clouding the global economic outlook, our overall economic growth is expected to remain subdued. New Zealand food and fibre exports are well placed to achieve further growth in the face of uncertainty as demand for food remains a constant. Market diversification and strengthening of trade relationships will also play a key role in growing New Zealand’s trade outcomes
Dairy
Dairy export revenue is expected to increase 16% to a record $27.0b in the year to June 30, 2025, due to higher global dairy prices.
This is driven by a strengthening of global demand and a weakening in global supply, specifically decreased milk production in China. New Zealand milk production is forecast to increase 2.2% driven by betterthan-expected weather conditions.
The lift in export prices is expected to lead to a record high farmgate milk price of $10.00 per kilogram of milksolids (kgMS) for the current season. The higher farmgate price combined with moderating farm expenses, especially lower debt servicing expenses, is likely to enhance farm profitability.
Meat and wool
Meat and wool export revenue is expected to increase 8% to $12.3b. A lift in key meat export prices is expected due to tighter global beef and lamb production.
Higher export prices for most products are forecast to be partially offset by lowervolumes of beef and lamb. Sheep and beef farm profit before tax is forecast to increase 89% in 2024-25 due to higher farm revenue more than offsetting higher farm expenditure. This lift in profitability follows a fall in 2022-23 and 2023-24
ven by the kiwifruit industry, with exports expected to reach $3.9b following a record 2024 crop and forecasts for an even larger crop in 2025. Wine exports are projected to fall 1% to $2.1b due to a higher share of bulk wine reducing average prices. Apple and pear exports are forecast to increase 18% $1.1b supported by increases in export volume and average price.Vegetable exports are forecast to grow 8% to $770m, driven by increases in export volume and firm pricing for frozen and processed products.
Forestry Forestry export revenue is expected to increase by 9% to $6.3b led by stronger log prices and increased sawn timber export volumes as supply-side disruptions in processed wood products ease. The outlook is tempered by uncertainty surrounding log exports. China’s weak property market continues to dampen log demand, while available harvest volumes are relatively high Further uncertainty exists with shifting global supply chain patterns in response to trade tensions, which may result in exporters needing to look to different markets.
Domestically, low construction sector demand, high energy costs, and a soft economy are weighing on the sector. However, lowering interest rates and increasing labour availability may stimulate activity at home over the forecast period.
Horticulture
HortNZ chief executive Kate Scott says the forecast is great news for growers, regional economies and the New Zealand economy.
“The horticulture sector continues to go from strength to strength. Our growers, exporters and supply chain partners deserve huge credit for their resilience and commitment to delivering world-class products from New Zealand.”
Scott says the ability to grow the sector into the future is directly related to the profitability of horticulture nesses.
“The strong outlook supports the sector’s target of doubling farmgate value by 2035, as outlined in the Aotearoa Horticulture Action Plan. It also reinforces the need for policy settings that enable the sector to grow nutritious, affordable fruit and vegetables.
Seafood
Seafood export revenue is forecast to rise 2% to $2.2b. Aquaculture is forecast to grow 13% while wild capture is forecast to fall 3% due to lower volumes.
Most key species are holding strong prices, except rock lobster, which faces pressure from increased Australian supply into China. Over the long term, wild capture revenue is forecast to remain flat as lower volumes are offset by higher prices. Aquaculture is expected to drive growth, led by mussels and salmon.
Despite trade uncertainti sustained demand, sustainability, investment, and market diversity support sector resilience and long-term growth.
Arable
It has been a tough season with adverse weather, rising costs, and tight margins.
xport price on aggregate compared with 2023-24
New Zealand horticultural exports are in for a record year. Horticulture export revenue is forecast to increase by 19%, reaching $8.5b. This growth is primarily
“The Government’s proposed changes to the National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land – including recognising the national importance of vegetable production and enabling water storage and managed aquifer recharge – are a positive step in the right direction.”
Vegetable seed exports remain steady, but ryegrass seed declined due to global oversupply. Arable export revenue is forecast to drop 1% to $340m due to weak ryegrass seed demand and a poor clover season This follows a 2% increase in the first nine months of the same period, driven by strong vegetable seed prices and higher clover seed exports.
Next season’s exports are forecast to remain flat amid market uncertainty. However, the medium to long-term outlook remains cautiously optimistic. A rebound is expected by 2027, with stronger clover and ryegrass seed exports driving annual growth of at least 3%, reaching $370m by 2029. Domestically, maize prices increased, while wheat, barley, and oats remained stable.
Export revenue for the processed food and other products sector is expected to decrease 1% to remain stable at $3.4b. The expected decrease is being driven by lower export volumes, despite a higher average
Notable increases in export revenue are expected for both cereal products and soup and condiments in 2024-25, as well as smaller increases for innovative processed foods and sugar and confectionery products. These increases are forecast to mostly offset a steep decline in export volumes of other products to the US and live poultry to Southeast Asia. Live poultry export revenue was affected by the temporary cessation of poultry exports following the detection of the H7N6 strain of high pathogenicity avian influenza on one Otago egg farm in late 2024 Across the food and fibre sector, 360,000 people were employed in the year to March 31 2023, representing 12.4 % of the total workforce. Primary production employment distributed across the country, but processing and commercialisation activities are concentrated in Auckland and other major population centres.
“When our rural communities do well, the whole country benefits. That’s why we’re making sure our farmers and growers have the tools and support they need to succeed – not just today, but for the long-term prosperity of New Zealand,” McClay says.
“We’ve expanded market access for a broader range of dairy processors –including sheep, goat, and deer milk exporters – and secured new agreements with the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf Cooperation Council, and launched negotiations with India.
“These agreements will remove tariffs, reduce non-tariff barriers, and create valuable new export opportunities –helping to drive stronger farmgate returns and more value-added exports.
“Our commitment is clear: we’re backing the sector to grow, compete, and succeed –at home and abroad.”
Without funding, New Zealand R&D is doomed, writes soil scientist Doug Edmeades
Ihad high hopes, I really did! The Government set up a Science System Advisory Group (SSAG) in 2024 to “develop a set of evidence-based recommendations to strengthen the science innovation and technology system and ensure its future success”.
I do like the wording “evidence-based”. The report was called An Architecture For The Future and was made public in January 2025. So far so good?
As reported in an earlier column, it contained some gems: “While successive governments have, over the years, committed to improved funding levels, in each case these initiatives have fallen by the wayside.
“The SSAG stands firmly of the view that our parsimonious [miserly] attitude to research funding is a core reason that New Zealand has become an outlier [in the
international context] in performance on productivity growth.”
We have a “national culture that has regarded Research and Development (R&D) as a ‘cost’ rather than an essential investment”
I had these hopeful words in my mind when the recent 2025 Budget was revealed. But like Old Mother Hubbard, the science cupboard is to remain bare, making a mockery of the SSAG’s own words. If all goes according to plan, there is to be a second SSAG report, but I cannot see it over-trumping the 2025 Budget.
It looks like New Zealand’s R&D budget will remain frozen at 2% of GDP, like a stranded dinosaur caught up in some turbid prehistoric swamp.
The Budget did reiterate and confirm some of the SSAG’s recommendations. The seven current Crown Research Institutes are to be amalgamated into Public Research Organisations (PROs). I like that acronym, don’t you?
The four CRIs of most interest to farmers are agResearch, Plant and Food, Landcare and Sion, and they are to be amalgamated into one mega-PRO focused on land issues. Niwa, incorporating MetService, will
be joined at the hip with GNS Science and a fourth PRO is proposed to focus on ‘advanced technology’.
Minister Judith Collins, when announcing these changes, said that they would boost the economy, and would “maximise the value of the $1.2 billion of taxpayer money going into the science sector each year, creating a much more dynamic science innovation and tech system”.
Really? How? These same platitudes were made 30 years ago when the bold decision was made to break up the original government departments to form the seven CRIs.
Ah – remembering the past is the curse of old age.
But the writing is, I’m afraid to say, already on the wall. At the press conference announcing these changes, the minister said the “the current Crown Research Institute chairpeople had already been looking at staffing and downsizing and were supportive of the move”
And as if the message was not clear enough: “They’ve been knowing that they
are going to have to right-size and they knew that change was coming, so much so that every one of the Crown Research Institute chairs is supportive of what we are doing.” And finally: “They’re excited by this.” Echoes here of the excited French crowds turning up to watch the guillotine in action.
As I said about the original SSAG report: If no additional funding is allocated to New Zealand R&D, then all the fancy rhetoric in this report will be for nothing. It will be, I am afraid, another attempt to save the Titanic by rearranging the deck chairs Oh, I almost forgot. The SSAG report recommended that a new committee was required to provide an overarching whole-of-government view of science and innovation.
It was provisionally called the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology Advisory Council and the role of the prime minister’s chief science adviser will be extended to support it.
Apparently, more chairs are required on the upper deck of the Titanic just in case there is another iceberg.
Business adviser Gordon Stuart says the Reserve Bank’s capital settings for banks need to change to drive growth in the agricultural and business sectors.
If we are going to double exports, the mainstay of the export sector, which is the rural sector, is going to need capital to grow. Credit and capital allocation is a critical part of the economy that does not get enough attention.
This is why it pays to keep a close eye on bank credit statistics.
The Reserve Bank’s latest report on lending to the agri-sector stated: “Strong commodity prices and favourable production conditions have increased profitability for dairy farmers, reducing the need for working capital financing and liquidity credit.
as farmers in the sector are recovering from low profitability and cashflow constraints over the past 18 months.
Gordon Stuart
“As a result, many dairy operations have been able to repay debt and fund capital expenditure directly from available cashflow. This has lowered farmers’ reliance on credit, particularly for seasonal facilities. Banks expect this trend of reduced credit demand in the dairy sector to continue.
“However, some banks noted that a sustained strength in dairy prices, alongside improving balance sheets and cash positions, could support an increase in credit demand for land purchases and business expansion.”
Sheep and beef profitability has been under pressure on the back of increased farm input costs and interest rates and weak lamb prices as a result of El Nino in Australia increasing slaughter numbers by more than 20%.
Banks report demand within the sheep and beef sector has stabilised from a previously high level. Demand for working capital had been elevated Expansionary capital expenditure remains subdued
One suspects the chequebooks are about to open, encouraged by cashflow and Investment Boost, the Government’s 20% upfront tax deduction. Bank lending since 2016 is summarised in the table above:
Some key points we can draw from above:
■ Dairy farmers have continued to deleverage since the GFC. Banks have a preference for a maximum sustainable debt level of circa $20-25 per kgMS Debt over this level generally requires other income sources.
■ Only 14% of all loans to the sector are amortising term loans, which indicates low cash yields on land. Any cashflow upside can be quickly capitalised into land values.
■ Horticulture – kiwifruit, apples etc have grown from $3.2 billion to $8.2b over the last 10 years.
The Government wants to double exports by 2030, and lift productivity. Food from the agricultural sector and in particular dairy and meat are our largest exporters.
This presents an enormous ask, given environmental constraints. We will not achieve the doubling of New Zealand’s
export goal without change.
In the meantime, the banking inquiry continues to meander nowhere.Voltaire famously stated: “Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.”
I am yet to see any decent questions –posed to chief executives and chairpersons of banks – such as why the cost-to-income ratios for business and agri are so low compared to international peers, and much lower than in personal lending?
Secondly, has investment in customer service, credit approval times, capability and technology been forsaken for short-term profits?
Third, we need to see reporting of riskadjusted returns by sector.
The New Zealand economy is recovering from a recession. Figures from the Reserve Bank show profits after tax across 27 banks of $1.99b in the March 2025 quarter.
Profit before tax was $10.45b for the 12 months ended March, up from $10.1b in the preceding 12 months.
The banking sector’s collective loss provision has been a negative number for the past three quarters, as banks have unwound previous provisioned losses.
The recession did not hit banks.
A quick review of ANZ Bank New Zealand’s
March 31, 2025 half-year results showmore of the same:
■ Personal lending has increased to 73% of loan assets, with business and agri 15% only, and institutional 11% making up the balance.
■ The split of operating profit by sector is personal 54%, business and agri 22% and institutional 24%. Lending margins are clearly a lot higher in business and agri. They should be higher, but no-one asks the question, nor do we get data on the balance between margins (profits) and the taking of risk.
■ Divisional cost-to-income ratios are personal 41%, business and agri 29%, and institutional 25%.
■ No credit impairment/actual losses.
Conclusion
The Reserve Bank’s capital settings for banks need to change as they drive continued growth in lending for mortgages at the expense of the business and agricultural sector. Likewise, the credit risk pricing models appear to continually overstate the likelihood of loss.
Combined with a take-no-risk culture, driven from the top down, and a stripping of cost and service, you have a contributor to New Zealand’s stagnating productivity.
Morethan 220 Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture),Bachelor of Agriculture and Bachelor of Agricultural Science students from Te WhareWānakao Aoraki Lincoln University put forththeir solutions to help solvesome of agriculture’smost pressing challenges, via anew student innovation challenge.
Developed in partnership between Ballance AgriNutrients and Lincoln University, with support from the Ministry for Primary Industries' Future Ready Farms programme, the Ballance Future Farming Student Innovation Challenge was open to first-year students enrolledinthe University’s undergraduate Primary Industry Systems course.
The students were tasked with examining critical challenges across dairy, sheep and beef, horticulture and arable farming sectors, covering areas such as nutrient efficiency, water quality and soil health. They worked through a process to unpack the farmer or industry challenge andthen develop innovative and practical solutions.
Professor Hamish Gowfrom Lincoln
University’s Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce says the challenge presents aunique, real-world opportunity for students to explore innovative solutions to real farmer problems
“Partnering with industry enables students to build industry connections, identify and define real farmer problems, explore and proposepossible solutions and contribute towards shaping the future of farming.
“Students working as individuals explored the challenges posed and were guided through aprocesstohelp them develop workable solution concepts,” explains Professor Gow.
Several students have been invited to be hosted at Ballance Agri-Nutrient’s national support office in Mount Maunganui, where they will connect with experts to further develop their ideas Ballance Agri-Nutrients Innovation Leader Stuart Kaysays the partnership with Lincoln University supports the co-operative's commitment to growing the expertise and capability of new graduates entering the food and fibre industries.
giving them the ability to engage directly with farmers and growers in theirregion.
“We are really proud to get behind the Ballance Future Farming Student Innovation Challenge; it’s afantastic opportunity to encourage students to shine with their take on how to solve some of the current challenges facing food and fibre industries today,” says Stuart. ■
The top 15 concepts were presented to the Ballance Agri-Nutrients Innovation team at apitch event at the University in May. Concept highlights includedthe useoffungilike T. melanosporum to To
“Lincoln University produces highcalibre graduates. We want to support thosecoming into thesector to gain further real-world experience. This event provided an opportunity for students to come up with freshideas, as well as
The agriculture industry has been holding its collective breath for changes to the Resource Management Act that are finally being delivered.
By Thomas Manch and
Sonita Chandar.
Industry leaders are welcoming the recent announcement by the Government on proposed changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA).
The Government has released for consultation a primary sector package and proposed changes to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) and the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater. These changes to national directions an standards are aimed at simplifyin regulation for the electricity sector, quarries, house-building and farmers.
“We are announcing consultation will begin today on the biggest change to national direction since the RMA came into force in 1991,” Reform Minister Chris Bishop said late last month.
“This planning system will fundamentally change the way our economy operates for the better. It will be cheaper, faster and more efficient.”
Above: A comprehensive range of changes to the Resource Management Act have been tabled by the Government STUFF
Right: Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says the proposals are a key step towards restoring balance in how freshwater is managed across the country.
ROBERT KITCHIN/THE POST
Below: Federated Farmers freshwater spokesperson Colin Hurst says the previous government’s freshwater rules were completely unworkable for farmers.
ROCHELLE DILLON PHOTOGRAPHY
The Government intends to replace two regulatory directives for managing freshwater – the national policy statement and the national environmental standards
One change would be “rebalancing”
Te Mana o te Wai “hierarchy of obligations”, such as obligations to the health and wellbeing of the freshwater ecosystem, and the health needs of people, so that economic impacts can be balanced against environmental goals
“This is a key to step towards restoring
balance in how freshwater is managed across the country, and ensuring the interests of water users, including farmers are properly reflected,”
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said.
“The current system, Te Mana o te Wai, has caused frustration across rural New Zealand, with some councils applying it.
“We’re proposing practical, farmerfocused reforms that will restore confidence and reduce red tape.”
Regulation around creating water storage will be liberalised, definitions around wetlands will be changed, and a requirement for councils to map wetlands by 2030 will be removed.
Councils will also be permitted to deviate from “national bottom lines” in environmental standards, and the monitoring for this, “to account for local circumstances”.
The Government is also considering changing requirements placed on the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser. Use of such fertiliser is regulated because it pollutes waterways.
“We’re putting outcomes ahead of process,” McClay said.
National standards and policy statements for marine aquaculture, commercial forestry, highly-productive land, and excluding stock from waterways will also be changed.
The changes, part of “phase two” of the Government’s overhaul of resource management, are likely to be criticised for watering down environmental protections – despite assurances that the environment will remain protected as
regulation is reduced. But industry leaders say the current rules are unworkable.
“The previous Government’s freshwater rules were completely unworkable for farmers.
“In some cases, even if you converted a whole catchment to native forest, you still wouldn’t have achieved the bottom lines,” Federated Farmers freshwater spokesperson Colin Hurst says.
“The current Government simply had to push pause on these rules – and now we’re seeing steps towards more sensible national direction to local authorities.
“We’re pleased to see all options are on the table, and that consultation will be open until 27 July.”
Hurst says it’s particularly welcome that the Government wants a more balanced approach to Te Mana o Te Wai.
“That concept, as pursued by the previous government, has been unworkable and highly problematic.
“It was unclear how councils should interpret and apply what was a vague concept of protecting the mana and mauri of water under Labour’s rules, and what that might mean for our farms and rural communities.”
Under Te Mana o te Wai, the health and wellbeing of water is put ahead of all other considerations, including human health, and social, cultural and economic wellbeing. “That seems wildly imbalanced,” Hurst says. “The Government’s announcements recognise such a strict hierarchy is flawed.”
However, he questions whether it’s worth making these freshwater changes right now under the current RMA, or if this should wait until the Government has reformed the RMA, with the freshwater changes to follow.
“Federated Farmers will be reading through the detail of the announcement
LocatedinKorakonui some 20 km southof Te Awamutu, Chris andJudeStacey, alongside theirchildrenTom andStella, farm this top performing 155hectare dairyplatformwith450 crossbredcows.
To ensure they have enough feed forthe summer, theStaceys grow arange of crops, including fodder beet whichisa perfectsupplementary feed late in summer andearly autumn
Like many farms, themainchallenge with growingfodderbeetisthe weed burden and gainingcontrol of it.And this is wherethe CONVISO® SMARTSystem impressesChris.
Chrisexplains:
“I’vebeenveryimpressed usingthe CONVISOSMART System.There’s no need forplant checksafter thespray.It’sbeenvery simple to usethe twopost-emerge sprays Thecrophas been very clean, andhas yielded very well,soI’m very happywithit.”
and going back to the Government with our position, on behalf of our members, in the next few weeks.”
Beef + Lamb New Zealand chairperson Kate Acland says it is good to see what the Government’s options are for addressing some of the RMA regulations that are hugely problematic for sheep and beef farmers.
“B+LNZ has been calling for changes, particularly in the freshwater regulations, for some time,” she says.
“We’re pleased the NPS-FM is being looked at because it is currently complex, often impractical, and focused on unachievable numeric limits rather than the health of ecosystems.
“Last year, we released independent scientific research that showed the way some of the NPS-FM target attribute states were determined was flawed, they’re not achievable, and trying to achieve
When it comestoweedcontrol,Chris reckonsthe CONVISOSMART System performs well at the initialknockdown andthe residual weed control.
“We’ve been able to controlAmaranthusor RedRoot, which in the past we’vehad issues with that weed in ourcrop. I’ve only hadto sprayitthree timeswiththissystemand at a reducedcost.”
Theherdalsoloves thebeetand they findthe grazingeasy, gettingthe beet outofthe ground with little effortand leavingverylittlebehind–with 95%utilisation
Whilethisisjusthis first year using CONVISO SMART, Chris is pretty sure it’s alreadypaying dividends.
“The system is fairly price, with the seed and the chemistry. Ithink we’vedefinitely saved moneyonour growingcosts,and we’ve gained yield, so ourcostper kg of drymatter grown, is lower.”
them will decimate farming and rural communities.”
The research by Torlesse Environmental found that even if agriculture was stopped and all catchments returned to their natural state throughout the country, up to 38% of rivers would still not meet the suspended fine sediment national bottom lines.
It also found that an estimated 44% of all sheep and beef farmland would likely need to be retired, along with other extensive mitigations, if the national bottom lines for fine sediment were enforced. Even if these measures were taken, about 50% of the catchments currently below the national bottom lines would remain below them.
“On the back of this research, and since, we’ve made it clear that there needs to be a rethink about how we approach freshwater regulation. Rules need to account for natural processes, better accommodate different land uses, and provide more realistic targets and timeframes,” Acland says.
“We agree that risk-based freshwater farm plans should take the place of consents and regional rules rather than just be in addition to them. B+LNZ is currently working with farmers and the Government to ensure freshwater farm plans are fit for purpose and enduring.”
Acland says it is vital to manage the impact sheep and beef farming can have on freshwater quality. “The farming sector and rural communities desperately need robust, inexpensive and uncomplicated frameworks for freshwater and the environment that deliver more reasonable, affordable and enduring outcomes.”
Consultation on the changes will be open until July 27. The Government intends to make the changes law by the end of the year, in time for the replacement of the RMA in 2027.
SCAN TO LEARNMORE ABOUT CHRISSTACEY
Northlander Anna Agnew has become a champion of Angora goats and at just 30, she is on the Board of Mohair Producers NZ. STEVE MACMILLAN
Steve MacMillan
Alove of goats and their quirky personalities has led a Northland woman on a journey to producing mohair sold in New Zealand and exported to South Africa
Anna Agnew says she would love nothing more than to be able to fund a farm big enough to run 200 breeding does and 1000 goats in total on about 140 hectares.
She plans to boost mohair production over time, but for now she is focused on the goats she has after having to halve the herd in recent years due to worms and overstocking.
“I started out with 10 cull does from Dave Brown at Waipu, plus a buck to get me started.
“Dave is an industry giant and getting goats off him and having his advice has been gold to me starting out.”
Given the cost involved to buy the land needed, she says it is unlikely she will achieve farm ownership in the short term. Her parents Charlie and Rebecca are helping by giving her the run of the 30ha family run-off at Ruatangata, 20 kilometres northwest of Whangārei, where she runs 40 Angora goats.
Agnew has taught herself to shear her goats in recent years and, while not quick, she is happy to take her time pottering away to do the job right and keep costs down by not having to employ a hired gun with a handpiece twice a year.
“The shearing pattern with goats is the same as sheep, but because I am new to shearing and slow as a result, I only shear five at a time to keep it manageable,” she says.
Agnew is one of 10 Angora farmers in Northland and about 120 nationwide supplying warehouses. While numbers are decreasing, she says opportunities are increasing.
She explains New Zealand’s mohair is mostly exported to South Africa – the mohair capital of the world – for auction to major fashion brands and buyers from Italy and Japan.
“My mohair goes to Mohair Fibres in Ōtorohanga It is one of two warehouses in New Zealand that takes mohair, the other is based out of Christchurch.”
Agnew is also open to spinners and
weavers being a potential niche market, an option she plans to investigate further.
“Shipping costs are becoming more prohibitive as producers get older and downsize, so less mohair is now grown in New Zealand and sending half-full containers still costs the same as a full one.
“Mohair from kids sits at around 28 micron and adults 38. While kid mohair is worth more, they obviously do not grow as much as adults so the evens out.”
She earns about $80 per per shearing, because she older and smaller goats, she aims to lift that to $120 she introduces younger and finer breed lines. That would also be her ‘go to’ figure if she was running a commercial herd.
“Mohair production over a goat’s lifetime looks a bit like an upside-down tick. They fizzle out after their third or fourth birthday. Most of my herd are five years-plus so they are not especially productive.
“For now, if the mohair pays for everything to keep them in good health and producing kids, I am happy to work for the fun of it, but I also want to encourage other people to add Angora goats to their farming systems for extra diversification and start producing mohair.”
Her goats do well on the grass, but receive extra silage in summer and winter, plus some hard feed for the does around kidding time to give them a boost
She helps run the Angora Producers Facebook page and is also on the Board of Mohair Producers NZ, which has an association with Federated Farmers, and is a regular visitor at the Whangārei A&P show and Northland Field Days, where the goats are always a hit with parents and children.
Away from her beloved goats, a burgeoning side-business is the production of Elephant Garlic, which she plans to expand.
At $36 per kilogram, there is strong
Withherorganicgarliccropat$36/kg,Anna Agnewsaysthereisstrongpotentialforitto becomeamainstayofherfarmingproduction.
“I also want to encourage other people to add Angora goats to their farming systems for extra diversification and start producting mohair.
Anna
Agnew
potential for her organic garlic crop to become a mainstay of her farming production.
While she says there is plenty of work involved, it is much simpler than dealing with the animal health component in her goat operation.
Planting takes place in June for a Christmas/ summer harvest, which will allow her to sell to various local grower markets around Whangārei.
The trick, she says, is not too much to ensure she good supply of seed stock to building up her production. growing in 2021, but too much in 2022 and after season following that, I didn’t have enough stock to sell the amount I would have liked.”
She is currently selling smaller lots at Wholey Health Village Market near Puhipuhi. At $36/kg, there is clear potential for expansion and profitability.
“I don’t use chemicals or sprays and I find that the elephant garlic does really well in Northland because it is more resistant to rust than true garlic.”
She is not relying on goats or garlic for her main income as she works at Geocivil, a geotechnical testing lab in Whangārei.
Agnew graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Auckland University in 2016 and even though civil engineering is not her area of specialty, she says she is pleased to have a science-based job.
“The company also does field testing, but I am mostly managing the workflow of the lab, where we process samples coming in from various work sites like roading projects, construction sites and quarries.”
Agnew would love to use her degree to get into more primary sector-oriented work, provided she can stay in Northland due to having deep roots in the province.
“Besides my dream of running my own farm, I would love to one day work for AgResearch or Manaaki Whenua, so if they started a Northland-based team, I would be first in line to apply.” She plans to boost mohair production over time, but for now is focused on the goats
What began as one mother’s vision for a bare Southland block is now a multi-decade planting and fencing project – one creek, one paddock, one tree and one generation at a time.
For Eastern Bush farmers Peter and Lynley Cassels, planting and fencing isn’t just about ticking regulatory boxes. It’s a legacy that has been woven into the fabric of the farm since 1986.
Their 488-hectare property is predominantly flat, with 40ha of hill country adding contour and character to the landscape
Peter winters 1600 ewes, grazes about 380 heifers and plants 130ha of feed cereals, 40ha of winter brassicas and 40ha of cover crop that is planted after autumn barley each year.
When the Cassels family bought the farm in 1986, the land was virtually bare.
But it was Peter’s mother, Barbara, who saw its potential. “She had a love of gardening and trees, and that passion spilled out into the wider farm,” Lynley said.
Long before environmental regulations came into play, the family was fencing waterways and planting for erosion control, biodiversity and shelter.
Since 2008, they have received funding for this work through a habitat enhancement agreement (HEA) with the Waiau Fisheries and Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Trust, a charitable trust working to improve recreational access and ecosystem health across the Waiau catchment.
Under the HEA, the Cassels have access to funding to support fencing, wetland restoration, fish passage and habitat work, and vegetation management.
Depending on the ecological value of the site, grants are generally in the vicinity of 25% to 50% of project costs.
The trust also partners with QEII National Trust and currently supports about 100 projects in the region. This
model boosts the percentage of funding available, covering project costs of up to 75%.
Peter said ongoing commitment has put the family in a strong position ahead of the compliance curve, as freshwater compliance standards continue to evolve.
Besides aesthetics and stewardship, there were practical benefits too “One block of native bush was fenced and placed under a QEII covenant in the early 2000s when I was in partnership with my mother and brother,” Peter said
That move not only protected the land, but also made stock handling easier, because sheep could no longer vanish into the bush while being moved.
Today, much of the farm’s riparian margins and wet areas have already been planted “On an estimate, we have fenced and planted 6 to 7ha of tree lanes and wet areas.”
Peter and Lynley now take on one creek a year, fencing and planting as part of their ongoing stewardship.
Roger Hodson, a consultant for the Waiau trust, said the Cassels’ love for trees and drive to add natural capital to the property was clear.
“They don’t do it because they have to –they genuinely enjoy it. Once they realised the benefits of shade on reduced weed growth in stream, reduced maintenance costs and the increase in aquatic habitat diversity within stream, they knew they were making a difference.”
Peter and Lynley both agreed with him. “We enjoy watching trees grow. We do it because we love it.”
Lynley said once the trust saw how successful their tree establishment was, it started to support their annual HEA work programme with advice about the right species for different parts of their habitat enhancement areas and by providing some trees as part of the partnership.
When she and Peter first met, Lynley said she and her children would help by spending weekends planting young trees.
Catherine Groenestein
Ahigh school in the centre of dairy country has set up its own sheep farm, and students are flocking to take part.
Stratford High School’s new hands-on farm course is being set up on land the school has owned for many decades but had previously leased out.
Principal Cameron Stone said the agriculture course, as with the school’s successful build-a-house programme, suited students who enjoyed learning practical skills outside the classroom.
“The way I looked at it, we have had this farm, this great asset to the school which was not being used in education in any way, yet a huge percentage of our kids come from farms and lifestyle blocks.”
At present, the school is farming about 3 hectares, but from June 2026 will take back the remaining land it has leased to Dairy Trust Taranaki, bringing its total to about 20ha.
“The idea was to have a slow easing into the programme,” he said. “We didn’t
know what the demand would be, but we already have 120 students doing ag out of 650, which is a good percentage.” The programme run by agriculture
teacher Fiona Putt covers all aspects of farm management, from looking after soil and pasture to animal husbandry.
“We have 30 ewes at the moment,
running with a ram, so there will be lambs,” Stone said.
An existing shed had already been upgraded to a two-stand woolshed, with a set of covered yards beside it.
Once the electricity supply is installed, Stone, who ran a sheep-crutching business each summer while at university, is looking forward to helping the students learn to shear and crutch sheep.
With the Stratford sale yards handy to the school, the students would see the whole process from raising lambs to selling them, he said.
Year 10 students Aiden Roberts, Vinny Hunt and Deandre Holder are among those who have been repairing and battening some of the fences.
They are enjoying working with the sheep, they said. “Handling the livestock, putting them into the yards; it’s pretty cool to have it at school,” Hunt said.
Stone said the project had been made possible with a lot of help from parents and businesses in the community providing skills, materials and labour.
“Stratford is a great community for getting in behind anything that will help the youth.”
Our pig farmers have been championing the circular economy for decades and turning food by-products into valuable feed.
New Zealand’s pig farmers were pioneers of the circular economy long before it became a buzzword. While others are just catching on, Kiwi pig farmers have quietly been turning food industry by-products into high-quality feed, recycling nutrients and making smart use of resources for generations
And yes, the result is pork that’s not only delicious and naturally lean, but also part of a smarter, more sustainable food system
It’s estimated that every year the New Zealand pork sector repurposes around 50,000 tonnes of food by-products as pig feed. This would otherwise go to landfill.
“That’s the equivalent of nearly 1900 fully loaded 40-foot shipping containers being diverted from the waste stream and put to productive use,” says NZPork chief executive Brent Kleiss
“It’s a practical, large-scale example of the circular economy in action – reducing waste, cutting emissions and creating value.”
Pig farming is also low impact in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Pigs contribute just 0.15% of New Zealand’s agricultural greenhouse gas emissions – among the lowest of any major livestock sector.
Female pigs are highly productive. In commercial indoor farms, a single sow can produce more than 26 piglets a year Good on-farm care, nutrition and genetic advances mean piglets grow fast and efficiently
“One of the reasons pork is so efficient to produce is because pigs are incredibly good at turning feed into meat,” says Kleiss.
“They grow quickly
young pigs can put on over 800 grams a day – and reach market weight in under 20 weeks. That means less feed, less water and fewer emissions overall.”
Pigs are also monogastric, like humans. That means pigs produce far
“
It’s a practical, large-scale example of the circular economy in action – reducing waste, cutting emissions and creating value.
Brent Kleiss
less methane than ruminant animals, making them a naturally more emissionsefficient source of high quality protein.
“New Zealand 100% born and reared pigs are raised to some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world, using responsible, sustainable farming systems,” says Kleiss.
“That results in a high quality, naturally lean pork packed with nutrients like iron, zinc and B vitamins
“It all adds up to an affordable protein source that’s good for your plate, good for the planet, supports local farmers – and is part of a farming system that is making the most of every resource.
An
Auckland couple have swapped the city for a lifestyle in the country where they have established a banana plantation.
By Steve Macmillan
.
Acorporate life in the city is a far cry from a start-up banana plantation, but a former Auckland-based couple is growing into a new lifestyle that they love.
When Eddie Hayes and Kellie Ferabend decided to exit the city rat race, they had no set plan apart from moving to Northland to support Kellie’s parents It wasn’t until they were heading back to Auckland after checking out a number of properties that they decided on a whim to look at one final site they had not previously entertained.
That small rundown block on the outskirts of Whangārei was soon to become their home Three years later and after plenty of hard work, it is fast becoming a blossoming banana plantation, with 1.5 hectares in the ground and more to come.
So far, the couple have four varieties in the plantation – Misi Luki, Dwarf Cavendish, Hamoa and Gold Finger –and plan to double the footprint of the operation as they work towards making it a viable business.
For now though, they are funding the operation with business interests they have in the accountancy sector in India.
“This is all very new to us and we are learning along the way. We are told the returns per hectare can be between $20,000 and $80,000 and when you match that up against dry stock, it does not compare,” the couple say.
Being part of a banana growing movement in Northland is something they are cherishing.
“We are learning as we go and just trying to find our way. It is really helpful seeing what other growers are up to and what we have realised is that it takes closer to 2½ years from planting until you get a solid crop.
“We are finding the second and third stems are producing the best fruit Starting out, we were averaging 5 kilograms per bunch, but there is potential to get up to 20kg per bunch. We currently have 450 producing clumps and this is where we are doing things a little differently to other people.
“Because we are in a windy area and get really strong north-easterlies, we decided to nurture five and six stems per clump, rather than three, so the banana palms protect each other and that gives them a better chance of producing bigger crops as they mature and become more established. This means we’re now getting two to three times the fruit per clump. The key is to feed them so they develop nice fruit.”
The couple have quickly discovered that wind and varying temperatures impact production on exposed palms but the outer clumps do a good job protecting the inner clumps by raising the temperature With a background in accountancy, Eddie is big on spreadsheets and monitoring every part of the operation
“We have all our rows and clumps numbered so we know what we have coming up when we have orders. At this stage, our bunches are averaging 8kg per bunch, but as palms mature, they will end up averaging between 10 and 20kg. With bananas, you have one shot of producing the best, which is why we monitor
“
What people like about locally grown bananas is that they are twice as tasty and nutritious.
Eddie Hayes
everything so closely,” says Eddie.
The pair agree that there is trial and error as they learn because it is all so new, which is why the cluster of Northland growers are all trying different growing methods.
They are currently selling their produce on the wholesale market, with bunches being sold in Auckland and locally at Whangārei’s Putiputi Ra Organics.
And they are grateful the bananagrowing community is so close and willing to share learnings.
“In describing the clumps, traditionally, you start with one stem and this becomes the grandmother and first to produce fruit the next pups that grow off her are the mother, next in line to produce and then the daughter.
“Once the grandmother produces and the fruit is harvested, we knock her off, which provides nutrients or mulch for the
others and allows them to flourish due to having a healthier corm, or bulb, of the palms underground.
“The corm is basically the energyproducing machine. The aim of the game is to produce plump, juicy bananas. The corm is constantly putting up pups, which are the new plants,” the pair say.
In their established planting, the palms can produce bananas within three to four months in summer
“We can get flowers coming out in October and be producing fruit in January, whereas a flower in February might take six to nine months before it is harvestable.
“Once you plant a stem in the ground, it must produce 42 leaves before it reaches production. After the 42 leaves, a large flower is pushed out, the petals open to reveal smaller female flowers ,which are the actual fingers. The large flower will eventually produce smaller male flowers
and these will not mature into fruit. It’s at that stage we remove the larger flower.
Eddie says a single banana is called a finger and those fingers grouped together create a hand of bananas that grow into a cluster known as a stalk or bunch.
“Within a bunch of bananas, there can be anywhere from 5 to more than 10 hands, which is what is known as a bunch of bananas that you buy in the supermarket. What people like about locally grown bananas is that they are twice as tasty and nutritious.”
While early in their journey, Kellie and Eddie joke that now they are starting to make a small profit, some of that surplus may one day go towards having a giant banana sculptured to go on show on the side of State Highway 1, just south of the township, to brand Whangārei as the banana-growing capital of New Zealand.
Wellington orchardist Neville Chun can’t grow yuzu fast enough to keep up with New Zealanders’ growing appetite. Sarah Lang discovers it took a lot of determination and some thick gloves to bring this fruit to the nation.
If you bite into a yuzu fruit like you might an orange or a mandarin, you’ll be surprised – and perhaps taken aback – by the taste. Tangy, tart and bitter, the citrus fruit is a sort of hybrid of lime, lemon and grapefruit. Thought to be first grown in the highlands of ancient China, the fruit is widely used in China, Japan and Korea. In 1914, on an expedition for the United States Department of Agriculture, botanist Frank Nicholas Meyer found a yuzu tree in China – and brought seeds to the US.
Yuzu has since made its way here courtesy of Neville Chun. A third-generation Chinese New Zealander, the horticulturalist was the country’s first commercial yuzu grower, and is by far the biggest (there are now two other, smaller operations)
Chun often drives from his Lower Hutt home to his one-hectare yuzu orchard in Levin, with its 400 trees. Pīwakawaka (fantails) flit from tree to tree, keener to land on the branches than on the inhospitable fruit.
The fruit’s dimples make it look squashed. “It looks like a large, lumpy yellow mandarin. But it does look beautiful on the trees. When the sun shines through the trees, it lights up the yuzu like glowing orbs.”
The trees are shaped like vases, with the lower branches pruned or removed so you can safely get under them to pick the fruit. To do so, Chun puts on protective gloves that stretch all the way up his arms, with nylon sleeves over that.
“Yuzu have huge aggressive thorns: so long and sharp that the tip will go through a leather glove and it’ll swell up and I just slowly work its way out with tweezers, and it’ll hurt for weeks.” He shows me some of the small scars on his arm. Sometimes he wears kneecap covers so that the thorns can’t prick him when he picks, weeds or prunes. Naturally, he doesn’t leave the cuttings or trimmings on the ground.
Chun used to drive up three days a week, ‘glamping’ in a tiny glasshouse, but now an employee does much of the orchard maintenance. Chun is still there often. He also grows trees for sale in his 1500m² backyard in Lower Hutt – including finger limes, chestnuts and kumquats.
He’d never heard of yuzu until he met his late wife, Junko, who passed away in 2022. She’d brought a packet of dried-up yuzu seeds from Japan when she moved to New Zealand as a teenager. “She said ‘please grow this’ and I said ‘what is it?’” Chun tried to use the seeds to grow yuzu trees; it didn’t work. Then working in a family garden centre, he tried to track down some trees. Finally, he found a nursery grower that had a few. “He said ‘they’re bloody terrible, do you want them? I’ll give them to you real cheap’ “I thought, ‘shall we grow it? Or is that a really bad business plan?’ Hardly anyone in New Zealand knows what the fruit is.” They planted their first 100 trees in 2006.
“A week later, they were gone, eaten by rabbits. I couldn’t believe it.”
They replanted. “We had to put physical barriers around each tree, but now that the trees are established, they don’t get that predation.”
Chun also grows and sells ume: a saltytasting, plum-like ‘Japanese apricot’. “It’s a good ingredient for brewers and distillers. With green ume you make umeshu, a liquor. With ripe ume, you make a condiment which is the whole fruit, but preserved with salt, called umeboshi.”
“With yuzu and ume, you pick some of the fruit when it’s unripe and it’s got a particular flavour and use.” Green yuzu is selectively harvested in April. “It’s very intense in flavour – very peppery, very pungent. With green yuzu peel, you can make a pungent paste condiment called yuzu koshō.” It’s a bit like wasabi.
The main yuzu harvest season begins mid-May and lasts through to June, sometimes July depending on the weather, says Chun. “But we’ve usually sold out by the end of June.”
Demand outstrips supply “Kiwis are hungry for new things and people are looking for unique ingredients. They want to be excited by them. They want to know about and try something new and different.”
New Zealand chefs are increasingly using yuzu as an ingredient. “Really clever chefs say ‘yuzu, what can I do with it?’. Their imagination flows and they make some brilliant stuff out of it, with their own take on the fruit. They go for it.”
Chun and I follow a basket of yuzus to the kitchen of Helen Turnbull, who runs Paraparaumu restaurant 50-50.
Turnbull has worked at traditional and Michelin-starred restaurants around the world, including five years in Japan where yuzu is very popular. Now she incorporates yuzu into her fine-dining set menu of nine courses, which changes every month.
She uses yuzu for a bitter tang that balances out other ingredients. “It’s great to have a supplier so close by, and it’s a unique flavour that’s fun to play with.”
Yuzu has lots of pips and not much juice, so she uses mainly yuzu zest.
We watch her prepare three dishes in which yuzu is a hero ingredient. One dish is shitake mushroom sushi with a nasturtium mustard sauce, a yuzu puree, pickled yuzu on top and feijoa yuzu kosho (yuzu kosho is a pasty Japanese condiment made from fresh chillis, then fermented with salt, zest and juice from yuzu). “The dish started with yuzu, rather having yuzu added to a dish. I wanted to show all of it, and use it in different ways.”
Her second dish is pan-fried blue cod with pickled pumpkin and pureed pumpkin, using yuzu kosho and an emulsion made from yuzu-flavoured olive oil. Using sugared yuzu and salted yuzu, she makes yuzu puree – and its bitterness pairs well with the pumpkin and blue cod. Pickled yuzu on top is shaped like little hats. “The cod makes space for the
Wellington orchardist Neville Chun grows yuzu, a type of citrus fruit relatively new to New Zealand.
Right: Helen Turnbull runs Paraparaumu restaurant 50-50.
Below: “I thought, ‘shall we grow it? Or is that a really bad business plan?’ Hardly anyone in New Zealand knows what the fruit is,” says Chun.
yuzu flavour to come through.”
In each dish, yuzu pops in your mouth in different ways – some subtle, others stronger.
In her restaurant, many people who taste dishes featuring yuzu have never heard of it. “It’s fun to show them a yuzu. I’ll bring one over and make a small indent so they can smell the zest.”
Turnbull sends recipes to guests and other chefs, if they want. “We’re only adolescent in the development of New Zealand cuisine. We’ve shucked off the Brit-inherited meat and three vege. People like a change. It’s an exciting time to be part of the New Zealand food scene.”
As she cooks, Chun looks on, then tastes the dishes, interested in how the yuzu flavour will emerge. “I’ve always been a foodie so it’s interesting to learn more about food by interacting with my customers from around the country.”
The social element is a nice balance with solitary work with the fruit.
Chun has contracted some other orchards to grow yuzu for him, and further expansion is likely “I’m happy with where we’re at, but I’m not finished yet. I just love bringing yuzu to New Zealanders.”
● June 27-July 14: Beef + Lamb NZ
B+LNZ National Webinar Series: Grow Your Own People, Grow your Farm
This four-part series aims to equip farmers with the skills and knowledge to confidently and effectively train others in the farm team. This will lead to improved competence, confidence and productivity. You can choose to register for all parts or just the one that interests you.
Info at beeflambnz.com/events
● July 2: DairyNZ Farmers’ Forum
With the theme of innovate, integrate and collaborate, this is DairyNZ’s signature event and your chance to not only look ahead, but to see what it will take to shape the future. Experts in trade, evolving economies, climate change, technology and consumer demands will join forces with innovative farmers.
Info at dairynz.co.nz/events/
● July 2: Dairy Women’s Network
Dropping Kilos, Not The Mic with Hamish McKay, live webinar
From the bright lights of the sports newsroom to the quiet struggles behind closed doors, Hamish McKay’s story is one of reinvention, resilience and rediscovery. Best known for his decadeslong career as TV3’s lead sports anchor and rugby editor, McKay later became a respected voice in rural broadcasting and real estate. But while his voice was booming across the airwaves, behind the scenes he was fighting a very personal battle – with his health, mental wellbeing and weight
Info at dwn.co.nz/events/
● July 5: NZ Young Farmers
FMG Young Farmer of the Year’s grand final
Join us as we celebrate the outstanding talent, innovation and determination of New Zealand’s young farmers This prestigious event showcases the best of the best, bringing together passionate individuals who have demonstrated exceptional skill and commitment to the agricultural industry.
Info at youngfarmers.co.nz/contest/ grand-final-season-57
● July 8: DairyNZ
Optimising Your Farm System For Tomorrow
As farm systems continue to evolve, understanding how to manage your farm’s environmental footprint while also maintaining profit is an important part of setting your farm business up to be future-fit.
Info at dairynz.co.nz/events/
● July 8 and 10: B+LNZ
B+LNZ webinars on the Government’s RMAnational direction consultation
The Government is currently consulting on updating the Resource Management Act national direction. This covers a wide range of areas relevant to sheep and beef farming, including changes in the freshwater policy frameworks that councils use when setting regional targets, timeframes and rules, and changes to freshwater national rules such as stock exclusion, wetlands and water storage. Join the B+LNZ policy team for an online session to run you though the proposals and what they could mean for farmers.
Info at beeflambnz.com/events
● July 9: Rural Support Trust
Turning Of The Tide: quiz night, Whakatane
Get ready for a paddock-to-point break trivia night with a twist of the land and sea. Join the trust at Mata Brewery for a fun-filled evening of trivia, pizza, and prizes. Whether you’re part of a team or flying solo, there’s a spot for you.
Info at dairynz.co.nz/events/
● July 10: B+LNZ
Growing Great Lambs and Ewe Body Condition Scoring Workshop, Northland/Auckland
Come and hear about the power of body condition scoring your ewes at this short, sharp workshop ending with a practical demonstration in the yard. Info at beeflambnz.com/events
● July 11: B+LNZ
Central Otago Parasite Integrated Management Group: Expressions of interest
Join the free Central Otago Parasite Management Group and farm smarter, not harder. Every farm in Central Otago has parasites (worms) within their system. In Central Otago, we will be releasing the Parasite Integrated Management focus group. Targeting eight to 12 farming businesses to meet three to four key times of year Info at beeflambnz.com/events
● July 18: Dairy Women’s Network
Embracing The Future, live webinar
Ready to lean into the succession challenge for New Zealand farming? Join Bruce Weir, general manager of Country Banking at Rabobank, and get to grips with the demographics and drivers of
the succession challenge for the largest ever generational change in farm ownership over the next decade Info at dwn.co.nz/events/
● Beef + Lamb New Zealand Lamb Survivability Focus Groups: Expressions of Interest
B+LNZ is seeking sheep farmers who are passionate about lifting lamb survivability on farm. We’re setting up Lamb Survivability Focus Groups, to get to dig deeper into the real challenges/ opportunities farmers face. Info at beeflambnz.com/events
● Beef + Lamb New Zealand Mastering Your Financials Workshops,various dates and locations
Together with the Farm Focus team, B+LNZ has designed a workshop to support you as farmers to understand your financial position and how to adapt and grow your farming business with confidence Info at beeflambnz.com/events
● Dairy Women’s Network Coffee, Connect & Refuel at Farm Source,various dates and locations Join us at Farm Source Galatea for a complimentary, barista-made coffee while connecting with other local farmers. To make the day even better, Meet The Need is generously sponsoring delicious burgers, giving you another reason to stop by and refuel Info at dwn.co.nz/events/
Registration is essential for many events. Check the various websites for more details and events
Scott Downs GM Sales and Marketing, PF Olsen Limited
Across rural New Zealand, landowners are increasingly asking the question: can pine plantations be converted into native forests?
Whether motivated by a desire to enhance biodiversity, improve landscape resilience, or explore carbon or future biodiversity credits opportunities, there’s growing interest in transitioning exotic forests to long-term indigenous cover.
While native species take much longer to grow and sequester carbon more slowly than radiata pine, native forests offer unique long-term benefits that resonate well beyond the ledger.
Over extended periods – ranging from 100 to 400 years – native forests can build up a biomass comparable to that of a pine forest. Unlike plantations harvested every few decades, a well-established native forest can maintain that biomass relatively steadily, offering a low-risk carbon sink with ecological and cultural value
In the short term, pine plantations do outperform natives in stabilising steep land and absorbing carbon rapidly However, over longer timeframes, native forests provide better overall protection to soils, waterways, and the ecosystem – especially in erosion-prone regions. In certain geologies, smaller-stature native species
like mānuka and kānuka have proven more resilient to storm events and slips than mature exotic forests.
From a biodiversity perspective, native forests are unmatched. New Zealand’s indigenous flora and fauna evolved in isolation, and native forest ecosystems are uniquely tailored to support our threatened and endemic species.
However, it’s worth noting that commercial pine plantations – especially those near reserves or native seed sources – can still support a surprising
variety of native wildlife, acting as stepping stones for ecological recovery.
Transitioning from pine to native cover can follow several pathways. The simplest is to allow native regeneration to occur naturally after harvest. Another approach is thinning, poisoning or ringbarking existing pines to give native understory room to grow.
In some cases, simply letting the forest age and collapse naturally allows light and space for natives to dominate. On bare land, planting pines near native seed sources can
act as a “nurse crop”, enabling a phased shift to native dominance over time.
While long-term data on pine-to-native conversions is limited, it’s clear that results vary depending on site conditions, rainfall, surrounding vegetation, and landowner commitment. That’s why getting good local advice is essential.
One sentence I was told by someone achieving great results in the field has always stuck with me: “In most cases, to support indigenous revegetation, you just need to kill things – weeds and animal pests.”
It’s a blunt but powerful reminder that reducing competition and pressure from invasive species is often the most effective support we can give to our struggling indigenous ecosystems.
PF Olsen has been supporting New Zealand landowners in forestry for decades and is now helping clients navigate this next frontier. Whether you’re harvesting soon or considering long-term land use change, we can assess your land’s potential and help develop a tailored transition plan that balances ecological goals with economic realities.
With the right strategy, pine to native conversion is not just technically feasible – it’s an opportunity to future-proof your land, support native wildlife, and create a living legacy for generations to come.
To learn more, call 0508 PF OLSEN or visitpfolsen.com.
Exports
Susan Edmunds of RNZ
New Zealanders are paying high prices for milk, butter and cheese because of what people are willing to pay offshore, Fonterra’s boss says –but is that fair?
The most recent food price data showed milk prices were up 15.1% annually last month, to $4.57 per two litres, butter was up 51.2% annually to $8.42 per 500 grams and cheese was up 30.1% to $13.04 per kilogram.
In May, Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell told RNZ prices were driven by global demand.
“We’re a collection of 8500 small farmers and our job is to deliver for each of them,” Hurrell said.
“The international market is pushing these prices very high at the moment and our job is to reflect that in the returns that we give back to our farmer owners.”
University of Auckland economics professor Robert MacCulloch said it was a surprising comment.
“It raised my eyebrows For a CEO to talk that way, I thought for want of a better word was dumb.
“He’s laying down what’s known as the law of one price, or purchasing power parity. Similar goods are expected to be priced the same around the world.
“He’s saying that applies to dairy and we can sell it anywhere in the world so when the world price goes up, Kiwis pay more and that’s the end of the story.
“This is a nice theory, but it’s not always true in practice. A lot of goods and services do sell for different prices [in different countries].
“He’s saying we don’t have any sense of social responsibility at Fonterra, which I thought was ill-judged – even though we’re using farm land in the country and we’ve got the emissions and everything, we’re ruthless profit maximisers, all we care about is maximising returns.”
He said BMW offered cheapervehicles to Germans and a similar model could be used for dairy products in New Zealand.
Child Poverty Action Group spokesperson Isaac Gunson said Finance
Minister Nicola Wilis had referred in speeches to the fact that New Zealand fed 40 million people “with levels of efficiency and sustainability that are the envy of many”.
“At the same time, more than a quarter of our children experienced food insecurity in the year ended June 2024 While we feed the world, our child poverty rates are lagging behind many other countries, especially in Europe.
“When milk powder sells high in Shanghai or Brussels, whānau in Aotearoa pay more for their Weet-Bix and milk –despite the fact we can grow all of the ingredients right here, and get them where they need to go It’s a system that rewards exporters, but punishes households already doing it tough.
“In a world worried about food security, it is New Zealand children who bear the brunt of that worry – and who are literally paying for it.”
But Gareth Kiernan, chief forecaster at Infometrics, said there were only two ways that goods could be sold for a lower price domestically than internationally: By regulating the price or paying subsidies to farmers to make up the difference.
“On its own, this regulation would result in farmers making less product available to the domestic market, potentially leading to shortages. Therefore it is likely that the Government would need to also mandate a
minimum percentage of product to be sold domestically.
“However, the lower overall return to farmers would be likely to lead to reduced production levels because squeezing out that last drop of milk would not be as profitable.”
He said it would also lead to lower GDP and lower incomes per capita for the country as a whole.
Subsidies to farmers would need to be paid for somehow, so more tax would have to be collected.
“If the revenue came from taxing higher-income households, then it is likely that some lower-income households would be better off, but higher-income households would be worse off despite their milk and butter being cheaper.
“With any tax/welfare policy, there is some deadweight loss from the policy due to the administrative costs of government, as well as the less efficient allocation of resources. In this case, the less efficient allocation of resources comes from the consumer side, where people spend more than would be sensible on dairy products because they don’t face the full costs.”
He compared it to metered or unmetered water.
“If water is metered and people have to pay for their usage, then they will use it more carefully and efficiently, reducing demand and production costs. It means that
local councils can then use some of the resources they would have needed to provide water to provide other goods and services instead.
“In the case of farmers with domestic subsidies, demand for their product would be overinflated, leading to too much of the economy’s resources being devoted to farming, when there would be other more productive uses if people faced the full cost of their dairy products and therefore demanded less. Again, the outcome is lower GDP and lower incomes per capita for the country as a whole.”
He said there had been “egregious” examples of subsidisation in petrol prices in the Middle East.
Iran, which sells petrol at about US36 cents (NZ60c) a litre, had been dealing with fuel smuggling problems as people tried to get petrol out to neighbouring countries with more expensive prices
“The difficulty with these arguments is that people see the direct cost or benefit to them in terms of dairy prices, but they don’t see the indirect costs of higher taxes and/or lower GDP per capita because the transmission paths are so long and opaque.”
Murat Ungor, a senior lecturer in the University of Otago department of economics, agreed that if New Zealand detached itself from international pricing, it would undermine the incentive to efficiently produce and export and affect farmer incomes.
“Typically, United States butter comprises 80% butterfat, while European and New Zealand products offer a higher 82% content. This variance not only influences pricing structures, but also shapes trade opportunities. European and Kiwi butter, with their richer content, cater more readily to international markets demanding premium quality.
“Domestic consumers compete with international buyers, meaning local prices are influenced by global market rates rather than just local production costs.
“New Zealand dairy processors sell at international market rates, leaving little incentive to discount locally. Fonterra’s dominance and supermarket duopoly reduce pressure to lower retail prices.”
Roeland van den Bergh
Synlait Milk has extended its $130 million shareholder loan from Bright Dairy for a further 12-month term, maturing July 12 next year.
The loan was initially for 12 months and included an option for the troubled dairy company to extend it by a further year. Bright Dairy is a Chinese company that owns 65.25% of Synlait.
Shareholders Association chief executive Oliver Mander said the loan extension was evidence that Bright Dairy continued to have faith in Synlait’s future.
Bright Dairy was “clearly committed to funding in whichever shape or form”.
“That does reflect what they stated last year during the entire restructuring process, and also reflects their statements at shareholder meetings,” Mander said.
Synlait has since demonstrated that the support was a key factor in creating its path back to profitability and stability, he added.
The company made a $4.8m profit after tax in half-year to January 31, up 105%.
“From a shareholder perspective, securing that funding and ensuring
that there's a glide path into a more effective debt structure. That seems like a reasonable thing.”
In June last year, more than half of the farms supplying the company had sent “cessation notices” telling Synlait they did not intend to continue supplying their milk after their current contracts expired.
However, Synlait told the market in April that most cessation notices issued had been withdrawn.
Mander said farmers seemed to be a lot more confident in the future of the company. They were also creditors and at risk if there was a breakdown of the company.
Acting Synlait chief executive at the time, Tim Carter, said in April that higherthan-expected level of inquiries from new farmers wanting to supply the company, meant it had sufficient milk volumes for the next two financial years.
Richard Wyeth took over the top job in May, having previously led Westland Milk Products and Taupō-based dairy company Miraka. He also helped establish Open Country Dairy.
Shareholders approved the Bright Dairy loan at a special shareholders’ meeting last June as part of the company’s broader balance sheet reset That programme also included an equity raising, and was
supported by bank refinancing.
Synlait’s current one-year bank refinancing facilities were due for renewal on September 30, and the refinancing work was under way, the company said.
Synlait hit trouble after a large pre-pandemic investment programme, which included spending $280m on a manufacturing plant at Pōkeno, $125m on a new liquid plant at Dunsandel and $150m on cheese companies Talbot Forest
Cheese and Dairyworks.
Its troubles have taken a heavy toll on the value of the company, with its shares having fallen from $3.66 in late 2022 to under 50 cents, but have since recovered to about 70c.
They climbed on the company announcing a return to profitability for the first half-year to end January and peaked at $1.02 in February on the appointment of Wyeth.
Two well-known and established Kiwi business have joined forces to boost the wool industry and provide increased returns to growers.
Iconic Kiwi brands PGG Wrightson and Norsewear are leading a new initiative to grow the consumer brand value of ethically and sustainably produced New Zealand wool and boost returns for wool growers and the sector
The two companies are pioneering a new value chain that connects New Zealand wool growers directly with trusted consumer brands like Norsewear
“As two companies with a rich history of commitment to the primary sector, we believe there is potential for New Zealand wool to deliver greater value to growers, rural communities, and New Zealand – if we do things differently,” says Stephen Guerin, chief executive of PGG Wrightson.
“By connecting specific growers with select manufacturers we’re providing certainty of demand for these growers through long-term supply orders. This ensures manufacturers have certainty of supply of fully traceable New Zealand wool that meets their specifications.”
PGG Wrightson Wool’s quality assurance brand, Wool Integrity NZ, is key in the value chain, certifying that the wool comes from independently audited growers who meet world-leading animal welfare and environmental sustainability standards Norsewear owner Tim Deane says the partnership allows Norsewear to capitalise on growing consumer demand globally for products that are ethically and sustainably
made from traceable quality natural fibres.
“We grow the best wool in the world and haven’t made the most of it Over the years some iconic Kiwi brands have moved away from using 100% New Zealand wool It’s been commoditised and diluted with other wools to reduce prices for manufacturers, and wool sector pricing has been heading in the wrong direction
“It’s been tough for our farmers. We’re looking to reverse the trend. By ensuring a fully integrated value chain, we’re ensuring that when consumers choose Norsewear they experience the quality and provenance of 100% New Zealand wool products, and over time growers
will reap better returns.”
PGG Wrightson and Norsewear share a heritage of supporting the rural sector.
PGG Wrightson has partnered with farmers and wool growers for more than 170 years, including handling and marketing a significant volume of New Zealand wool
Norsewear has been manufacturing quality woollen socks, beanies, and other woollen apparel for outdoor people since 1963. Tim, who purchased the company in 2023, says he sees significant growth and export opportunities for the sector through the partnership.
“As Norsewear transitions to a fully traceable value chain and grows, we’ll not only be able to buy more New Zealand wool at fair prices but also create jobs in regional New Zealand as we expand manufacturing. We want to encourage other companies to take this approach.”
Rachel Shearer, general manager of PGG Wrightson Wool, says the goal of the partnership is to build confidence in this new value chain over time and to encourage other brands to join the programme.
“As we demonstrate success, we welcome other New Zealand consumer brands to join us to benefit the industry as a whole.
“It will also support the links and connections between our growers and rural communities who will be able to go into one of our local stores or online, buy garments that use the wool they grew and wrap their families in them.”
The Wool Integrity quality assurance mark will be added to Norsewear’s packaging as the transition progresses. Norsewear products are available in PGG Wrightson’s 90 retail outlets and online shop, as well as through other rural retail and online outlets.
China and New Zealand have cemented their trade relationship further with a new deal to export more beef to Chinese markets.
Alliance Group and Grand Farm have signed a strategic co-operation agreement with a focus on delivering more premium New Zealand grass-fed beef to Chinese consumers.
The agreement, signed in the presence of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Shanghai during his trip there last month, sets the stage for growth in beef and beef co-product volumes.
“This next phase of our partnership with Grand Farm puts natural grass-fed beef at the forefront of our strategy for China, alongside our lamb, mutton and venison presence,” says Alliance chief executive Willie Wiese.
“Chinese consumers are increasingly valuing high-quality, nutritious, sustainably produced red meat and that’s exactly what Alliance offers.
“We’re proud to work with a trusted partner like Grand Farm to meet this
demand and strengthen our position in a market that remains important.
“Over the past 25 years, our relationship with Grand Farm has been built on trust, shared values, and a long-term commitment to delivering for consumers.
“That strength has ensured consistent access to our world-class, free-range, grass-fed products for Chinese families.
“This partnership has also stood the test of time – through the global financial
crisis, African Swine Fever, Covid-19 and other challenges that have disrupted the global supply chain.”
In 2016, the two companies formalised the “Grand Alliance,” which has played a critical role in deepening trade ties between New Zealand and China. Since then, the two companies have maintained momentum and achieved growth in market share in China.
The new strategic agreement reconfirms
Grand Farm as the exclusive importer and primary distributor of Alliance’s lamb and venison products in China.
The agreement also focuses on greater integration across the supply chain. Both companies will collaborate to develop new, retail-ready and ready-to-cook lamb and beef products that reflect local preferences, further enhancing their value proposition in the premium segment.
Distribution will continue through major Chinese retailers including Costco, Sam’s Club and JD.com, as well as Grand Farm’s own branded stores.
“This agreement marks a new chapter in our relationship with Alliance,” says Grand Farm President Jiaojiao Chen.
“By combining New Zealand’s trusted lamb and beef supply with our market knowledge and retail reach, we can meet the consumer demand for premium red meat.”
Luxon says: “This agreement between Alliance Group and Grand Farm represents a significant step forward in strengthening New Zealand’s trade partnership with China.
It reflects the world-class quality of our red meat sector and the strong demand for our premium lamb and beef in key international markets. I commend both companies for their vision and commitment to creating sustainable growth opportunities that benefit our farmers, our exporters, and our economy.”
Increased US tariffs on New Zealand exports do not comply with international trade rules, says Beef + Lamb NZ chairperson Kate Acland.
North America remains a critical market for New Zealand, so it was valuable to visit the United States recently and gain some key insights.
Washington DC was abuzz with activity when I arrived Policy settings are shifting rapidly, and policymakers and their teams are working at pace to keep up.
During the visit, I met with US farmer groups, meat importers, trade associations and officials from other countries to discuss the fast-changing landscape and the common challenges we all face.
One thing that stood out was that US tariffs are already having an impact at home, not just abroad. In some cases, American consumers and producers are feeling the effects even more than the countries targeted by these measures
A growing number of countries are looking to negotiate trade terms, but it’s clear the US is starting with the largest players and sectors first.
New Zealand will likely have to wait its turn. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; it gives us time to reflect on our position and what we bring to the table.
Currently, New Zealand faces an additional 10% tariff, adding close to $900 million in cost to our exports –including more than $230m on red meat alone It’s not ideal, but it’s broadly in line with what our competitors are paying so we’re not at a relative disadvantage – for now That said, there’s a strong view that 10% shouldn’t become the new normal.
The additional tariffs aren’t compliant with the agreed rules of international trade. We must keep pushing for a better deal.
In nearly every meeting, we heard a consistent message: “America First” is driving the conversation on trade. But that isn’t entirely bad for New Zealand.
In fact, our lean beef is an essential
component in the iconic American hamburger. It balances out the higher-fat local beef, adds value to the American producer, and supports US jobs in processing and logistics. We’re not displacing American producers – we’re complementing them.
There’s been ongoing concern from US sheep producer groups around total US lamb imports, and that’s something we take seriously. But the facts are important.
Since 1990, both US and New Zealand national sheep flocks have declined by about 60%. We’re both managing similar structural and farming challenges, and as producers, we understand the pressures.
Through it all, New Zealand has remained a consistent and reliable supplier, accounting for about 22% of American lamb imports every year for decades
While overall sales of lamb in the US have risen in recent years, compared to other proteins, lamb is consumed at very low levels – less than 1% of all meat eaten by Americans annually. There’s clearly room to grow the market – to the benefit of both US and New Zealand producers.
The US is a high-value lamb market.
New Zealand lamb earns an average of $21.60 per kilogram in the US, compared to New Zealand’s global average of $13/kg. That premium reflects more than just product quality – it speaks to a long-standing trading relationship built on trust, consistency, and reliability.
New Zealand and the US are more than just trading partners – we’re allies. That was the message we reinforced in every meeting in Washington DC.
Our relationships with counterpart organisations are strong. We understand their challenges and respect the role they play in the system Maintaining and strengthening these relationships is the key to sustaining and growing the value of our trade together.
Dose alldogswho reside near sheepwith Praziquantel monthlyoratleast 48 hoursbefore visiting sheep, to preventsheep measles.
Food Sally Wenley of RNZ
The first pinky-red fleshed apples to be grown in New Zealand are about to be sold commercially. Several pallets of the unique local apples are on their way to international markets, and more growers are wanted as the demand for them is expected to explode.
Called Fizz, the new apple variety was developed through Plant & Food
Research’s breeding programme, and Snazzy Fruit has the licence to grow and sell the striking apple Snazzy’s managing director Josh Parlane says Fizz trees are being grown in Otago, Nelson and Hawke’s Bay, and the plan is to roll out many more hectares with commercial growers on board.
“We currently have about 16,000 trees and have more going in the ground this season.
“There is also a grafting opportunity that we would like to discuss with potential growers in order to get quicker production in the years to come.”
Parlane says the apple trees will be grown on a step-by-step basis to carefully expand the number of apples that are produced in order to cater for the demand and be sustainable for growers.
He believes the fruit will be popular with any person who enjoys biting into an apple.
“For me, I thought, ‘Wow’ – like I had tried literally hundreds of apples before – nothing quite compared to this one because of how unique it was. The berry tones, the strong flavour. It really is a standout in that regard. I thought this
could really be a winner.”
Parlane says the apple’s vibrant colour also contain anthocyanins, which have a range of potential health benefits including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
The first premium Fizz apples have recently been exported to Taiwan, India and the Middle East, but won’t be available in the New Zealand market until next year.
He says a group of official “tasters” all agreed they would pay up to 30% more for a premium Fizz apple as opposed to what’s already available.
Opinion
Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Kate Scott says Resource Management Actchanges are needed, as growers require certainty and clarity around rules.
The Government’s announcement of proposed changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) has been welcomed by HortNZ. Growers are eager to increase export revenue for the country and continue supplying healthy, affordable, locally grown fruit and vegetables for New Zealanders.
They are committed to doing so while protecting the environment and safeguarding the country’s most productive land for future generations
Key proposals – such as recognising the national importance of vegetable production, enabling water storage and allowing for managed aquifer recharge –would remove longstanding barriers to achieving those goals. Proposed changes to the National Policy
Statement for Highly Productive Land also mark a step forward. They aim to better balance the need for housing development with the need to protect the country’s most valuable growing areas – land that feeds not just New Zealand, but the world.
The proposed changes to freshwater rules are equally significant. They allow for practical approaches like crop rotation and signal a future where resource consents are no longer needed for commercial vegetable growing.
Removing regulatory hurdles to water storage and aquifer recharge is critical – not only for meeting future growing needs around access to sustainable water supplies, but also from the perspective of enhancing climate resilience.
As regions face longer and more frequent droughts, growers need the ability to collect and store water during wetter months for use when it’s most needed.
Taken together, we expect these proposals to provide much-needed clarity for councils and certainty for growers.
For growers, getting the policy settings right is critical. These are the most sweeping changes to the RMA ever proposed, and they show that the Government is listening to those on the ground. The people best placed to speak to the challenges and opportunities are the growers themselves.
That’s why Horticulture New Zealand will be preparing detailed submissions on
“
Removing regulatory hurdles to water storage and aquifer recharge is critical ... for meeting future growing needs.
Kate Scott
the policy changes relevant to our sector –and we want to hear directly from growers. We encourage everyone in horticulture to share their views and help shape the future.
One key point we will be making is around the proposed introduction of “special agricultural areas”
We will be urging the Government to ensure that productive land is only considered truly productive if the policies in place actually enable growers to grow on it.
Recognition of our sector’s importance is backed by the latest Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries report from the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Horticulture is set for a record-breaking year, with export revenue projected to reach $8.5 billion by June 30, 2025 – a 19% increase on the previous year.
Kiwifruit exports are forecast to hit $3.9 billion, having surpassed the $3b mark for the first time last year. Apple and pear export revenue is projected to grow by 18% to $1.1b, while fresh and processed vegetable exports are expected to increase 8% to $770 million.
The sector is well on track to achieve the ambitious goal set out in the Aotearoa Horticulture Action Plan: to double the farmgate value of New Zealand’s horticulture industry by 2035.
That’s good news for growers, good news for New Zealand’s food security and good news for the economy.
A new simulation of operating an ATV in a dangerous situation gives farmers food for thought.
Virtual reality (VR) technology providing a simulated experience of operating an ATV in a risky situation created significant interest among Fieldays visitors at Mystery Creek.
Former rally driver and sheep farmer Rhys Gardner has developed the seven-minute, three-dimensional VR simulation of a ‘real-life’ scenario, with participants experiencing first-hand the impacts of their ‘driving’ decisions.
“There was a lot of interest at Mystery Creek and many thought-provoking conversations with people who tried the simulation,” says Gardner, who partnered with Safer Farms for the Fieldays event.
“A number of people were deeply affected when they recognised the different choices that could have made all the difference.
“It provides the ability for people to experience the consequences of their actions and see very clearly what good looks like and what bad looks like.”
Gardner made the technology available at the Safer Farms stand at Fieldays following a trip to the United States, where his
company Gfactor is partnering with a foundation working to address America’s high number of serious and fatal quad-bike accidents.
“I believe strongly that most people learn from ‘doing’,” he says.
“The great advantage ofVR is that it enables people to try things and live the experience of what would happen in that real-life situation, but they can do that without getting hurt.
“It’s not about telling people what to do. Rather, they experience what it would be like if they chose to make that decision in the real world, in a place where they could make a mistake.”
Gardner grew up on a steep hill farm in Otago and farmed throughout his 20s and
The seven-minute VR simulation of a ‘real-life’ scenario lets participants experience first-hand the impacts of their ‘driving’ decisions
30s, experiencing several near-misses on quads and tractors himself.
He launched Dunedin-based Gfactor in 2015, with the goal of providing people with the ability to better understand the risks involved in using the vehicles, through a VR lived experience.
Initially that involved a real ATV on a robotic platform with pedal and steering controls, but this has now been refined into a system using VR headsets.
The US foundation the company is working with promotes awareness around safe use of quad bikes.
There are more than 10 million quad bikes in the US, contributing to at least 40,000 serious or fatal youth injuries each year.
Gardner recently took the VR technology to expos in Wisconsin and Arizona, where he says there was also a powerful response from people using the simulator.
One of the situations recreated by Gfactor is based on a real-life accident which led to the death of a young man. This has been created with the blessing of the victim’s family.
He says his own near-misses were down to three main factors: Deliberately taking a shortcut or rushing to do a job without checking over the vehicle first; lack of understanding of the vehicle, such as 4WD settings on a new machine; and complacency or distraction – through fatigue, stress or not paying enough attention.
“Often it’s not even about skill, but the practical decisions that are made in the moment.
“Each time I’ve had an accident or nearmiss because of one of these reasons, there’s been something important that I’ve realised afterwards.
“Ideally that realisation could happen in VR without the physical pain and the embarrassment when everyone finds out about the mistake I made.”
Gardner is now inviting farmers and ATV riders to share their accounts of near-misses to provide material for furtherVR scenarios that others can benefit from.
The team at Peninsula take a look at the ins and out of employing loved ones in your business.
To build an effective team in any business you need a variety of skills, backgrounds and personalities. One of the biggest ongoing challenges for the agriculture industry is attracting and retaining skilled, experienced and hard-working employees.
In some instances, you may lean towards hiring a family member because you’re aware of their strengths and weaknesses, as well as their potential. This can seem a simple solution to a challenging situation, particularly when compared to candidates you’ve never met.
Due to your relationship with a family member, you already know how their personality will fit within the culture of the team and can quickly integrate them into your daily routine.
Benefits of hiring a family member
One of the most apparent benefits of hiring family members is the inherent trust and loyalty they often bring.
Unlike external hires, family members typically have a vested interest in the long-term success of the farm. Manyview it as their legacy as much as yours, even if they’re not likely to take over one day. This can lead to more dedication and an ownership mentality, which can motivate the rest of your team
You know family well and are familiar with their capabilities. This may enable you to place them in the right position. If your farm is familiar to them, they may already have a working knowledge of their role and the farm’s operations and machinery, reducing the time and resources needed for initial training.
Additionally, family members may have grown up observing or participating in farm activities, providing them with invaluable practical experience from a young age.
Hiring a relative can also translate into a stronger work ethic and a deeper commitment to the farm’s mission.
Some pitfalls of hiring a family member
One of the immediate concerns is inefficiency. Family members may not feel the same level of accountability as regular employees, leading to reduced productivity and lower performance. This lack of accountability can impact the team’s overall efficiency and morale
Some employees may begin to believe they are being overlooked in favour of an undeserving family member. Believing their
hard work is less recognised orvalued than that of a family member, regardless of their actual performance.
They may start to look for other roles where they believe there are more equal opportunities for advancement. This can lead to resentment and frustration that could impact the performance of other employees and your ability to retain them.
The challenges of disciplining a family member employee is particularly complex. The lines between professional and personal relationships can become blurred, making it difficult to deliver constructive criticism or enforce rules consistently.
Taking disciplinary action that would be straightforward with an unrelated employee can become a source of family tension or lingering resentment. What is often overlooked is that just like any other employee, family members have the right to raise a personal grievance against their employer.
Similarly, promoting relatives requires careful handling. While a family member may be the most qualified candidate for a leadership role, the promotion can be viewed as an act of nepotism, regardless of their merits.
To mitigate this, it’s crucial to have clear, objective criteria for promotions that are applied equally to all employees. Documenting their achievements, skills and contributions to the farm’s success can help justify the promotion and demonstrate the decision was based on merit, rather than bloodline.
Other things to consider It is essential to set ground rules, so relatives are clear they are not entitled to special treatment. In the work environment, they’re an employee first and a family member second. It’s vital you demonstrate to all other employees that even though an employee may be a family member, your expectations are the same as every other employee.
Onboarding family members, just like any other employee, needs to be a structured process. It’s vital to emphasise they are entering a professional work environment. This includes providing them with an employment agreement, job description, reporting structure and the farm’s policies on conduct, punctuality and productivity
While hiring family members can offer unique advantages, it’s not without
its challenges. The perception of favouritism, difficulties in discipline and the complexities of promotion can impact employee morale.
By highlighting clear expectations, maintaining professional boundaries and ensuring equitable treatment for all employees, you can harness the benefits of family involvement while mitigating the potential pitfalls.
Working on a family farm often conjures images of idyllic harmony, shared purpose and a deep connection to the land For many farm owners, the idea of hiring family members seems like a natural decision. If you’re considering hiring a family member, it’s important you take a completely neutral approach The same as when hiring any other potential employee. You need to ask, can they do the job? Can they do it well? Do they have the appropriate qualifications and experience? Will they be a good culture fit with all your other staff?
If you can successfully answer yes to these questions, there’s every reason to believe you will have a healthy and productive working relationship with a family member employee.
Northland Inc is investigating whether establishing a turmeric and ginger industry is a viable opportunity for the region.
By Miriam Bell.
The global craze for turmeric shows no signs of abating, and that has led Northland’s economic development agency to investigate whether the region can get in on the action.
Farming and horticulture have long been a critical part of Northland’s economy, but new regulatory requirements and climate change mean the region’s primary sector needs to diversify.
That will involve moving on from dairy, kiwifruit and avocados to different crops, and turmeric and ginger are two of the new crops being considered.
Turmeric is an ancient root-derived spice in the ginger family, and use of it as a health remedy and dietary ingredient has surged in recent years.
The global market for it is projected to reach about US$400 million (NZ$665m) by 2030, up from US$267m in 2023, according to a Research and Markets report.
Likewise, there is increasing use of ginger in food, drinks, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, and the global ginger market is projected to grow to about $6.56 billion by 2029, up from $4.88b in 2024
Tapping into those markets could be an opportunity for Northland, and Northland Inc has just put out a tender for market studies into the viability of establishing turmeric and ginger industries in the region.
Northland Inc head of investment and infrastructure Vaughan Cooper said the organisation’s Tuputupu strategy had set out to identify how the region could diversify and better add value in the primary sector.
It involved working out how land use would have to change in response to climate change, whether it was possible to grow new and different crops, and if there was a market for them, he said.
“Community workshops held last year generated lots of feedback and about 80 ideas of new crops the region may be able to grow.
“We’ve done an assessment of each one, looked at whether they could be grown here, and made a shortlist of the best options. Now, we are doing some market studies to establish whether there would be a market for these crops if we were to grow them.”
It was necessary to understand the market before trying to set up a new industry, and the organisation had funding for seven to 10 market studies, he said.
Five of those studies were now getting under way, with the turmeric and ginger studies two of them, and mango and papaya two others
Cooper said the studies would look at the overall feasibility of establishing turmeric and ginger industry in Northland, and if there were opportunities to differentiate the region’s crop in the broader market.
They also wanted to know if it was possible to grow these crops in the shoulder season, and whether they taste good if grown here as they would be different to those already on the market.
“
We are looking at crops that would work for national and international markets, and that can compete on a commercial basis.
Vaughan Cooper
“We do want to know that there is a level of awareness of what these things are. We don’t want crops that are so niche that they don’t really work.
“We are looking at crops that would work for national and international markets, and that can compete on a commercial basis That might be because they are on the market earlier in the season, or we are offering something different to other parts of the world.”
The study tender closed on May 23, and the organisation was keen to see some draft studies around July, and once it did,
it would share the findings with growers, he said.
“We are thinking about what we need to do to progress plans further, but it will be good to have a better understanding of what is the best way forward.”
If turmeric and ginger were to be successfully commercialised, it would provide existing landowners and growers with the ability to improve productivity and diversify their farming systems, he added.
The popularity of turmeric has led India, already a global leader in production of
the spice, to establish a National Turmeric Board earlier this year. It is intended to boost its industry’s growth.
China, Myanmar, Nigeria and Bangladesh also produce turmeric, and recently small industries have been established in places such as Queensland in Australia and Peru.
But while turmeric is touted for its health benefits, recent studies suggest it could also reduce the effectiveness of certain medications and reduce blood pressure excessively – if taken in the high doses found in supplements.
Dita De Boni
The incoming chief executive of honey concern Comvita will have a task ahead of him to turn things around, with the company telling the market recently that it expected to make bigger losses than last year.
Comvita says it will make a net loss before tax of between $20 million and $24m, compared with last year’s loss of $21.6m.
However, that excludes impairments, or writedowns in assets and inventory, “which are expected to be material”.
With the $64.2m in writedowns factored in, the company said it believed it would be reporting a net loss before tax of $85.8m at the full year.
Revenue was also expected to have decreased from last year’s $204.3m, which was itself 12.7% lower than the year prior’s revenue of $234m.
Gross margins would also be down, “due to aggressive pricing and channel loading by competitors in our core product, Mānuka honey”.
“Price discounting to sell surplus highercost inventory is expected to continue through the next two quarters.”
However, Comvita said gross margin in the second half of the year had been stable, and consistent with the second half of the prior year.
Permanent cost savings were running ahead of schedule, with 70 jobs disestablished.
Inventory reduction would be ongoing, and the full benefit of cost reductions would be felt in the next financial year
Net debt had reduced significantly, to $63m during the beginning of this year, from $81.6m at the end of 2024
But the board said additional action was required to ensure the debt position was sustainable, and accordingly “is working with its investment banking and legal advisers to explore all options available to the company”.
The company said it remained in discussions with its lenders over covenant relief for this year and next year, and continued restructuring of its banking facilities.
In March, Comvita secured revised covenants after it was unable to meet two previously negotiated agreements.
A drop in Chinese demand and a lot of price competition in China and other markets, against both legitimate and non-legitimate Mānuka producers, led the company to report a full-year loss of $77.4m in August last year. It reported another loss, of $6.5m, in the
first half of the current financial year. Comvita’s incoming chief executive, Karl Gradon, worked for Fonterra for 10 years to 2014, and for international dairy companies at other times. He was also chief executive of New Zealand Mānuka Group from 2015 to 2018
Taranaki dairy farmer Rosie Cartwright reflects on what it takes to build a farming legacy while living and working side by side with her family, writes Jacqueline Forster.
Rosie Cartwright is no stranger to hard work. The quietly-spoken mother of four and grandmother of seven – soon to be eight – is up at the crack of dawn each day to milk a 500-strong herd of jersey cows alongside Robert, her husband of 40 years.
Rosie and Robert, both 65, farm some 200ha at Kaimata, just outside Kōhanga Moa Inglewood in Taranaki, on a property that has been in the Cartwright family for generations
This recurring theme of generational legacy is something Rosie has been careful to cultivate in her years on the land, and one she attributes to being brought up in a large family with a strong work ethic.
“I was brought up in town, in Whanganui, as one of nine children, so it was survival of the fittest,” she jokes.
“Growing up in a large family, you learn to share and to care about other people. Mum and Dad worked very hard to keep us all going, so I guess you could say I come from a hard-working background.”
After leaving school, Rosie trained as a registered nurse, and moved to Ngāmotu New Plymouth.
It was there that she met Robert, on a
blind date organised by a close mutual friend.
“Robert and I got married in 1985, and I continued nursing for quite some time, even after the children were born, but as the business grew, so did the workload.”
When juggling farm life and nursing became untenable, she decided to dedicate her time to the family and the farm
The Cartwrights have a long history of farming in the district “We’re the fourth generation here, and our children are the fifth,” Rosie explains
Their property in the rolling Kaimata hills is not your traditional flat dairy farming land, she says, and was originally a sheep farm
Robert’s family converted to dairy farming in the mid-1970s, and took to breeding award-winning jersey cows
“Robert manages the genetic side of things. He’s always had a real passion for cows, and I just love them, too.
“Over the years, we’ve named quite a few, and we all have our favourites They have a quiet, gentle temperament, and they’ve even become used to the grandchildren being about.”
Friendly cows also make for better herd
Rosie with some of her grandchildren. Carter, 10, Hudson, 8, Arjay, 5, Payten, 4, Flynn, 3, Hunter, 2, and Henry, 1, enjoy playing together at their grandparents’ house, which is a focal point for family gatherings
not a lot of downtime or holidays off farm, but family get-togethers make up for that.
“We try to get together as often as we can, mostly on a Friday night to have tea,” Rosie says.
The original farmhouse has seen a few renovations, but has stood the test of time, with more than a hundred years of family meals, farm chatter and succession planning taking place around the dining table. These days, it’s quite a gathering But farm kids also know how to pitch in.
“Rebecca’s three are the oldest, and they’ve all been brought up helping out on the farm,” Rosie says.
“I’m a great believer that they should follow their dreams, whatever they may be, but it is lovely to see generations continuing on the land, especially with so many young people drawn to the city. Luckily, my boys never liked town much. You could say they’re town-averse,” she laughs.
What little downtime she has is spent reading and gardening. Watching the next generation coming through is what motivates her.
“I love the land, I love the cows, and it’s just so rewarding to see the grandkids take an interest in the farm now that I’m a bit older. I remember when my children were young, how excited they were when there were new calves, and now I see the grandkids doing the same thing.”
Breeding a new generation of champion cows is also inspiring, despite challenges and changes in the dairy industry.
management, she says, describing their routine as they walk into the cowshed.
“The same cows come in early every time so you know there’s something not quite right if all of a sudden one’s at the back of the herd. There’s a hierarchy amongst them – you have your bosses.”
Bossy cows aside, routine on the farm is marked by twice-daily milkings from spring to autumn, whatever the weather.
“It’s very dry at the moment. Taranaki’s been in drought, and there’s not a lot of rain in the forecast,” Rosie says. “We’ve got quite a few cows on 16 hours, but we’re still milking twice a day.”
A normal day starts early, as it does for most farmers. “I usually make a cup of tea for Robert because he gets the cows in, and then I meet him at the cups around 5.30. After milking, we do a run-off, and now – because it’s so dry – we’re feeding out, which is quite a big job. My son Thomas works with us, and we all try to get a bit of
a plan together before we leave the shed, so we know what everyone’s up to Then we just go about our day until the next milking at around three in the afternoon.”
While stockwork, book-keeping and general maintenance are daily activities, the coming and going of seasons brings new chores. Come spring, it’s all hands on deck for calving.
But luckily, help isn’t too far away. Their children – Rebecca, 37, Fraser, 35, Thomas, 33, and Myles, 31 – all live close by, where they continue the family farming tradition.
Rebecca’s definitely the boss of the family, according to Rosie, and “she needs to be, with three brothers.”.
She and her partner Craig are dairy farmers. Fraser and Ang are 50/50 sharemilking just five minutes from Rosie and Robert. Thomas and Claire work on the home farm, while Myles and Vanessa farm sheep and beef at Arakamu Eltham, about 45 minutes down the road.
Creating a close-knit family is all down to Rosie, according to Thomas. “Mum is the glue that holds the family together. She’s always there to help no matter what the job – on the farm, with the grandkids, or when someone is hurt or sick.
“I believe Mum is the hardest worker in the family, especially during spring, when she has 300 calves to rear and still makes time to cook us all a roast dinner.”
Rebecca couldn’t agree more. “We all think of Mum as hard-working, loyal, supportive, generous and kind. Family life growing up was very busy. Mum was heavily involved in farm life, but she also found time to support us at school and transport us to various netball, basketball and rugby games. Everyone helped out on the farm, and it was a great way for us as children to see our parents at work, and build great relationships with them and our grandparents, too.”
The nature of farm work means there’s
“There’s a big emphasis on the environment now, and while I think farmers have always been very environmentally aware, the bar keeps getting raised, so we’re always working hard towards best on-farm practice.
“We’re trying to improve our stock, we’re trying to look after the land, and we’re trying to make sure the people are OK – which is the most important thing The last thing you want is everyone burnt out.”
She reflects on the life she’s created with her family, where hard work and contentment are found in equal measure.
“You’re definitely busy, that’s for sure. I sometimes say it’s a lifestyle, but I’m not convinced yet. It’s a good life, a rewarding life – working outside with animals.
“Sometimes you’ll be forever in your wet weather gear but, you know, you get the good weather, too, and I do love to be outside working. I feel like we’re just a very ordinary family trying to do our best for our kids. I don’t think our story is remarkable. All Robert and I really want is to see everyone doing what they love, and if we can help them in that journey, then that’s what we’ll do.”
This story appears in the Takurua Winter Edition 2025 of Shepherdess magazine, out now. Find it in supermarkets, dairies and specialty book and design stores across the motu. Subscribe and order your copy at shepherdess.co.nz.
Brook Sabin discovers a coastal region of Australia that blends hidden beaches, boutique hotels and some of the country’s best food.
Just over the ditch lies a slice of Australia that feels tailor-made for Kiwi travellers, but somehow it’s often overlooked
Here’s the secret: fly straight into the Gold Coast, then head south. You’ll end up in northern New South Wales where lush hinterland meets luxury, with lots of small-town charm in between
If you’re after secret beaches, rainforest retreats and some of Australia’s best food, this under-rated region delivers lots of surprises.
Here’s what you can’t miss.
Gin with a twist
Start your adventure at Husk Farm Distillery, which creates hand-crafted rum and gin in small batches.
It’s a 20-minute drive from Gold Coast Airport in a region called Tweed, where you’ll find loads of sugarcane farms, mountain views and laidback towns.
The 150-acre property is Australia’s first rum distillery with a farm-to-bottle focus Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the fascinating process to see how its own sugarcane becomes its signature Husk Rum – then try several of the top sellers. You can also try a gin tasting, including its signature Ink Gin: a vibrant, indigo-hued botanical gin made with butterfly pea flower that magically changes colour when you add tonic.
After your tour, settle in for a long lunch at Husk’s restaurant, featuring a lineup of farm-to-table dishes paired with your favourite drink from the tasting. You can’t ask for a better start to your holiday.
start to your Fruit farm fun
Just down the road, Tropical Fruit World is part orchard, part Willy Wonka. This working farm grows more than 500 exotic fruits – from chocolate pudding fruit to ice-cream beans.
You’ll hop aboard a tractor for a guided tasting tour through groves of baseball-sized avocados, banana plantations and downright bizarre things like miracle fruit.
This little red berry tricks your
taste buds, making sour foods like lemons taste surprisingly sweet It’s part science experiment, part party trick – and one of the most fun tastings you’ll ever do.
Designer beach sleep
stays: flair laidback Aussie
Tucked away in the tiny surf town of Cabarita Beach, Halcyon House is a coastal dream brought to life. What was once a classic 1960s motel has been transformed into one of Australia’s most stylish stays: think vintage European flair meets luxury. of
Each room is one a kind, with antique
furniture, curated artwork and upholstered walls
You’re just steps from the sand, and even closer to an extravagant wellness centre that’s part of the hotel.
Halcyon House is also home to Paper Daisy, an award-winning restaurant celebrating coastal cuisine with a fine-dining twist. Expect fresh seafood, hyper-local produce and plates that are as pretty as the view
Australia’s rail trail
When you’ve had your fill of relaxation, hit the newly opened Northern Rivers Rail Trail, which follows an old rail corridor past bridges, sugarcane fields, lush rainforest and sleepy villages.
One section cuts through the Burringbar Range Tunnel – a 500-metre-long passage filled with glowworms.
It’s a gentle, flat ride with ebike hire available, making it accessible for all fitness levels.
Rainforest reboot
After exploring the Tweed, head further south to Byron Bay – a beach town that’s popular for a reason. Known for its surf culture and bohemian energy, it also has a more tranquil side.
One of those places is Crystalbrook Byron, a luxury eco-resort hidden within 45 acres of subtropical rainforest. Wake to birdsong, do yoga by the pool, and wander the boardwalk trails that weave through the forest.
Book a couples massage at Eléme Day Spa, then head for cocktails and an extravagant feast at Forest Restaurant. It’s a hard day to beat.
Beachside fine dining
While Crystalbrook is an oasis you won’t want to leave, it’s worth a trip to Raes on Wategos. This isn’t just a place to eat – it’s a destination. With views over Byron’s most beautiful beach.
The seafood is divine, the plating is perfection and it’s a place you’ll remember for years to come.
Explore Byron
Byron
To get under the skin of Byron Bay, join a Vision Walks eco-tour.
Our guide, Wendy Bithell, took us to Cape Lighthouse, shared stories about local conservation projects, and introduced us to Byron’s sustainability scene, including a visit to The Farm – which is a an 80-acre regenerative agriculture hub where you can stroll market gardens, meet free-range animals and try paddock-to-plate fare at the famed Three Blue Ducks restaurant.
We ended the tour with a trip on Byron’s solarpowered train, a world-first.
Vision Byron vation tainab you animals Blue solar-
More than beaches
Most people think of beaches when it comes to Byron Bay, but the food scene is just as much a reason to visit.
For a memorable night out, try Light Years, which serves delicious, modern Asian fare with a side of neon. Think Korean fried chicken, Vietnamese slaw, and lychee martinis – all tapas style and designed to share.
City meets coast
The Tweed and Byron regions pair perfectly with a city break in Sydney. After your rainforest retreat, jump on a quick flight direct from Byron Bay to Sydney, to top off your trip with some urban fun
The writer’s trip was supported by Destination NSW.
Jetstar flies from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown to the Gold Coast. Direct flights from Hamilton and Dunedin also start in late June. See: jetstar.co.nz
Air New Zealand has direct flights from Auckland and Christchurch. See:airnz.co.nz
From Gold Coast Airport, head south and you’ll be in northern New South Wales within minutes. Alternatively, multiple airlines fly from Sydney to Byron Bay via Ballina Byron Gateway Airport.
Playing there:
Husk Farm Distillery tastings start at A$21.50 per adult
See: huskdistillers.com
Tropical Fruit World guided orchard tours from A$68 per adult and A$45 per child. See: tropicalfruitworld.com.au
Northern Rivers Rail Trail ebike hire from A$95 per adult and A$75 per child. See: betterbybike.com.au
Vision Walks Eco Tours exploring Byron Bay’s natural beauty Prices start at A$120 for adults.
See: visionwalks.com.au
Staying there:
Halcyon House starts from A$750 per night. See: halcyonhouse.com.au
Crystalbrook Byron starts from A$336 per night.
See: crystalbrookcollection.com/byron
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