NZFarmer North Island - 2 December 2025

INSIDE: Kiwi beef producers big winners in tariff U-turn DECEMBER 2025 EDITION

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TRADER DEALS

Geopolitics changing global agriculture Traditional supply and demand are no longer the main drivers in global agricultural trade, as geopolitical storms dictate the terms. P6

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President axes beef tariffs, giving ‘boost’ to NZ sector Trump’s abrupt retreat from his signature tariff policy on so many staples key to the American diet is significant, coming after last month’s election drubbing. By Stuff reporters.

Left: US President Donald Trump has turned his back on part of his tariff policy amid a voter backlash over high grocery prices. AP Below: Meat Industry Association chairperson Nathan Guy says the decision is a boost for local exporters.

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nited States President Donald Trump says he is scrapping tariffs on beef, coffee, tropical fruits and a broad swath of other commodities, in a dramatic move that comes amid mounting pressure on his administration to better combat high consumer prices. “We just did a little bit of a rollback on some foods like coffee,” Trump said aboard Air Force One as he flew to Florida, hours after the tariff announcement was made in Washington, DC. Pressed by media present on the plane about his tariffs having helped to increase consumer prices, Trump acknowledged, “I say they may, in some cases have that effect. But to a large extent they’ve been borne by other countries,” the president added. The New Zealand red meat sector welcomed the announcement, but said it was still seeking clarification of the details of the decision. “Based on our initial analysis, it appears the US has removed the additional 15% tariff on our beef that was imposed under the bilateral tariffs applied across the board on August 1,” said Kate Acland, chairperson of Beef + Lamb New Zealand. “This means that our beef will go back to facing a tariff of less than 1% under our World Trade Organisation country-specific tariff rate quota and will

restore a level playing field with our key competitors.” Nathan Guy, chairperson of the Meat Industry Association, said the US was New Zealand’s largest beef market. “This will be a boost for our exporters as it reduces the uncertainty they had been experiencing in the last few months,” Guy said. “Since these additional tariffs were imposed, volumes of New Zealand’s beef and lamb to the US have decreased compared to last year, despite strong demand and firm prices. “Since April, New Zealand beef imports into the US have incurred tariff costs of over NZ$300 million.” The tariffs were clearly having an impact on US food inflation, Guy said, and dropping them was “a sensible move to alleviate the pressure on US consumers”. “With US production at 70-year lows and consumption at record levels, the US needs our high-quality red meat.” Acland said Beef + Lamb New Zealand hoped tariffs on lamb would be next to be

eliminated. “We hope the US will also consider taking a similar approach to New Zealand lamb, which still continues to face an additional 15% tariff and has been experiencing similarly high prices.” Grocery bill worries in the US Trump slapped tariffs on most countries around the world in April. Since then, record-high beef prices have been a particular concern, and Trump had said he intended to take action to try to lower them. His tariffs on Brazil, a major beef exporter, had been a factor. On November 14, Trump signed an executive order that also removed tariffs on tea, fruit juice, cocoa, spices, bananas, oranges, tomatoes and certain fertilisers. Some of the products covered weren’t produced in the US, meaning that tariffs meant to spur domestic production had

little effect. But reducing the tariffs will still likely mean lower prices for American consumers. The Food Industry Association, which represents retailers, producers and a variety of related industry firms and services, applauded Trump’s move to provide “swift tariff relief”, noting that US import taxes “are an important factor” in a “complex mix” of supply chain issues. “President Trump’s proclamation to reduce tariffs on a substantial volume of food imports is a critical step in ensuring continued adequate supply at prices consumers can afford.” Tariffs cheques worth $2000? Despite pulling back on so many tariffs, Trump used his comments aboard Air Force One to repeat his past assertions that his administration would use revenue the federal government has collected from import levies to fund US$2000 (NZ$3600) cheques for many Americans. The president suggested such cheques could be issued in 2026, but was vague on timing, saying only, “Sometime during the year.” Trump, however, also said federal tariff revenue might be used to pay down national debt – raising questions about how much federal funding would be needed to do both. He rejected suggestions that attempting direct payments to Americans could exacerbate inflation concerns – even as he suggested that similar cheques offered during the coronavirus pandemic, and by previous administrations to stimulate the economy, had that very effect. “This is money earned as opposed to money that was made up,” Trump said. “Everybody but the rich will get this. That’s not made up. That’s real money. That comes from other countries.” – with AP

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From the Editor Contents 03 Tariff U-turn

New Zealand beef farmers win big with removal of US tariffs

06 From paddock to battlefield

Traditional market forces in global agriculture overtaken by geopolitics

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Saving money and time Kiwi company offers more competition with grocery service

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Call to buy local A lot of pork sold in New Zealand is imported

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Pay off debt Waikato dairy farmers indicate they won’t be going on a shopping spree

13

Doing it themselves Taranaki students run their own farm

14

A puzzle Massey research discovers why Friesian cows are black and white

16

From the kitchen Tempting treats to make for Christmas

19

A big year A2 Milk lifts revenue forecast after stronger trading

30 From indoors to out

New shoe from Danish company designed for outdoors

32 Trade’s indigenous chapter

Collective of Māori growers marketing their kiwifruit in Dubai

35 No more organic

Vineyards reverting back to traditional practices

Contact us NZ FARMER EDITOR Sonita Chandar, 027 446 6221 sonita.chandar@stuff.co.nz DESIGN Kwok Yi Lee, Nina Weil, Sam Davenport COVER PHOTO Compilation image: Kwok Yi Lee HEAD OF REGIONAL & RURAL MARKETS Kate Boreham, 021 279 5361 kate.boreham@stuff.co.nz

Politics and global agriculture collide “ Sonita Chandar Editor

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hen two of the world’s powerhouses go head to head, it is always going to affect the little guy – whether they know it or not. Geopolitics has been affecting consumers for years, and it was really just a matter of time before it became a bigger, more prominent game-changer in trade deals. On one side of the battlefield, we have the United States and on the other, China. And what started it all? That dreaded T-word – tariffs. What began as a trade conflict over tariffs has evolved into a global subsidy race. Rabobank’s recently released Agri Commodity Outlook 2026 says geopolitical forces will dictate agricultural trade flows, prices and production decisions. The agricultural landscape is described as a battlefield and a world where agricultural commodity exports have become “pawns on a geopolitical chessboard”. What this means is instead of just supply and demand dictating the market, geopolitics is in control of what we buy and sell our goods for. The US and China

Will there still be gifts under the tree?

are crucial export destinations for New Zealand agri commodities, so this will hurt everyone in some way. It’s not just food and fibre being affected by the trade war. Everything from shipping to manufacturing to packaging is. It makes me wonder how retailers will fare if people tighten their belts further and pull back on Christmas shopping and the like. Retailers report less revenue, hospitality businesses have closed their doors and Kiwi households are already reporting how tough things are, so will they stop spending altogether should this trade war get even worse and prices continue to rise? Will there still be gifts under the tree and a hot meal on the table this Christmas? From where I am sitting, that trade battlefield is a sandpit. That’s what came to mind when early shots were fired between the US and China. One said they would impose a 50% tariff, then the other retaliates by going higher and so forth;

they go back and forth, throwing sand at each other until trade is no longer worth it. Whether it’s big egos or the desire to do the best for their country, their producers and consumers don’t matter. Until Donald Trump and Xi Jinping stop butting heads and climb out of the sandpit, it’s not likely to get any better. There is far more than hurt feelings at risk – people’s livelihoods are on the line. And in the meantime, both leaders are acting like the Grinch and putting Christmas at risk for many. With the festive season now upon us, I would like to take this time to thank all our readers, advertisers and supporters. We couldn’t do this without you. A big thank you to our farmers, who continue the good fight, pulling on their gumboots and going to work every day, rain or shine, to put food on our tables. Season’s greetings, happy holidays and Merry Christmas from the team at NZFarmer. Get in touch with us at nzfarmer@stuff.co.nz

December 2025

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Opinion NZ Farmer 5

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New entity inspires assessment Soil scientist Doug Edmeades takes a look at SimplyFert, the new kid in the fertiliser market, and says there are factors in the sector that need addressing.

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have been remiss. I thought I did a reasonable job keeping up with changes in the fertiliser industry. But I have been wrong. I have only now realised that Ballance AgriNutrients Ltd (BAN) has launched a wholly owned and operated subsidiary company, called SimplyFert. It offers farmer-shareholders a range of the core Ballance products at reduced prices. Twenty-five products are listed on the SimplyFert website, and by my calculations, they will be about $50/tonne cheaper than the normal retail price. Super appears to be anomalous – it will be more expensive through SimplyFert by about $15/tonne, ignoring the current one-off discount. There are qualifications. The minimum order is 10 tonnes, and the orders are only available through three hubs – Mt Maunganui, Timaru and Awarua – and not through the normal service centres. Furthermore, the normal technical services provided by Ballance – a farm visit, soil testing and technical advice – will not be available. What does this all mean?

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Some reps, I am told, do not have the time to go on-farm to assess the pastures and do the necessary soil testing. If you are a shareholder, you will need to organise your own transport from one of the three hubs. There will be no farm visit and, if required, you will need to seek independent technical advice on your fertiliser programme. The trade-off will be seen in your

Success breeds Success Wairere Romneys, Challengers (FE resilient), Nudies, Dominators

fertiliser bill. For example, if you meet the criteria and are in the market for, say, 100 tonnes of fertiliser, you could save about $5K annually. In effect, Ballance has estimated the cost of its overheads, including distribution and technical support, to be worth about $50 per tonne. In my opinion, this looks like a good deal. Put differently, how much value do you currently place on the convenience of having a local service centre nearby and on the technical fertiliser advice currently offered by BAN? One way or another, the cost of transport from the fertiliser hub to the farm has to be met – it cannot be avoided, whether the order goes through a service centre or not. Indeed, it may be cheaper for some to avoid the service centres. What can be avoided, however, is the cost of the technical support from Ballance, and therein lies the rub. Farmers tell me that they are not satisfied with the technical support they are currently getting from their fertiliser reps. As far as the farmer is concerned, they lack credibility because they are too young and inexperienced to add real value to the farming operation. Some reps, I am told, do not have the time to go on-farm to assess the pastures and do the necessary soil testing – instead, they outsource this vital component required to offer good fertiliser advice to a lackey. The sad truth is that even if the fertiliser rep did go on-farm, it is unlikely they would know what a good clover-based pasture looks like. And in any case, they are not adequately trained in the art of soil testing – it is so easy to get an inflated

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soil test result if the necessary sampling protocols are not followed. This gives the farmer the false impression the soil fertility is adequate and that there must be other factors limiting pasture growth. Cue in nitrogen (N) fertiliser or supplementary feed. It seems to me the reps these days are, at best, order-takers or, worse, salespeople dutifully peddling the products endorsed by their marketing department. A good example of this is the urea-based product SustaiN. Ballance appears to be very proud of how well this product has been accepted in the marketplace. This is a triumph of marketing, because the science does not exactly support the claims made for it. By the time this column goes to print, I will have delivered my paper to the 2025 Grasslands Conference entitled, Is soil fertility a factor limiting pasture productivity and persistence? I will be arguing, supported by the relevant data, that the soil fertility on both dairy and sheep and beef farms is poor – something like 70% of farms are deficient in either phosphorus (P), potassium (K) or sulphur (S). This will be limiting clover-growth, inputs of free N from the atmosphere, and hence the production and persistence of grass growth. Thus, I have reached the point of saying that the technical advice offered by the fertiliser co-ops is of little value and that those shareholders making use of the SimplyFert offer are likely to be better off using their fertiliser savings to buy some good soil fertility and fertiliser advice from suitably qualified, independent farm consultants.

3. Add Value. Wairere rams add value to your stock. New Zealand’s best known brand often creates a premium for sale stock: store lambs, ewe lambs, two tooth ewes, five year ewes. If you sell your farm, or give up a lease, you can be confident that your capital stock will be keenly sought after. 4. Large Scale. Wairere rams are backed by scale. More than 10,000 Wairere

ewes produce Romney, Composite and Dominator rams for sale. Big numbers allow heavy selection pressure. 5. Sexy Sisters. Wairere rams have sexy sisters. Ewe hoggets must be tup marked to be retained. 6. Less Work. Wairere rams reduce your workload. All ewe hoggets have been mated since 1966, and lambed unshepherded. We cull heavily on dags, feet, and other basics. Easycare is key to happy sheep farming. 7.

Number One. Wairere rams have been around a long time. Wairere has been the number one brand by sales over the past thirty eight years. The foundation was set in 1929, when Len Daniell started a registered Romney stud.

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December 2025

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Geopolitics are driving market forces in global agricultural trade with the United States and China in a trade war. US President Donald Trump, right, chats with Chinese President Xi Jinping. ANDY WONG/AP

Geopolitics creating a war in global agriculture market

A new Rabobank report says geopolitics are driving market forces instead of traditional supply and demand. By Sonita Chandar.

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lobal agriculture is no longer influenced by traditional market forces – supply and demand. Instead, according to Rabobank’s Agri Commodity Outlook 2026, geopolitical forces will dictate agricultural trade flows, prices and production decisions. The report describes the agricultural landscape as a battlefield and a world where agricultural commodity exports have become “pawns on a geopolitical chessboard”, with the United States on one side and China on the other. And both of those spheres are crucial export destinations for New Zealand agri commodities because they are our two largest markets. “Agriculture is no longer playing by supply-and-demand rules, it’s also playing by geopolitical ones,” Rabobank head of agri commodity markets research Carlos Mera said. Trade wars are reshaping long-standing patterns of production and export by means of tariffs and subsidies, leading to a fragmented, policy-driven global food system.

The report says the initial trade conflict that began with tariffs has evolved into a global subsidy race. Governments across the world – from the US and Brazil to Indonesia, Argentina, and Russia – have intensified agricultural support programmes through direct payments, minimum price guarantees and biofuel mandates. “This widespread protection has muted the reaction of farmers to low prices and will likely sustain high total planted areas, keeping global grain and oilseed prices subdued for 2026,” RaboResearch New Zealand and Australia general manager Stefan Vogel said. “And this should benefit feeding costs for New Zealand’s livestock farmers.” The report says tariffs and trade barriers could widen price gaps between producing regions. “Before the Trump-Xi agreement, Brazil’s soy export prices benefited from strong Chinese demand, while US prices were heavily depressed. US and Brazil soybean prices have come closer together since the announcement of the agreement, but given that we still see a lot of trade barriers ahead, more price differences are likely,” Mera said. “We expect these geographic price differentials to persist or increase in 2026.” The report also says the tariff war’s

said it would remove its reciprocal tariffs on a range of food products, including New Zealand beef, which was welcome news for the red meat sector. “We are still seeking clarification on the exact details of the decision. However, based on our initial analysis, it appears the US has removed the additional 15% tariff on our beef that was imposed under the bilateral tariffs applied across the board on the August 1”, Beef + Lamb New Zealand chairperson Kate Acland said. “This means that our beef will go back to facing a tariff of less than 1% under our WTO [World Trade Organisation] country-specific tariff rate quota and will restore a level playing field with our key competitors.

RaboResearch New Zealand and Australia general manager Stefan Vogel.

unintended effects are still being corrected. US authorities are reviewing tariffs on products the country does not produce – such as coffee and cocoa – which could ease costs for US consumers and restore trade flows from producing nations. In mid-November, the US Government

Economic outlook Despite trade tension, global growth in 2025 has exceeded expectations, supported by monetary easing, lower energy prices and frontloading of exports ahead of tariff hikes – a tactical gambit to mitigate early shock, the Rabobank report said. However, these mitigating factors will fade and the negative effect of the tariffs and uncertainty are likely to surface in 2026. Rabobank forecasts global GDP growth at 2.9% this year, easing to 2.7% next year. While trade between major blocs will likely slow, intraregional trade could rise due to diversion. Inflationary pressures are

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expected to persist in some regions but will likely be less severe than previously projected.

Coffee Coalition, said drought, rising temperatures, and new pest pressures are weakening crops. Sudden “rain bombs,” landslides and unexpected frosts further threaten harvests. What effects this will have on supply and prices is yet to be seen.

Commodity outlooks Dairy Milk production in most key global dairy-exporting regions is growing strongly, with a velocity that has outperformed RaboResearch’s previous expectations. These gains are expected to maintain momentum into next year, although the pace will moderate. Domestically, milk production for the 2025/26 season has shown steady growth through winter and spring, with increases recorded in every month from June to September compared with the previous two seasons. Overall, season-to-date production (until the end of September) exceeded 400 million kgMS, a 3.8% increase on the corresponding point last season. The largest contribution came in September, where monthly production rose to 228.8 million kgMS, which is up 3.4% from September 2024/25 and 8.8% above September 2023/24. The seasonal production curve remains consistent with historical patterns, with a sharp rise into spring and a peak expected in October, indicating favourable pasture conditions and strong early-season cow performance to this point in the season. Live cattle US cattle and beef supplies should provide market support next year, while consumer beef demand will dictate the price ceiling. Rabobank expects US cattle slaughter to decline for a fourth consecutive year in 2026 and falling fed steer and heifer supplies reflect the cumulative impacts of recent herd liquidation on feedyard inventories, the continued ban on Mexican cattle imports, and increased heifer retention. “US beef imports are expected to remain strong in 2026, which should benefit export nations, including New Zealand” Vogel said. US production is at 70-year lows and consumption at record levels, which means the US needs our high-quality red meat. “New Zealand is a complementary trading partner, being an important source of lean beef that is mixed with US domestic grain-fed beef to produce burger

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Clockwise from top left: Globally, milk production is growing. The US is our biggest export market for beef as US production is at a 70-year low. Coffee producers in Asia have reported climatic events have affected their production, although prices should remain stable. Since 2021, retail chocolate prices globally have surged, driven by a cocoa market in crisis because of poor harvest and despite relief, consumers will still pay high prices.

patties. It is also becoming an important sheepmeat market for high-value premium cuts,” Acland said. Wheat The 2025/26 season marks the first global wheat surplus in six years, with output up by 25 million metric tonnes. However, the Rabobank report said lower prices (around an average of USc533/bu in 2025 so far) are likely to trigger area reductions, leading to a projected 4 million metric tonne deficit in 2026/27. Wheat prices are expected to remain constrained by cheap corn, although adverse weather or renewed geopolitical tension could lift them.

Coffee After record-high arabica and robusta prices this year, we are expecting supply-demand balance in 2025/26, with the first significant global surplus in five years – estimated at 7 million to 10 million bags – likely in 2026/27. Prices are expected to stabilise between US$2.50 and US$3.50/lb by the end of next year, although volatility will remain high in the short term. Across the Asia region, coffee producers reported their crops had been impacted by increasingly erratic weather. In Thailand, forest-based coffee grower Lee Ayu, an Indigenous Akha producer from the Mejantai Sustainable Coffee Community and part of the Slow Food

Cocoa Cocoa prices have nearly halved this year amid a rebound in production and weak demand. RaboResearch forecasts a 328,000 metric ton surplus for 2025/26 and a potential 403,000 metric ton surplus for 2026/27. Production is shifting from Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana toward Latin America and Indonesia, increasing the risk of future overproduction and continued volatility. And although consumers can expect some relief from rising chocolate prices with cocoa futures easing after hitting record highs, the bank’s RaboResearch division found retail chocolate prices will remain well above pre-“cocoa crisis” levels, signalling a new normal for the industry. RaboResearch agriculture analyst Paul Joules said since 2021, retail chocolate prices globally have surged, driven by a cocoa market in crisis because of poor harvests, crop disease and structural supply issues. And this had also seen higher chocolate prices for New Zealand consumers. The only certainty is uncertainty. Mera said the world is only at the beginning of the “middle game” of this geopolitical struggle. “We foresee continued trade disruptions, fluctuating regional prices, heavy government intervention, and a high probability of unexpected events,” he said. “Geopolitical fragmentation has redefined global agriculture. Farmers, traders, and policymakers alike must prepare for a world where trade is disrupted and the unexpected is now the baseline.” Vogel said New Zealand’s trade with the US and China is going strong, benefiting farmgate prices. “And New Zealand will be hoping to fly largely under the geopolitical radar again in 2026.”

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December 2025

Opinion 8 NZ Farmer

Questions as bank reporting season shows strong results Opinion

Business adviser Gordon Stuart says despite the recession, banks are still making huge profits.

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he bank reporting season has again shown another round of strong results with limited volatility of returns, which begs two questions; is the climate really that bad or are banks just making excessive profits with extraordinary returns relative to the risk being taken? I have used ANZ’s results in this article for consistency, and as it is the largest bank. Household mortgages now comprise 72.7% of lending, business and agri 15.3% and institutional 12%. The Reserve Bank reports ANZ’s total capital is 17.7% of risk-weighted assets in NZ. Its Australian parent is only 12.3%. Despite being required to hold more capital in New Zealand, ANZ still made a 13.2% return on equity. The yield on a New Zealand 10-year bond is 4.1% so that implies a 9.1% equity risk premium. The pricing of risk and taking of it is at the epicentre of credit intermediation and any economy. You need to take risk and manage it. The parties at the table are the regulator (RBNZ), policy-makers (government), banks and borrowers. As we have seen with the need to recapitalise a large red meat company, there are some issues with many businesses’ ability to take and manage risk. However, back to banks. Once again despite a recession, bank impairment expenses (which cover writeoffs and losses) have been minimal. In ANZ’s latest result there has been a credit impairment release (writeback or recovery) from business and agri of $30m and $5m from institutional. We’ve had an inquiry into bank competition, which has gone nowhere, partly because the people running the inquiry do not get on top of the fundamental issue; bank returns (profits and margins) relative to the volatility of returns and risk being taken. Are capital requirements too high? Common sense says yes, they favour low-risk mortgage lending which is not conducive to lifting NZ Inc’s productivity. Secondly, are credit models banks use too conservative, resulting in banks overestimating potential losses, and therefore overpricing risk/return? ANZ’s net interest margin was 2.60% for the year ended September 30, 2025.

Its Australian parent consolidated net interest margin was 1.55%. While media focus has been on falling fixed rates for household mortgages, little attention has been given to the liability side of bank balance sheets (deposits, offshore funding costs and savings accounts), floating rate reductions have lagged the fall in floating-rate funding, and as a by-product result, the net interest margins extracted by banks. A fundamental failure of the inquiry into banking was not the requirement to provide margins by asset or sector. New Zealand bank cost-to-income ratios across the big four are incredulously low relative to international peers. To what extent has investment in customer service, credit approval times, capability and technology been forsaken over the years or traded off, to maximise profit in the short term? ANZ’s cost-to-income ratio in New Zealand is 35%. In Australia it is 53%. From its segment reporting we can see the New Zealand personal (mortgage business) cost-to-income ratio was 42%, New Zealand institutional 25%, and New Zealand business and agri 30%. This then flows through to profitability after tax by

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Is the climate really that bad or are banks just making excessive profits with extraordinary returns relative to the risk being taken? Gordon Stuart sector with personal providing 52% despite being 72.7% of lending, institutional 24%, business agri 22%, and the group centre 2% of net profit after tax. Cost control and margin gains are driving profitability. There is nothing wrong with that in the short-term but it is hardly a long-term winning formula. On one hand, low cost-to-income ratios are a sign of efficiency, and New Zealand banks are very efficient and well run. However, questions need to be asked about the sustainability of current

cost-to-income ratios, and whether sufficient investment is being made in areas such as technology, timely response, and customer service. ANZ Australia’s latest investor presentation for the year ended September 30, 2025, disclosed net promoter scores are positive for personal banking but remain at -5 for New Zealand business and agri. Since Covid, many business customers tell me they have had multiple new bank relationship managers, often who they haven’t met, and now no-one knows their business. At the SME level, it is very difficult to shift banks as staff say they are not incentivised to take on new business and can’t meet existing workloads. The removal of bonus incentives appears to have disincentivised risk-taking by bankers, with management preferring low-risk housing loans over business-based solutions for customers. A heavy compliance burden also appears to have made small business lending even more difficult. New Zealand’s banking regulatory environment remains a mess. The Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act, Responsible Lending Code, Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering requirements have simply made small loans less economical. The paperwork when a trust is involved is frightening. Banks are not the fun place they used to be. How have these changes impacted staff churn? Conclusion Strong profits and little variance in profits during a recession signal the banking system appears to be pricing for risk, but not taking a lot. The latest reporting season gave us more of the same old story. Incredible profits (return on equity) relative to Australian parents, impairment expenses that signal little risk being taken, and continued margin expansion. This government has talked a big game when it comes to competition but has delivered little in key areas such as banking, construction, electricity and supermarkets. While consistent with safe lending practices, for New Zealand to succeed, a better balance needs to be struck. Our regulatory capital rules, and regulations need change. Successful credit intermediation is not only the responsibility of the lender, regulator or parliament. Businesses have a role to play too, and New Zealand businesses and farmers needs to lift their own financial acumen to be better bankable propositions.

Experience counts when planting trees

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t saddens me to see lines of trees flattened by the wind, when if the owner had followed some longestablished rules there would have been way less damage. The shelter value is eight times the height on the leeward side and three times on the windward. As trialled and proved by farm foresters, shelter needs to be permeable. That is 50% porous. In layman’s terms not only can you see the tractor on the other side but you can identify the make and model. If you have a solid

barrier, the wind goes over and dumps on the ground harder and creates a vacuum behind the hedge line, making them more likely to topple. The rules for establishing more stable shelter as has worked for me here at Hororata for 38 years (near Windwhistle in Canterbury) are as follows: Single row Rip deep with a winged ripper. In any hollows, cross rip so water does not pond. Plant carefully, deep and well, getting

the roots pointing down and trimming any long roots so they don’t strangle the tree (you would be amazed as to how many trees blow over due to poor planting, myself included), follow the rip line and keep them straight. Trim with the hedge cutter as hard to the trunk like 5cms and as high as the hedge cutter can reach. The variation here is do the first pass with the hedge cutter regularly to give dense, low shelter for lambing and irregularly higher to give the open porous shelter you need.

Never top them Two pluses of this system. I have just logged approx 1000 tonnes that I planted mostly from thinning 30 to 35-year-old shelter belts. The majority in better grades for local and export (off a 46-acre block). Last year just before the fire restrictions went on I had a rubbish fire jump into a hedge line. It burnt itself out in 16 metres due to lack of fuel. Had this been a classic useless Canterbury-wide topped hedge it would have been all over. Mike Davies, Canterbury

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ith the cost of living ever increasing, consumers are having to come up with new ways of making their dollar stretch as far as possible. And with the festive season now upon us, there is added pressure to buy presents, decorate homes and produce a nice Christmas dinner. There’s little relief at the supermarket, with dairy, meat and fresh fruit and vegetable prices out of reach of some consumers. But now, there is a bit of help coming. The food subscription service that saves “wonky” fruit and vegetables from going to landfill – Wonky Box – has entered a bold new chapter with the launch of Good Groceries by Wonky, a reimagined grocery concept for conscious shoppers. Good Groceries by Wonky has been designed to make the weekly shop simpler, smarter and fairer. And during the festive season, it can save time and help avoid the supermarket crowds. Wonky plans to deliver quality goods while championing local growers, farmers and producers. Shoppers can enjoy ethically-farmed and traceable groceries that are good for everyone – all backed by Wonky Box’s freshness guarantee. “Good Groceries by Wonky marks an exciting new chapter for Wonky Box,” says company co-founder Angus Simms. “In a market that needs a more competitive supermarket landscape, our new expanded offering will make the weekly shop easier for our customers, while supporting our wider mission to create a better grocery experience for Kiwis, farmers, growers and producers – it’s good for everyone. “Food waste will always remain at the core of what we do, but this evolution is a natural step in our growth – giving Kiwi households access to a curated selection of locally-sourced products, with quality and fair value at the centre. Our commitment is to show that ‘wonky’ doesn’t mean second-grade, as every product is chosen for its quality, provenance and purpose. “With Good Groceries by Wonky, we are stepping into our role as a trusted grocery partner – creating a feel-good experience Kiwis can rely on. “We’re not here to offer everything under the sun. Just the right things. Seasonal, useful, and worth their place in your store cupboard or fridge. No overwhelm, no endless scroll – just a carefully chosen selection that makes shopping simpler, planetpositive and easier to budget for.” Fridge Fillers include a Good Groceries by Wonky variety of meat options, launched in mid-October, as well as cheeses and together with two new virtual deli goods. Pictured: aisles. Philippe Arregui, from Fridge Fillers – Wonky Box’s L’Authentique, and first-ever chilled range – features Wonky Box’s Angus butcher-quality meat bundles, Simms. cheeses and deli staples from trusted New Zealand producers and distributors. “Fridge Fillers marks our entry into through the Good Groceries shop in the app. chilled groceries with the launch of our Boxes contain four to five changing new Farmers Meat Boxes – traceable, varieties of meat, all ethically farmed and butcher-quality bundles handpicked from produced from local farms. New Zealand farmers recognised for their Wonky Box is working with Harmony sustainable practices and high standards. and The Organic Butcher to partner with It’s priced at $59 for a 2-kilogram box (four farmers and brands that care about what varieties) and $95 for a 3.8kg box (five they produce and how they produce it. varieties).” “The selection of meats available will “Our meat offering is designed to change week to week, and customers can complement our fresh fruit and veg boxes expect a variety of options, such as quality by adding that essential protein on the plate, free-range chicken thighs, free-range pork with a focus on traceability and chops, beef rump steaks, gourmet sausages value-driven cuts.’’ and New Zealand grass-fed beef mince. Farmers Meat Boxes are available on “One thing’s for sure – you won’t find subscription weekly, fortnightly, every three any ‘mystery meat’ here,” Simms says. “Our weeks or monthly. They can also be added meats are all about trusted quality and as a one-off to your regular produce box traceability.

A bold move A Kiwi company is redefining the weekly food shop by introducing a fairer grocery model for growers, farmers and producers. Its goal is to help families save money at the checkout. By Sonita Chandar.

Above: Wonky Box co-founders Katie Jackson and Angus Simms have increased their subscription service to include grovery items, fridge fillers and refillables for the pantry. Left: Freshly cut flowers from Wonky Flowers can be used to create stunning bouquets for Christmas.

Good Groceries by Wonky is a reimagined grocery concept for conscious shoppers, helping them to save money and make the weekly shop simpler.

“While not everything in the Fridge Fillers range will be ‘wonky’, you can still expect a few perfectly imperfect surprises, like cheese off-cuts and salami ends.” Katie Jackson, co-founder of Wonky Box, says: “Shoppers deserve to know where their food comes from and to feel confident that farmers, growers and producers are supported in the process. Good Groceries by Wonky makes it simple – reducing waste where possible, backing local and delivering fair value for everyone. “In supermarkets, apples are proudly labelled ‘grown in the Hawke’s Bay’ or oranges ‘from Gisborne.’ It’s right there on the shelf – the region, sometimes even a photo of the grower. It helps you feel connected to what you’re buying. You know it’s fresh. You know it’s local. You know someone grew it with care.” Jackson says that clarity sometimes disappears in meat products as many packs don’t name the farm, or even the region. “You might not know which cut you’re buying. Some sausages are labelled ‘beef’ but are really pork with beef flavouring. Others come from overseas, processed and packaged to look local, with no transparency about their origins.” Jackson says they believe shoppers deserve to know where their meat comes from, how the animals were raised, and that their purchase supports good people doing good things. “We’re applying the same Wonky lens we’ve always used for produce to meat – asking the important questions: Is it local? Does it support a good grower or farmer? Is it produced responsibly, with care for animals and the land? We do the asking, so customers don’t have to.” Other Fridge Fillers include artisan cheese off-cuts from New Zealand cheesemakers, deli meats and staples, olives, fresh pasta, sauces and soups – all tasty, all with a story worth telling. “Barrys Bay Cheese has been handcrafting cheese since 1895, and our off-cuts are no different to Good Groceries our grocery packs,” says from Wonky Daniel Shields, owner of Box is a quick Barrys Bay Cheese. easy way to “Each is made with local restock the milk from grass-fed cows, fridge or pantry the same care, and the with good same ageing. Partnering quality food. with Wonky Box on Fridge Fillers helps us run an artisanal cheese business, selling the whole cheese and minimising waste. For Kiwis, it’s a way to buy speciality local cheeses at great prices and support a regional producer.” The second virtual aisle is Refillables – a refillable range of grains, pulses and dry goods – in compostable packaging. These will sit alongside the existing Wonky Pantry – a mix of rescued and responsibly sourced staples, from surplus and short-dated items to dented-but-delicious finds, plus cupboard heroes like sauces, condiments, baking goods and preserves. There are also pantry staples such as lentils, rice, pasta, oats and flour, delivered in compostable paper bags. They’re portioned sensibly, sourced transparently and ready to go straight into your cupboard. Snacks, spreads and occasionally a wildcard are also available to fill your pantry. “This is never going to be about having the widest range. For us, it’s about carefully selecting products, producers and growers to offer Kiwis trusted, quality goods – delivered in one box, at a fair price, straight to the doorstep,” Jackson says. With time and money saved, customers can also brighten their home with freshly cut flowers from Wonky and create Christmas bouquets and wreaths. Flowers are picked, packed and sent straight from the farm to your door. Wonky Flowers offers 17 seasonal stems of four or five varieties and will even send you tips and tricks to create a stunning arrangement.

December 2025

Updated all day at

NZ Farmer

News 11 NZ Farmer

Call to buy local pork and eat better Festive season

Rural reporter

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s families sit down on Christmas Day to carve into their ham, many won’t realise just how many delicious New Zealand-grown options are out there – or how simple it is to support local farmers when buying pork throughout the year. Even if this year’s ham is already chilling in the fridge, it’s worth knowing what to look for next time, because choosing New Zealand pork makes a real difference. New Zealand farmers produce pork to some of the highest animal welfare and high-health standards in the world. Almost all of it is grown specifically for Kiwi households, not overseas markets. Local butchers and supermarkets offer a wide range of quality hams and bacon – including products recognised in the New Zealand Bacon & Ham Awards, which celebrate the country’s best. These award-winners showcase just how good New Zealand pork can taste and how much craftsmanship and care goes into producing it. For consumers wanting to support local next time they shop, the easiest guide is the “100% NZPork” label. This confirms the pork was born and raised in New Zealand. A simple question at the deli counter is often all it takes. Many people are surprised to learn that packaging can feature prominent New Zealand branding even when the pork itself is not grown here. In practice, this means shoppers who believe

as castration without pain relief – are tightly regulated or prohibited in New Zealand. NZPork chief executive Brent Kleiss says New Zealand farmers are continually lifting standards, but they need a fair system. “If we’re raising the bar here, the same standards should apply to imported pork. “Local farmers invest heavily in high-health herds and world-leading welfare systems, and they deserve a level playing field.” Biosecurity risks remain another concern. Several major pork-exporting nations, including Germany, Poland and Italy, continue to manage outbreaks of African swine fever, a disease that has devastated pig herds overseas. Despite these challenges, New Zealand consumers have excellent options – and at a time when budgets are tight, pork continues to represent great value. “Roast pork is one of the most affordable centrepieces for a classic Kiwi Christmas A Christmas ham is delicious hot or cold. It’s a versatile meat that can be or New Year meal, delivering used in many ways, but do you know where yours has come from? flavour, versatility and good portion sizes without straining they are supporting local farmers may practices that would be household finances,” says Kleiss. NZPork unknowingly be buying imported pork illegal here. “So if this year’s ham is already chief executive instead. Recent analysis shows sorted, enjoy it – and when you’re Brent Kleiss is That matters because imported pork that about 66.6% of buying bacon, ham or pork next encouraging accounts for a surprisingly large share of imported pork comes from time, take a moment to check where consumers to support it truly comes from. what New Zealanders eat. countries that do not limit Kiwi farmers. Between January and September confinement in farrowing “Choosing New Zealand this year, nearly two-thirds of all pork crates, including the born-and-raised pork supports consumed in New Zealand was imported, United States, Canada, Australia, Denmark, local farmers, upholds our welfare much of it produced under farming Spain and the United Kingdom. standards and keeps our high-health pig systems that allow animal welfare Other routine practices overseas – such industry strong for the future.”

NZ Farmer

December 2025

12 Regional NZ FarmerRound-up

Cockies cautious despite looming payday

Te Awamutu Federated Farmers chairperson Andrew Reymer said cockies were remaining cautious with their money but the upcoming Fonterra payout would strengthen the entire Waikato economy. KELLY HODEL/STUFF

Payout from Fonterra may take a while to trickle down through the regions, reports Matthew Martin.

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aikato dairy farmers won’t be rushing out to buy sports cars and fur coats but those in the know say the entire region can expect to prosper after Fonterra’s $4.2 billion consumer brands sale. Fonterra farmer-shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favour of selling its Mainland consumer brands business to French multinational dairy giant Lactalis. At a special general meeting, 88.47% of farmers voted to support the sale that Fonterra management said would be transformational for the co-operative, which will now focus on supplying ingredients to food manufacturers and the global hospitality trade. The sale is expected to see about $3.2 billion returned to its roughly 8000 share-owning dairy farmers with average returns for farmers estimated at $400,000. ASB economists expected capital returns to trigger a $4.5 billion spending effect through the economy as farmers put the capital to work. Most of the capital return will be spent on reducing farm debt, ASB expected, but some would be invested in farm businesses, and some would be spent by farmers to boost their lifestyles. But with farmers not expecting to see that cash until early next year, Te Awamutu Federated Farmers chairperson Andrew Reymer said cockies were remaining cautious with their money. “It will probably be across the board – a little bit here, a little bit there – a little bit of debt reduction, probably some infrastructure spend, which is all going to flow into the economy.

Matamata-Piako mayor Ash Tanner says future spending by Fonterra farmers in the region will be a boon for local business. CHRISTEL YARDLEY/WAIKATO TIMES

Waikato’s Fonterra farmers haven’t started to splash the cash on new farm machinery just yet.

“There could be a new kitchen or a Range Rover or whatever it is ... I spoke to one guy who will use it to buy some extra shares ... using it as succession planning.”

Reymer said farmers were still facing some economic headwinds, such as weakening European milk prices, and would be sitting on their money for a few months. “This will be a good thing for the Waikato’s economy in general if they’re looking to spend a bit locally. “Farmers are either going to buy some toys or they’re going to buy some concrete, do some maintenance on buildings, and they’ve got to spend a bit on capital improvements. “But whatever it is, it’s still going to be spent in town somewhere and find its way into the economy one way or another.” He said he’d invested in a new fertiliser sprayer, but was not getting too excited.

“We all know that there’s ups and downs, and there’ll be a downturn, so farmers are still pretty cautious.” AgPlus Te Aroha sales consultant Stan Knight said while new machinery sales were consistent, it was the repair and maintenance of existing gear that was keeping them busy. He said over the past two or three seasons, farmers had been spending the bare minimum on maintenance and repairs. “We noticed farmers saying ‘just patch it, keep it going’, but now they’re coming and saying, ‘what’s it going to cost?’, and if it’s only an extra couple of grand they’re fixing it properly.” He said the results of sales at two major upcoming industry events in the new year – Matamata’s Dairy Expo in February and the Central Districts Field Days in March – would confirm whether on-farm confidence was back, or otherwise. Knight said he had heard from banking contacts that many were sitting on their money, and not spending just yet. “Everyone’s saying there’s a lot of uncertainties, and they’re scared they’ll get the rug pulled out from underneath them. “But it’s definitely a positive feeling out there. Matamata-Piako mayor Ash Tanner said, “there’s still a bit of wait and see, and what sort of dollar figure that [payment] looks like. “If it’s a cash injection ... that can only be a positive thing and hopefully it gives the farmers confidence to spend, because that could have a huge impact on our rural communities.” Tanner said spends on concrete pads, barns, or fencing would all be flowing straight back into the local economy.

December 2025

NZ Farmer

Regional Round-up NZ Farmer 13

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Students getting their hands dirty “ Primary industries

Stephanie Ockhuysen of RNZ

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Taranaki secondary school is training the next generation of primary industry workers. Nearly half the 800 students at Francis Douglas Memorial College (FDMC) in New Plymouth take part in the school’s primary industries programme. As part of the programme, students even run a native plant nursery and are contracted to produce 10,000 plants a year for South Taranaki District Council. The school operates its own 20-hectare beef farm, where students apply classroom learning directly on the land – from stock work and fencing to sustainability projects. The programme, led by Aimee Watkins, spans agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fisheries and sports turf, giving students pathways beyond traditional dairy. Watkins said many students go straight into farm jobs or some kind of related studies at university. “Agriculture is really, really big here. It’s a really important part of the whole school and it’s massively supported. “We have our practical stream, they’ve got stock in the yards and they’re fencing, they’re spraying, all those sorts of things and then there’s the academic

Agriculture is really, really big here. It’s a really important part of the whole school and it’s massively supported.” Aimee Watkins

More than half of all students at Francis Douglas Memorial College in New Plymouth take a primary industries subject. FRANCIS DOUGLAS MEMORIAL COLLEGE

stream, so the agriscience, agribusiness kids as well. “So they come through and do different things, whether it’s investigations or environment, sustainability, and it’s all teed up through their standards that

they do. “It’s a pretty full package being able to have the farm as well, so the kids are talking about it in class and then also doing it. “It’s pretty special. It’s a pretty unique

environment really for students.” Gerard Kalin, a former student of the college, has been the farm manager since July. Recently, the farm had Halter’s virtual fencing technology and smart cow collars installed, so Kalin had been walking students through that. “Just last week we put the collars on 25 15-month-olds, so we’re a week into it,” he said. “Again, we’ve integrated all the boys to put the collars on and do all the work around it, erecting the tower that was dug by the students. “Moving forward, it’s going to be a great concept, I think. If we can integrate that knowledge or system, the boys will be a good product when they leave here.”

Waverley team leaf it all behind Horticulture

Catherine Groenstein

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fter selling 56,000 lettuces and 75,000 kilograms of bagged leaves in 2½ years, two couples who revived a small-town hydroponic farm in South Taranaki are moving on. Salad Brothers in Waverley was restarted in 2023 by Chris Carrick and Marianne Archibald with her brother Garth Archibald and his wife, Kristine Bell. The 1-hectare lettuce farm was set up in 1986, but had become run down and was not operating when they bought it. Since then, they have invested more than $500,000 in improvements. The massive upgrade and fast learning curve for the two couples had seen the business blossom, but for personal reasons, they had decided to sell up, Marianne said. “We’re going our separate ways so we have to sell even though it’s going really well. “We are disappointed at letting it go at this stage, but we all have our other things to do. We are really proud of what we have created here; it’s just so crispy and so good.” Sales were steadily climbing, and they were supplying cafes and supermarkets, including Taranaki’s New World and Pak’nSave supermarkets. They were also proud of the lettuce farm’s environmental and business sustainability, she said. “We have less than a rubbish bin of rubbish from the farm each week, and another bin from our two households. “We feed all the lettuce scraps to

The hydroponic farm uses less water than a soil system.

The Salad Brothers founders Kristine Bell, Marianne Archibald, Chris Carrick and Garth Archibald are selling up after restarting and rejuvenating a hydroponic lettuce farm at Waverley.

the cows. The water is recycled so we use less water than in a soil system, and we catch rainwater off the tunnel houses,” Marianne said. “We are really low on chemical use, we try not to use sprays – unless it’s really needed, it’s not a norm.” The farm has a team of two fulltime staff, four part-timers and some casual employees. Chris said he had enjoyed rejuvenating the farm. “It was a wreck, inoperable. Putting it back together, seeing it up and running has been great.”

Above: Garth Archibald says he has particularly enjoyed seeing the vibrant colour of all the lettuces in Salad Brothers’ tunnel houses. Left: Since its launch in 2023, Salad Brothers has sold more than 56,000 lettuces and 75,000kg of bagged leaves.

NZ Farmer

December 2025

Science and Research 14 NZ Farmer

How black and white cows got spots A team of researchers at Massey University has unlocked the genetic puzzle behind this common coat pattern for domestic cattle.

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he black and white coat of mice, dogs, horses, birds and other holstein friesian cows is species,” Professor Littlejohn says. globally recognised as a symbol The KIT gene variant found in holsteins of dairy farming and a defining is unusual because it doesn’t sit within trait of domestic cattle. But the gene itself. Instead, it regulates the until recently, scientists didn’t know gene from a different position on the which genes were responsible for the chromosome. holstein’s spots. “Think of it like a light switch Coat patterns are some of turning on a light in another the oldest traits selected by room,” Littlejohn says. humans, likely since the The MITF variant is also dawn of domestication, unusual for its ability showing how farmers to create unique coat have long shaped cattle patterns when different populations. breeds are crossbred. The DNA variants “This variant can behind unique patterns create black speckles in for other breeds – such as dairy-crosses, ‘black socks’ the white face of herefords in belgian blue cattle, or or the belts of galloways – a reversal of the white face are already known. expected from a herefordNow a study involving cross,” Littlejohn explains. Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa While these patterns are Massey University’s Massey University’s Professor interesting to look at, they aren’t Professor Matt Matt Littlejohn has solved the simply aesthetic. “Many dairy Littlejohn mystery of the holstein’s unique farmers cross holsteins with coat. herefords to produce calves that Using genomic techniques, the team will perform well in beef systems. The analysed the coat patterns of thousands white face is important, since this marks of cows and identified two specific DNA the calf as a hereford-cross. variants controlling two different genes – “When ‘splotchy’-faced calves are KIT and MITF – that explain much of the born as a result of the MITF variant, variation in holstein spotting. these calves are harder to recognise as “These genes are well-known for beef-crosses and are often less valuable. controlling pigmentation in humans, Genetic testing could help produce calves

FIELD-READY VALUE YOU CAN COUNT ON

The black and white markings of a holstein friesian cow are caused by two specific DNA variants controlling two different genes.

with more predictable coat patterns in future,” he says. Other practical applications of the research include possible animal welfare benefits. Skin pigmentation affects heat absorption and UV protection. Black coats absorb more heat, but also provide better UV protection. Knowing how genes control pigmentation could help farmers select coat patterns that improve cattle comfort and performance. “This research not only solves the mystery about how the holstein gets its spots, but also shows how genes can interact to create unique and unexpected

patterns. It’s a great example of how modern genomics can uncover the hidden mechanisms behind traits we often take for granted. Early animal breeders likely selected spotted animals hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago, and we now know the molecular basis of these patterns.” The work was supported by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Endeavour Fund and the Livestock Improvement Corporation. You can read more about the research in the paper Structural and epistatic regulatory variants cause hallmark white spotting in cattle.

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December 2025

NZ Farmer

Innovation and Technology NZ Farmer 15

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Jade buys southern tech firm Software

focus was on growing the dairy product. The 47-year-old company, one of New Zealand’s original tech pioneers, is a long-standing Christchurch firm that quietly runs core systems for major New Zealand businesses and global brands. Now United Kingdom-owned, Jade has refreshed its board, leadership and strategy, growing revenue by about 10% and doubling profit in the past two years.

Blayne Slabbert

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Christchurch-made dairy software system used by some of the world’s biggest milk companies is being snapped up by local tech firm Jade Software. Jade is buying fellow Christchurch firm Contec Group International, which makes MADCAP, a specialist dairy supply chain system used by six of the world’s 10 largest dairy companies. The deal will lift Jade’s workforce from 250 to about 300 people, with most based in Christchurch. Chief executive Justin Mercer said it would also boost Jade’s annual revenue by about 20% to 25%. He would not say what Jade was paying, but called it “a great news story for Christchurch tech and New Zealand tech”. Jade’s wider goal is to double the size of the company over the next three to five years. Mercer said buying Contec helped speed that up.

How the software works In simple terms, MADCAP sits in the middle of the milk run, and Mercer said it did three main jobs for dairy companies. “It helps tanker drivers understand which farms to go to and in what order, so it optimises all the tanker routes,” he said. “It helps with all the testing of milk samples from those farms, getting them back to the lab and calculating the protein, and feeding those results back into the system. “And from that, it calculates the payments that farmers should receive.”

The Jade Software offices in Burnside, Christchurch; right, chief executive Justin Mercer.

Put together, he said, those three steps helped keep milk moving smoothly from farm to factory, then turned lab results into pay cheques for farmers. The software is already used in New Zealand by companies including Westland and Synlait, as well as by major processors overseas. Mercer said MADCAP ran the entire milk supply chain for Nestle. Jobs and growth in Christchurch Contec’s team is mostly based in Christchurch, and Mercer said Jade planned to keep all of those roles. “This will add approximately 50 staff to

Jade, bringing the total number to 300,” he said. “We intend to retain all roles at Contec as part of the acquisition and … we expect to see further investment into the business and further job opportunities as we grow.” Jade already sells another piece of subscription software, Jade ThirdEye, which helps banks and lenders spot suspicious transactions. Mercer said there could be future links between that and MADCAP, which handles “billions of dollars every year in milk payments”, but for now the

Tech and the South Island economy The deal is also the latest sign of a more confident Christchurch tech sector. In August, Jade hosted its Velocity summit at Te Pae, bringing Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and business leaders together to talk about growth, exports and the role of technology. Mercer said the Contec acquisition was in the same vein. “A key part of what we spoke about at the Jade Velocity summit was the role of tech in driving forward New Zealand’s prosperity and enabling those big export categories – dairy, meat, horticulture, tourism. “We see this as another great example of entrepreneurs building their business on the Jade platform and scaling it globally.” He believed Christchurch now had a “really great emergence of tech” as the city continued its revival after the earthquakes, and said deals like this could help keep talent and ownership in the region. The extra revenue from Contec will also give Jade more room to invest in its core platform and in new products, Mercer said.

The unseen risk facing NZ’s agribusinesses Opinion

Duncan Morrison

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arms in New Zealand look traditional; generations of knowledge, weathered fences, timeless routines and traditions that shape our land and lifestyle. While some stereotypes might suggest otherwise, many of these same farms have long been at the forefront of innovation – from AI-powered fencing and drone monitoring to automation and precision agriculture. But as the sector becomes more connected and data-driven, a new and less visible threat is emerging: cyber risk. At Aon, we recently released the findings of our 2025 Global Risk Management Survey, which found that cyber attacks and data breaches are now the No 1 concern for Pacific businesses, ahead of economic slowdown, regulatory change, and even extreme weather events. This biennial study – which gathered insights from nearly 3000 executives across 63 countries, including New Zealand and Australia – gave us insight into how risk is evolving in an increasingly digital world. For the agricultural sector, these findings strike particularly close to home. Once considered largely immune to digital threats, farms and food producers are now squarely in the cyber crosshairs. Many of today’s farms are complex data ecosystems. Automated milking sheds, GPS-guided tractors, irrigation systems and smart sensors all generate

“

As the sector becomes more connected and data-driven, a new and less visible threat is emerging: cyber risk. and transmit data in real time. These technologies improve efficiency, sustainability, and productivity – but they also introduce new vulnerabilities. If a milking shed controller is locked by ransomware, an irrigation system hacked, or a cloud-based livestock management platform compromised, the disruption could be immediate and severe.

One example of this was the ransomware attack on Talman Software in 2020, which disrupted the Australian and New Zealand wool industry, forcing the cancellation of wool sales for more than a week. Thousands of wool bales worth more than $70 million were unable to enter the marketplace during that time, putting huge cashflow pressure on wool buyers, brokers and farmers. As this example illustrates, like many other industries, agriculture is not immune to the risks posed by cyber incidents. A disruption at any point in the supply chain can have significant consequences, including operational disruptions and loss of revenue. As the sector becomes increasingly interconnected and interdependent, the rapid adoption of new technologies only amplifies these risks, making robust cyber risk management essential. It is important that investment in innovative and transformative technologies is met with similar investment and understanding of cyber risk exposures. At the moment, we see a stark protection gap that needs to be closed to better protect New Zealand’s agriculture industry. Aon’s survey found that while more than 90% of Pacific businesses have formal cyber-risk plans, only a small proportion have quantified their exposure. Without understanding the potential financial and operational impacts of a cyber incident, many remain underinsured or underprepared. For agriculture, the consequences are far-reaching. A data compromise could undermine animal traceability, disrupt logistics or impact export relationships.

In a sector that depends on trust and transparency, the reputational fallout could be as damaging as the financial one. So what can be done? For farmers and agribusiness leaders, the answer is clear: be proactive. As agriculture becomes smarter and more connected, cyber resilience must grow alongside it. Simple measures – such as enabling multi-factor authentication, segmenting networks and keeping systems updated – remain highly effective. But true resilience requires preparation; knowing where the biggest vulnerabilities are, what an incident could cost and how to recover quickly. At Aon, we are seeing increasing demand from local agribusinesses for this kind of analysis. Farmers, co-operatives and exporters want clarity on their exposure, how their insurance would respond and where investment in mitigation will deliver the most value. By using modern analytics, agribusinesses can now estimate their potential financial losses from various scenarios – from ransomware attacks to data theft – and plan accordingly. This data-led approach to resilience mirrors the broader transformation already happening across agriculture – using insight to drive better, more confident decisions. By embedding cyber preparedness into farm management and investing in the right protections, New Zealand’s agricultural sector can continue to lead the world – confidently, securely, and sustainably. Duncan Morrison is Aon New Zealand’s cyber practice leader.

NZ Farmer December 2025

16 Innovations

Nicolla Galloway’s family recipe Christmas cake Nicola Galloway

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nicola@homegrown-kitchen.co.nz

urely it’s not too early to mention Christmas. In fact, if my daughter had her way, we’d be putting up the tree in November. This year I’m honouring my nana and, inspired by some of her recipes, preparing a few Christmas treats well in advance. The recipes I share today are loosely based on her Christmas favourites. Many years ago, when she was learning to use a computer, she typed up her recipes into a family cookbook – a treasured gift that lets us continue enjoying her cooking even now she is no longer with us. Some may say it’s a tad late to bake a Christmas cake – officially Stir-up Sunday was last weekend – but I still feel this is a perfectly reasonable time to make one. Store the cake well wrapped in a cool pantry, where it will keep happily for several weeks, the flavour improving as the fruit softens and everything melds together. I have vivid memories of the metal Griffin’s Sampler tin being brought out before and after Christmas Day, ready to slice a few squares for afternoon tea. And while you’re at it, and have the brandy on hand -I only ever buy it for Christmas baking - you could make a batch of Chocolate brandy balls. So very festive, and makes a lovely edible gift as the year comes to a close. There are many versions of both of these recipes, and you may already have your own favourite, so consider this your nudge to make them.

Almost Nana’s Christmas cake

I can’t seem to make a recipe without adding my own signature. Based on my nana’s Christmas cake, I skipped the sweetened condensed milk (it’s sweet enough with all the fruit) but kept the crushed pineapple – the secret to a wonderfully moist crumb. Nana’s version didn’t include spices, so I’ve added these along with fresh citrus zest. Spices and fruit cake are inseparable in my book. And, perhaps controversially, I left out the glacé cherries because no one in my family can stand them. If you do like them, simply replace 100g of the dried fruit with halved glacé cherries. Prep time: 30 minutes + fruit-soaking time Cook time: 3 hours Serves: 25-30 Fruit Mix (prepare ahead) ■ 1kg mixed dried fruit, I used: ■ 250g raisins250g sultanas200g currants150g craisins150g prunes, chopped ■ ½ cup (125ml) brandy or rum (or use all orange juice for alcohol-free) ■ ½ cup (125ml) orange juice Cake mix ■ 150g butter ■ 2 tbsp golden syrup or treacle ■ 1 cup (160g) packed brown sugar ■ 4 free-range eggs ■ zest of 1 orange ■ zest of 1 lemon ■ 1 ¾ cups (260g) plain flour (or GF) ■ ½ cup (50g) ground almonds ■ 1 tsp baking powder ■ ½ tsp baking soda ■ 1 tsp ground cinnamon ■ 1 tsp mixed spice ■ ½ tsp ground ginger ■ ½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg ■ 225g can crushed pineapple ■ ½ cup (70g) blanched or sliced almonds ■ 2 tbsp brandy, for sprinkling (optional) ■ apricot jam, for glazing

Nicola Galloway has adapted her nana’s Christmas cake recipe.

Prepare the fruit mix 1-3 days ahead. Place the dried fruit in a bowl. Heat the brandy or rum and orange juice until steaming, pour this over the fruit, and stir. Cover and refrigerate, mixing twice daily. When ready to bake, heat the oven to 140°C (not fan). Grease a 25cm round or square tin and line the base and sides with a double layer of baking paper, extending 4-5cm above the rim. For the cake, place the butter and golden syrup or treacle in a medium saucepan and heat gently until melted. Remove from the heat, whisk in the sugar, then add the eggs one at a time, whisking well until creamy. Stir in the citrus zest. In a large bowl, combine the flour, ground almonds, baking powder, baking soda, and spices. Pour over the wet mixture, add the crushed pineapple and half the soaked fruit, and fold a few times. Add the remaining fruit and fold until just combined. Scoop into the prepared tin and decorate with blanched almonds or scatter with sliced almonds. Bake for about 3 hours, or until a skewer comes out clean. Sprinkle with brandy (if using) and brush with warmed apricot jam. Cool completely in the tin. Once cold, wrap the cake in a double layer of baking paper and store in an airtight tin in a cool pantry. Ideally rest

for 1 week before slicing; best consumed within 1 month.

Chocolate brandy balls

I remember these being served with coffee after Christmas lunch. Nobody really needed any more food after the big meal and dessert, but they somehow marked the day perfectly. They also make lovely little gifts for friends and colleagues. These are heavy on the chocolate, with a hint of Christmas cake from the brandysoaked fruit. If you prefer a more classic festive flavour, add some mixed peel or glacé cherries (not for me). And if you want to take the decadence up a notch, you can dip them in melted chocolate as Nana used to – though honestly, a roll in coconut is more than enough. You will need chocolate cake for these; I whipped up a simple one and used half, but a premade cake works fine. Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes Makes: about 20 balls ■ 1 cup (150g) mixed dried fruit (similar to the mix above) ■ 4-5 tbsp brandy or rum (or orange/grape juice) ■ 2 ½ cups chocolate cake crumbs (about half a cake or 250g)

/NICOLA GALLOWAY

■ zest of 1 orange ■ 1 tsp ground cinnamon ■ 150g dark chocolate (buttons are fine) ■ 30g butter ■ about ¾ cup desiccated coconut, for rolling Roughly chop the dried fruit and place in a small saucepan with 4 tablespoons of brandy. Bring to a simmer, then remove from the heat, cover, and leave to soften while preparing the crumbs and chocolate. (I prefer to cook off the alcohol so they’re suitable for all ages, but you can also soak the fruit in brandy overnight.) Place the chocolate cake in a mixing bowl and gently rub with fingers into fine crumbs. Add the cinnamon and orange zest. Melt the chocolate and butter over a double boiler or in the microwave. Add to the crumbs along with the softened fruit and stir well. Add an extra splash of brandy or juice if needed to bring the mixture together. Roll walnut-sized spoonfuls of mixture into balls. Scatter coconut onto a plate and roll each ball to coat. Chill until firm, then store in a jar in the fridge. Best eaten within 1 month. Nicola Galloway is an award-winning food writer, cookbook author and culinary tutor. homegrown-kitchen.co.nz

December 2025

NZ Farmer

Christmas Recipes Sharemarket NZ Farmer 17

Updated all day at

The main event Leftover ham could see you well into the new year. By Julie Le Clerc. Sour cherry and brandy glazed ham A glazed ham is superb as a centrepiece for the Christmas meal and creates a real sense of occasion. The bonus with a whole ham is that the leftovers can provide easy meals into the new year. Prep: 20 minutes Cook: 1 hour Serves: 25+ 9kg whole ham, cooked on the bone 6-7 whole star anise Glaze ■ 1 cup red wine ■ 2 cups firmly packed soft brown sugar ■ 3 tbsp brandy ■ 700g jar preserved sour cherries Glaze: Combine ½ cup wine and the sugar in a saucepan and simmer for 3-4 minutes until syrupy. Add brandy and set aside to cool to room temperature. Drain cherries and reserve the juice. Preheat oven to 180C fan bake. Remove skin from ham and discard. With the tip of a sharp knife, score the fat in a diamond pattern, taking care not to cut through to the flesh. Place ham in a large roasting pan, add cherry juice, star anise and remaining ½ cup wine to the pan. Spread cooled glaze all over the scored fat. Bake in the centre of the oven for 60 minutes, basting with the pan juices at regular intervals until the glaze is caramelised golden brown. Remove ham to rest for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, put the pan juices in a pot and bring to the boil, then simmer for 5 minutes until reduced and syrupy. Stir in the cherries and pour mixture over the ham. Extra cherry mixture can be served on the side, like a chutney. Ham can be served hot or cold.

To store leftovers, wrap ham in muslin cloth or a clean tea towel dampened with water mixed with a little vinegar. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks, redampening the cloth regularly. Mediterranean baked salmon A whole side of salmon, baked with a delicious topping, is such an elegant dish to serve and perfect for a celebratory feast. Prep: 10 minutes Cook: 20 minutes Serves: 8-10 ■ 1.5kg side of salmon, skin on, pin bones removed ■ 1 tsp smoked paprika ■ ½ cup artichoke hearts ■ ½ cup mixed black and green olives ■ ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and halved ■ 3 tbsp capers, drained ■ ½ cup basil pesto ■ Handful of fresh dill, to garnish ■ Handful of basil leaves, to garnish ■ Lemon wedges, to serve Preheat the oven to 200C. Lay a long sheet of baking paper on a large, lowsided baking tray. Place salmon fillet, skin side down, on top of the paper. Season with paprika, salt and pepper. Evenly scatter the artichokes, olives, sun-dried tomatoes and capers over the salmon. Bake in the centre of the oven for 20 minutes, for medium, or until salmon is cooked to your liking. Thicker fillets may require 5-10 minutes more. Remove from the oven and transfer the salmon to a serving platter. Drizzle over the pesto and scatter with dill and basil. Serve with lemon wedges on the side, to squeeze over.

PHOTOS: TODD EYRE

NZ Farmer

December 2025

Dairy 18 NZ Farmer

Emissions target divide among the big agri-lending banks Analysis

A split has emerged among the country’s big four banks over agricultural emissions, with ANZ declining to set targets while rivals push ahead. By Rob Stock.

T

And, she said: “It’s not just the data. It’s the path.” There were hopes for scientific methods to reduce livestock methane emissions, but Watson said: “None of them are live, or in the market yet.” Until the bank could see an emissions reduction pathway for beef and dairy farmers, setting reduction targets would be hard to do, she said. However, ANZ had been increasing its emissions data collection from the businesses it lends to, including farmers. Impetus for emissions targets of the Australian-owned New Zealand banks is not a purely home-grown affair. It comes against a backdrop of Australian parent banks having to play their part in getting Australia to its legislated target of being a net zero emissions economy by 2050. As Matt Comyn, the chief executive of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (owner

he big four banks may sometimes look like they are distinguished only by the colour of their branding, or the size of their profit, but a split on agricultural emissions has emerged between them. ANZ New Zealand was one of the big four Australian-owned banks criticised by Federated Farmers for either being a member of the now defunct United Nations’ Net-Zero Banking Alliance, or for its Australian parent bank being a member. But its latest climate report, published last month along with its record-breaking $2.5 billion profit, profi t, shows ANZ New Zealand is maintaining a stand-out position on agricultural lending by not having set emissions targets for its portfolios of loans to farmers, unlike Westpac, Rabobank and BNZ. “We have products to help customers reduce their emissions,” ANZ New Zealand chief executive Antonia Watson said. Many dairy and beef “Our international farmers are investing in markets are making reducing their emissions demands of our farmers, footprints, but there is but at this stage for us to do no pathway to zero anything, we would need a emissions yet, ANZ says. lot more data.” KELLY HODEL/WAIKATO TIMES

of ASB) said in the foreword to the bank’s 2025 annual report: “The Australian government is continuing to develop a national Net Zero Plan to guide our country’s transition to meet our legislated target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.” And, he said: “We remain committed to helping our customers and supporting Australia’s transition to net zero by 2050.” It’s an economy that includes many bank shareholders, and net zero ambitions include financed emissions in New Zealand. The help Comyn speaks of comes from providing them with interest-bearing loans to invest in technology, but also, in the case of some, with emissions targets, and demands for data. Westpac and BNZ also reported fullyear profits last month. Both have set agricultural emissions intensity reduction targets. The targets have been criticised by Australia’s not-for-profit not-for-profit activist organisation the Climate Council, which says emissions intensity refers to the volume of emissions per unit of product made, but (and it says it is “a big but”), if unit production grows, so do absolute emissions. “A more concrete measure of emission reduction is an absolute reduction,” it says, adding: “To tackle climate change total emissions must go down so an absolute reduction is the most relevant measure.” There was controversy when Westpac set lower emissions intensity targets for New Zealand beef and dairy farmers to hit by 2030 than it set for farmers in Australia. Though the bank expected both Kiwi and Aussie farmers to reduce their emissions to 10% less than their estimated

emission intensity in 2021, New Zealand dairy started with lower emissions, so ultimately had to go lower still. In its sustainability report last month, Westpac said the emissions intensity of the New Zealand dairy farms it lends to were 6% lower than in 2021. They were down 4% in its beef farming lending book. Like ANZ, Westpac has turned emissions-reduction into a business opportunity with both banks having loans aimed at farmers wishing to invest in emissions intensity reductions. At Westpac, 48% of agri lending is now on the bank’s Sustainable Farm Loans, with lower loan interest rates tied to hitting environmental targets. The targets are not public, but Westpac chief executive Catherine McGrath said every farm with a Sustainable Farm Loan had hit its target. BNZ’s target is to achieve an 11% emission intensity reduction in agriculture-dairy, from a 2022 baseline. Like ANZ, it is an investor in the AgriZero technology programme seeking to lower dairy emissions. In line with its Australian parent bank, ASB says between 2025 and 2030 it will “progressively set targets based on financed emissions”, but its 2025 Climate and Sustainability Report shows it has not done so yet. And the message from its Australian parent bank on agriculture is similar to ANZ’s. It calls agriculture a “harder-toabate” sector, but one that is important to Australia’s future. Comyn said its aim was to work with farmers to explore ways to reduce their environmental impacts. “Although we reassessed the feasibility of sector-level targets for the agriculture sector, we have not set any new goals or targets for this year.” Technologies were still in early development, he said. Agricultural emissions made up about 18% of Australia’s emissions, and about 50% of New Zealand’s.

Having a wild-weather plan helps recovery Opinion

Left: Kiwi farmers should have plans in place during adverse weather events. Being prepared means a quicker recovery.

DairyNZ chief executive, Campbell Parker says the next big event to affect farmers is not if, but when.

N

ew Zealand’s wild weather is unpredictable, but one thing is certain – there will be more of it. Over the past decade, farmers have faced flooding, drought, damaging winds, snow, and cyclones. The destructive wind in Southland in October is just the latest example. It led to a state of emergency with about 50,000 people without power at the height of the storm, and more than 500 dairy farms without immediate power generation. The next weather event is not if, but when. That’s why it’s so important to prepare now because how well you prepare will help determine how quickly you recover. Having a farm business continuity plan is essential. We have a handy guide on the DairyNZ

KELLY HODEL/STUFF

Right: DairyNZ chief executive Campbell Parker

website which walks through the steps on preparedness, what to do, and who to contact during a severe weather event. Having operating procedures in place is the first step, so everyone knows in the event of an emergency where to meet, who needs to be accounted for, and where to get help. Make sure staff are trained, are aware of emergency procedures, and have a contact list ready. Having a reliable back-up power source is critical – whether that’s a generator on-farm or a community-based generator. Checking they are working on a regular basis and available to use is important.

Make sure you have reliable mobile and internet connections – consider using a service like Starlink if traditional networks go down. Emergency packs should be ready to go, with food and water regularly checked so you have enough resources to last for a few days. Farmers are busy, and this can seem to be another costly item to add to the to-do list. The effects of not being prepared can be devastating from managing the impacts of lost power and keeping animals healthy. That affects your business and your

livelihood. It can take a huge physical and mental toll. Being prepared means you can recover quickly and get back to business as usual as quick as possible. It means having peace of mind. And it means you can help your neighbours and communities. A Southland farmer recently shared with us how being prepared helped her during October’s severe weather. She had generators for each shed, staff trained in generator use, and plans in place for any disruption to milking. For her that meant that no milk was dumped and no change in staff hours and rosters. It might sound simple, but it can make a significant difference. DairyNZ is here for you now and in an emergency. We are working to strengthen our farm systems so we can future-proof the way we farm. There are some wonderful tools and resources to help you get ready and our regional teams are on the ground to help review plans and share knowledge. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

December 2025

NZ Farmer

Dairy 19 NZ Farmer

Updated all day at

A2 Milk forecasts revenue increase Annual meeting

Rob Stock

T

he a2 Milk company has lifted revenue guidance thanks to stronger trading in its key markets, including infant formula, although the company only expected a slight increase in net profit after tax. It also told shareholders at its annual general meeting in Auckland on November 20 that it had found a supplier to put a2 Milk back onto New Zealand supermarket shelves. Fonterra stopped selling Anchorbranded a2 Milk earlier this year, and one shareholder spoke of his irritation at not being able to buy the company’s milk in New Zealand. Chairperson Pip Greenwood said the company’s financial performance had been outstanding with earnings per share up 20.9% in its 2025 financial year, and paid dividends of 20 cents per share equating to approximately $145 million being returned to shareholders. The company had booked record revenue of $1.9 billion, having finally recovered from the hit it took during the global Covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021, after which the Chinese birth rate dropped. Chief executive David Bortolussi told shareholders it had been “a massive year” for the company, which had made progress on transforming its supply chain, and gaining ground in China and other parts of Asia. In September, it completed the deal to buy Yashili New Zealand’s Pokeno infant milk factory for $282m, while November

a2 Milk has announced a plan to strengthen its position in China’s English-label infant formula.

saw the sale of its 75% shareholding in Mataura Valley Milk. Bortolussi said that from humble beginnings in 2000, a2 Milk had grown into a global business operating in Australia, China, New Zealand, North America, South Korea and Vietnam, with nutritional products targeting all life stages, from infants and older children, to adults and now senior citizens, which he expected to drive growth. The company’s milk comes from cows that produce only the a2 type of beta-casein protein, unlike most milk that contains both a1 and a2 proteins. Scientific studies suggest that makes it easier to digest. Bortolussi said: “Our overall China infant milk formula market share continued to

reach record levels, resulting in a2 Milk rising to the No 4 brand position in the world’s largest infant milk formula market, with 8% overall market share. “This is a major milestone for our company, which launched its first infant milk formula product only 12 years ago.” Sales in Australia and New Zealand were flat, but they were growing in the United States market. However, Bortolussi did not expect a2 Milk to break even in its US operations until 2027. The meeting also saw shareholders vote to re-elect Greenwood, put in place an extended performance incentive scheme for Bortolussi, and vote on increasing non-executive directors’ fees by a total of $310,000 from $1,365,000 per annum to

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$1,675,000 per annum – a rise of just under 23%. The company told shareholders that the non-executive director pay pool had not increased since 2018, though not replacing the deputy chairperson in 2023 allowed for a $110,000 pay rise for Greenwood. Since the last rise, inflation as measured by the consumer price index had increased by 27% in New Zealand and 23% in Australia, a2 Milk told shareholders. It said the company strategies had materially increased the complexity, scope and frequency of matters requiring board oversight, and as a result, the board expanded its size in 2025, adding a new director. To accompany the push for the director pool increase, a2 Milk commissioned a report from PwC. It said that among the 20 ASX-listed companies and 15 NZX-listed firms PwC called “comparators” for a2 Milk, the median board chairperson took home $416,000 annually, compared with a2 Milk chairperson Pip Greenwood’s $375,000 current fee, which a2 Milk proposes to lift to $410,000. The median fees paid to non-executive directors on the boards of comparators were $175,200, and a2 Milk intended to lift its non-executive director fee from its current $165,000 to $175,000. Directors generally hold what they call a “portfolio” of board positions, meaning they draw multiple pay packets from multiple companies, and they may get multiple fees for sitting on multiple committees of each of those companies. Greenwood is also chairperson of Westpac NZ and has now been appointed to Westpac’s board in Australia.

NZ Farmer

December 2025

20 Forestry NZ Farmer

Where will New Zealand’s lower-grade logs go? Scott Downs, the general manager of sales and marketing at PF Olsen Ltd, looks at the future of sustainable fuels.

N

ew Zealand’s log export sector is facing a significant shift. For decades, lower-grade logs – typically used for concrete formwork – have been a reliable export product, mainly sold to China. But with China’s construction market shrinking, demand for these logs has fallen sharply. At the same time, highervalue products – such as clearwood from pruned trees and quality sawlogs – remain in strong demand, used for timber, mouldings, plywood and furniture. This growing imbalance leaves forest owners and exporters with a pressing question: where will the lower-grade logs find a home? India is emerging as a promising alternative, but its demand is unlikely to match China’s scale. Vietnam is focused on premium logs for furniture, offering little relief for the lower grades. One solution lies closer to home – in the fast-growing world of sustainable fuels. These fuels can replace fossil fuels in cars, trucks, ships and planes, while also helping New Zealand meet its climate targets. There are four main pathways to produce sustainable fuels; three of which can use forestry products: ■ Anaerobic digestion of waste: Converts organic waste into biomethane, a renewable version of natural gas.

New Zealand’s log export sector is facing a significant shift with demand falling sharply for lower-grade logs while higher-value products, such as clearwood from pruned trees and quality sawlogs, remain in strong demand.

■ Gasification of forest biomass: Turns wood, branches, and other forestry residues into biomethane, which can be further refined into fuels bio-CNG or bio-LPG. ■ Fermentation of forest biomass: Uses sugars from wood to produce bioethanol, a renewable liquid fuel. ■ Hydrogenation of waste oils: Converts used cooking oils or animal fats into drop-in fuels, including sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Biomethane can be blended into existing natural gas networks or used directly in vehicles and shipping. Bioethanol can replace petrol in cars, while SAF can replace fossil kerosene in airplanes. Analysts expect demand for liquid sustainable fuels to increase up to five

times over the next 20 years, driven by government targets for emissions reductions and mandates for SAF blending in aviation. So which pathway best fits our forests? Forestry biomass is ideally suited for gasification and fermentation pathways, as well as other advanced biofuel technologies, but it can’t be used for hydrogenation fuels like HEFA, which rely on oils and fats. Gasification, particularly via the Fischer-Tropsch process, can convert low-grade logs, forestry residues, and harvest slash into renewable fuels at scale. Fermentation and other biochemical processes offer additional options, though these are currently more costly and less proven at large scale.

For New Zealand forest owners, this presents a challenge and an opportunity. Lower-grade logs, which have reduced demand from traditional export markets, could instead become a feedstock for locally produced renewable fuels, creating value from material that was once considered lower-value. It also aligns forestry with the country’s climate goals, helping reduce emissions while supporting the economy. As global markets evolve, New Zealand forests have the potential to play a key role in our energy transition. Turning low-grade logs into sustainable fuels could provide a new, high-value market, helping both forest owners and the nation navigate the twin challenges of market change and climate action.

Maximise your land’s potential without the hassle Adding forestry to your farm can strengthen your land’s resilience and profitability. PF Olsen helps farmers unlock new income and manage risk with expert tree management—from planning to harvest. We’ll even guide you through ETS rule changes. Our team handles the hard work, so you can focus on running your farm. From planning to harvest, we’ve got you covered.

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December 2025

NZ Farmer

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December 2025

Diary 29 NZ Farmer

Updated all day at

What’s on ...

● December 2: NumatAGRI

Willesden Barn open day – Dairy conversion, Christchurch Willesden Farms has turned 300 hectares into a dairy operation, milking 700 cows this season. Its pivot hinges on a new composting barn that has slashed the farm’s environmental footprint by 46%. Info at numatagri.co.nz

● December 2: Dairy Women’s Network

Wreath creation with WILDbella, East Waikato Kick off the festive season with a relaxed wreath-making workshop, where you’ll craft a beautiful dried-flower Christmas wreath and two Christmas baubles. Info at dwn.co.nz/events

● December 3-5: DairyNZ

4th International Precision Dairy Farming Conference, Christchurch This event will bring together global researchers, farmers, advisers and tech developers to explore the latest in automation, sensors, robotics and data-driven insights shaping the future of dairy. Providing real-world insights into how precision tools and technologies are shaping the industry’s future, it will include farm visits, keynote speakers and a farmer panel. Info at dairyevents.co.nz

● December 4: Institute of Rural Professionals New Zealand Otago Southland Branch’s Foveaux Pāua and Bluff Distillery tour An afternoon exploring two of Bluff’s most distinctive and award-winning businesses. Info at irpnz.co.nz

● December 4: Dairy Women’s Network

Rural Women Rising: Wrap-up dinner, Southland Join us for an evening of good food, great company, and well-deserved celebration as we wrap up another year on the land. Info at dwn.co.nz/events

● December 4: Beef + Lamb NZ

South Canterbury Farming For Profit field day: Biodiversity and Productive Landscapes, Canterbury An on-farm field day at Craigmore Station to explore how productive farming and biodiversity restoration can work together. Info at beeflambnz.com/events

● December 4: Dairy Women’s Network

Christmas Paint and Sip, Taranaki Whether you fancy yourself as the next Picasso or prefer drawing stickmen, grab your friends for an evening of creativity while sipping on a tipple. Info at dwn.co.nz/events

● December 5: Taranaki Catchment Communities

Talking Farming Tech and Innovation Futures with Melissa Baer Come along to Tarata Hall to hear from Melissa Baer – a farmer, entrepreneur and ag-tech innovator who knows firsthand the realities of life on the land. Info at events.humanitix.com/ talkingfarmingfutures

● December 5: B+LNZ

Farmers’ Community Connect, Eketāhuna After the catastrophe of the recent

weather events in the Tararua district, RRT is hosting a Farmers’ Community Connect event in Eketāhuna to give locals a fun day out, while donating fencing posts and wire. Info at beeflambnz.com/events

● December 8-12: Dairy Hoofcare Institute

Advanced Hoofcare Course This course is aimed at those who are serious about minimising lameness on their farm by gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors, as well as becoming competent in the technical aspects of hoof trimming. Info at dairyhoofcareinstitute.ac.nz/

● December 8: DairyNZ

Tackling N-Loss Targets: Let’s Keep the Momentum Going, Canterbury Join forward-thinking farmers and scientists for a high-impact session focused on ground and surface water quality trends, the future of nitrogen management and actions to meet water quality regulations. Info at dairyevents.co.nz

● December 9 and 11: DairyNZ

Improving Water Quality, Taranaki and Canterbury Healthy waterways, thriving farms – learn how practical actions can make the difference. Info at dairyevents.co.nz

● December 9: DairyNZ

Pasture Summit spring event 2025, Taranaki Pasture Summit is holding an on-farm event in Taranaki this spring, hosted by

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NZ Farmer

farmers for farmers, sharing ideas and developments on achieving profitable dairy food production, with input from dairy sector specialists. Info at dairyevents.co.nz

● December 11: B+LNZ and Ballance

Ballance Agri-Nutrients and B+LNZ’s Rural Professionals’ Breakfast, Whangarei Join your local Ballance team for a networking breakfast to discuss hot topics in the industry. Info at beeflambnz.com/events

● December 15: Dairy Women’s Network

From New Zealand to the World, live webinar Log in to DWN’s positive wrap-up to the year and hear from two inspiring women who have represented New Zealand on the global dairy stage. Info at dwn.co.nz/events

● December 15: B+LNZ

Mid-Northern North Island Farmer Council Contribution Scholarship, Waikato, King Country and BOP In honour of long-serving members of the Mid-Northern North Island Farmer Council, this scholarship supports individuals connected to the sheep and beef sector in their pursuit of professional and personal development. It aims to foster leadership, innovation and growth. Info at beeflambnz.com/events

Registration is essential for many events. Check out the various websites for more details.

NZ Farmer

December 2025

and Beef 30 Sheep NZ Farmer

From indoors to outdoors When a Danish mother and farmer felted a pair of boots many years ago, she had no idea it would become a worldwide business. By Sonita Chandar.

G

lerups have been New Zealand’s favourite indoor shoe for many years, known for their natural comfort from New Zealand wool and timeless Danish design. Now, the same comfort you love is stepping outside. Based on an original handmade design created by Nanny Glerup from Denmark, Nanny’s dream is a reality – a woollen sneaker that can take you beyond the indoors has officially launched in New Zealand. In 1993 Nanny felted a pair of boots for the first time, and the wool came from her own Gotland sheep on her small farm in north Jutland. She could make two pairs a day, then she got more serious and found regular wool was a better mix. The felted boots were well received among friends and family, so well, that Nanny started a small hobby production. This paved the way for the company Glerups. Its headquarters located in the Northern part of Denmark is also the home of Nanny and her husband Ove. As Glerups has grown throughout the years, it has been a part of the journey to rebuild, redecorate and expand the office facilities. Actually today, the new warehouse building is on the field where Nanny used to have her own Gotland sheep. In the beginning Nanny could only felt two pairs of boots a day. Since then, Nanny and Ove have worked hard in order to develop and improve the product and production technology. Several machines have been invented and discarded, making Glerups capable of

Main: The Langdal is the new outdoor shoe made with New Zealand wool from Danish company glerups. Below: The Langdal is a versatile everyday shoe that can be worn for work, school, travel and leisure and comes in a range of colours.

Glerups are made with high-quality wool from New Zealand farmers and can be traced back to the farm.

keeping up with demand from customers worldwide. The classic grey felt boot has been manufactured since the company’s founding, and has formed the basis for development of new product designs for the collection. Glerups shoes, slippers and boots are

known for their exceptional comfort. This is due to the foot-shaped and unique design combined with the softness and warmth of the wool. The designs are also based on a long tradition of hand felting, which has been transformed into innovative products of the highest quality. The craft has been translated into Glerups’ industrial production where parts of the production are still done manually, since they require a special skill to accomplish. The Langdal is Glerups’ first-ever outdoor shoe for everyday wear, school, work, travel or whatever the day brings made from the finest New Zealand wool. “Over the years we have perfected the wool mix with quality wool from New Zealand farmers,” a Glerups spokesperson said. “These farmers meet Glerups’ high standards for consistent quality and humane animal welfare. “We work with our farmers every step of the way and follow each pair of Glerups from the sheep to your feet.” The wool is washed in soft water, then carded and felted.

The felt is formed into socks, which are steam-felted for a perfect fit before soft calfskin soles are glued, then sewn on, for long lasting durability. “Natural comfort is a key element for us when we design and develop our products. “All materials are carefully selected and all natural with wool, leather, coir, natural rubber and organic cotton.” As part of their Project Zero Waste, the insole and midsole are made with coconut, which is a residual product from the food industry, but still works perfectly in their Langdal. The coconut is used to assemble the upper and gives softness to the insole and wearing comfort. The Langdal is produced at Glerups’ factory in Romania. “For us it is important that we can follow our products from farm to foot and therefore it is also important that we have our own production facilities where we can ensure our DNA; all Glerups are designed, developed and produced with respect for nature, animal and human.” The Glerups headquarters are situated in the northern part of Denmark – in the countryside with fields, trees and fresh air.

Back to basics pays off for Alliance Business

Southland Times reporter

A

lliance Group has made good on its forecasts to return to profitability this year after two years of losses. The group recorded a net profit before tax of $24.6 million on revenue of $2.1 billion for the year ending September 30, 2025, compared to a net loss before tax of $120.8m on revenue of $1.8b in the previous year. Alliance – which has sold 65% of its shares to Irish-owned Dawn Meats – credits a shift to a back-to-basics business approach for the result, marking a $93m turnaround in underlying company profitability. Shareholders voted in favour of the $270m investment deal in October. Group chairperson Mark Wynne said the latest result represented a major milestone in Alliance’s reset as the company looked forward to its joint venture partnership with Dawn Meats. “This result reflects the

hard decisions we’ve made,” he said. “We have also worked hard to reduce our reliance on sheep meat by strengthening our beef capabilities, diversified our market mix and enhanced transparency with our farmer-shareholders.” In the past 12 months, Alliance had cut costs, optimised its processing capacity, invested in smart technology, reduced inventory levels by around half compared with the same time last year, and improved sales processes, Wynne said. The co-operative has plants at Invercargill, Oamaru, Mataura, Pukeuri, and Nelson in the South Island, and Levin and Dannevirke in the North Island, and employs about 4000 people. The strategic investment partnership with Dawn Meats would further strengthen Alliance’s financial position and long-term competitiveness, Wynne said. “The partnership will ensure Alliance has the financial strength, scale, market reach and capability to thrive in global markets while safeguarding the interests of our farmers.”

Alliance Lorneville worker Amelia Beckham using a MEQ probe (meat eating quality) assessment tool, which analyses the fat content of the carcasses. It’s one of the investments Alliance has made in technology to improve efficiency. ROBYN EDIE/SOUTHLAND TIMES

Chief executive Willie Wiese said the group was focused on the business fundamentals of enterprise efficiency, market value creation and organisational discipline – “and the benefits are now flowing through to farmers”. “Operational improvements have lifted yields across all species through better plant performance and processing reliability. These changes have already made a tangible difference to farm-gate returns.” Trading conditions in China remained challenging, but Alliance saw strong demand in North America, Europe and the United Kingdom, Wiese said. Beef demand was particularly strong in the United States, where herd numbers were at their lowest for 75 years and domestic consumption remained high, he said. “The past year has been about running the business more efficiently, making better use of every dollar, and rebuilding trust and confidence with farmers,” Wiese said.

December 2025

NZ Farmer

SheepNZ and Beef 31 Farmer

Updated all day at

Optimism in red meat sector With the removal of United States tariffs on red meat, lower costs and stable farmgate prices, it’s a great time to be a farmer, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand chairperson Kate Acland. CLARE TOIA-BAILEY

Opinion

Beef + Lamb New Zealand chairperson Kate Acland says things are falling into place in the sector, leading to greater positivity.

A

fter a tough couple of years, it’s an exciting time to be farming. How different things feel from 18 months ago. There’s real momentum now: a degree of regulatory certainty has returned, commodity prices are recovering and farmers have the confidence to think long term – not just about surviving, but about investing in the future. Environmental policy will continue to be a work-on, but fortunately there’s much more balance in the conversation today. We’re increasingly seeing policy positions that aim to deliver positive environmental outcomes alongside a productive and profitable farming sector. Methane reduction targets have landed in a fairly pragmatic place, and while there are still some niggles around the country with consenting, the proposed changes to the Resource Management Act promise to give farmers the regulatory headroom to continue not only farming, but innovating and adapting. There are also indications that commodity prices have reached a new level that is likely to remain for the foreseeable future. Falling on-farm inflation, lower input costs, and stabilising farmgate prices are reinforcing this sense of optimism.

The trade space remains volatile. The recent announcement from the United States to remove the 15% tariff from beef is welcome, and improved access for beef and lamb into the United Kingdom and Europe means we’re benefiting from diversified markets and strengthened trading relationships. While we’re mindful things can turn around quickly, we can now focus on farming better. Right now is exactly when we should all be asking: what’s next for our farms and our sector? What investments make sense, and where will that fundamental next step-change come from? On our farm, we’ve just invested in Halter technology for beef finishing cattle. It’s something we’ve toyed with for several years – but at current prices, it makes sense. We’ll be collaring beef-dairy cross calves in May with the hope of finishing them as R1s before their second winter. We’re expecting increased pasture utilisation, especially on larger hill blocks, and better growth rates. Time will tell, but it’s an investment we’re finally in a position to trial. Being dairy and beef farmers means we’re fortunate to have a ready supply of calves. We’re looking closely at the genetics we use for beef-on-dairy

“

While we’re mindful things can turn around quickly, we can now focus on farming better.

progeny and exploring advanced nutrition options to grow these animals faster. Given where schedule prices are today, these are investments that could pay off significantly. Spring was kind, delivering a record lambing. We still fell just shy of the elusive 150% (lambs tailed to ewes mated) we’ve been chasing, but fertility and lamb survival remain a big focus for us. Genetics are key here - and using a tool like Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics’ nProve is going to be central to decision-making going forward. Better feeding and more accurate on-farm data will also drive stronger management outcomes. This isn’t just about one farm’s progress. Beef + Lamb NZ is also looking ahead: what’s our aspiration for 2035 and beyond? What are the tools, resources and investments farmers need to grow the sector – not only in volume, but in value? Carbon farming remains a constant threat to our productive farmland base. But we know the most profitable 20% of our hill-country farmers outperform carbon forestry over a 30-year timeframe. The real challenge – and the greatest opportunity – is shifting the median closer to that top 20%. We’re not simply in a phase of recovery. We’re in a moment of choice. With rising prices, falling costs, greater regulatory certainty and renewed confidence, we have a rare opportunity to invest in the next chapter. If we stay focused on our core strengths – resilience, innovation, and stewardship – we can build a farming sector that is profitable, sustainable, climate-aligned and capable of delivering long-term value for our communities. Now is the time to lean into innovation, protect productive farmland and shape a future that works for farmers and the planet.

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Farm

NZ Farmer

December 2025

Horticulture 32 NZ Farmer

A collective of Māori growers has launched a new season in Dubai with Kiingitanga backing, and in collaboration with Zespri and Mr Apple. By Alka Prasad.

Māori growers test indigenous chapter of FTA Māori Queen Ngā wai hono i te pō with United Arab Emirates Minister of Foreign Trade Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai in October.

M

āori kiwifruit growers, backed by the Māori Queen, have launched a marketing campaign in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), springboarding off the Indigenous Peoples trade chapter in a newly signed free trade agreement (FTA). Te Arikinui Kuini Ngā wai hono i te pō VIII led a delegation to support the horticulture group in Dubai in October, marking the group’s first season in the UAE. Māori Kiwifruit Growers, formed in 2016, represents 50 Māori-owned orchards that produce about 8% of the nation’s kiwifruit trays. The collective was established to strengthen Māori representation in the industry and reinvest profits from marketing partnerships into people and skills, chairperson Geoff Rolleston told The Post. “We wanted to increase our voice in the industry and use our earnings to grow our people’s capability – shifting them from picking and packing into management and leadership roles,” Rolleston said. Kiingitanga spokesperson Rukumoana Schaafhausen said Te Arikinui’s support for the launch built on the work of her father, Kiingi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII, who accompanied Māori Kiwifruit Growers on its first offshore marketing trial in Hawaii last year. “Trade and enterprise is in our DNA and a part of our culture,” Schaafhausen said. “So we are delighted to tautoko the launch of Māori Kiwifruit Growers’ marketing pilot in the UAE.” Rolleston said the royal presence was a proud moment for Māori horticulture. “We take such pride in being able to stand alongside Te Kuini Māori as she steps onto the global stage.”

Zespri and Mr Apple collaboration Under a collaborative marketing deal with Zespri and Scales Corporation-owned Mr Apple, Māori Kiwifruit Growers has shipped 50,000 trays of kiwifruit – worth about $1.3 million – to the UAE for its first sales season.

relationships and intergenerational prosperity.”

Above: Horticulture development group Māori Kiwifruit Growers has sent 50,000 trays of kiwifruit to Dubai in collaboration with Zespri and Mr Apple. Right: Māori Kiwifruit Growers chairperson Geoff Rolleston says the group is working to support intergenerational economic wellbeing for Māori in horticulture.

“If it all goes well, hopefully we can increase that volume and those sales next season,” Rolleston told The Post. The region is outside of Zespri’s core markets of Japan, China, the United Kingdom and North America, so is ripe for creative marketing campaigns. One has already been devised – a Legends of Aotearoa promotion, developed by Māori Kiwifruit Growers and Māori agency Run Creative. Within the promotion is a collectible card series depicting Aotearoa insects, birds and sea life, which is offered on displays of Zespri and Mr Apple fruit across top-tier Dubai supermarkets. “We went around to a few of the big stores in Dubai, and it was great to see our fruit being promoted with these Legends of Aotearoa concepts,” Rolleston said. “All our kiwifruit and apples were

stacked in the most prominent positions – they are huge. “It really brought to life what we talked about back in 2016 – the growth of Māori in the kiwifruit sector.” Promotions started in September and Dubai supermarket managers report the campaign has been a success so far. The group will earn a marketing fee for the promotion that Rolleston said will be reinvested into training and capabilitybuilding programmes for Māori growers across its horticultural regions in Te Puke, Tauranga, the Bay of Plenty, Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki area, Kerikeri and Nelson. “We’re not just marketing fruit, we’re building futures,” Rolleston said. “It’s about collaborating to create long-term

Emirates FTA The New Zealand-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which came into force on August 28, included an Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Co-operation chapter that recognised Māori cultural heritage and obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Rolleston said the chapter created new space for Māori exporters to express their identity in trade while maintaining cultural integrity. “It paves the pathway for us to embed our own cultural elements into promotions and exports,” he said. “But it really comes back to how we use those provisions, and how the Government supports us to protect what belongs to us as Māori.” Rolleston pointed to the international dispute over the “mānuka honey” name being claimed as an Australian brand as illustrating the need to actively safeguard Māori intellectual and cultural property in overseas markets. “We certainly don’t want that situation ever repeated,” he said. “While the FTA recognises our interests, we can’t rest on our laurels.” Rolleston said Māori exporters hoped to be more involved in future trade negotiations, including any potential deal with India. “There’s huge Indian involvement in our industry already, so it’s important Māori voices are included,” he said. Māori agribusiness is only beginning to show its potential in global markets, he added. “We haven’t even touched the sides of what Māori can offer. Our ability to open doors and build relationships is a real point of difference, and that’s a huge opportunity – not just for Māori but for all of Aotearoa.”

December 2025

NZ Farmer

Horticulture NZ Farmer 33

Updated all day at

Growing confidence despite challenges Opinion

Horticuture New Zealand chief executive Kate Scott says the sector has been through some tough times in the past year but, while challenges remain, there is still positivity.

The chief executive of Horticulture New Zealand, Kate Scott, looks back at the highs and lows of the past year.

A

s we head into summer and the festive season, it’s a good time to pause and reflect on the year that’s been, and to acknowledge the incredible people who keep New Zealand’s horticulture sector thriving. In my travels across the country this year, I’ve met growers who are clearly passionate about producing high-quality food while navigating a complex operating environment. Whether it’s apples in Hawke’s Bay, onions in Pukekohe or leafy greens in Horowhenua, what’s clear is that our growers are committed to feeding Kiwis and the world. Our sector is at a critical point. Growers continue to face regulatory pressures, weather-related challenges, rising costs and variable profitability. Yet despite everything, they keep adapting and innovating – investing in sustainable practices, developing new technologies, and working together to build a stronger, more resilient industry. At HortNZ, our focus this year has been on ensuring growers’ voices are heard where it matters most – at the decisionmaking table. We’ve pushed hard for practical

“

Horticulture continues to be a powerhouse of New Zealand’s economy, with export revenue forecast to reach record levels. policy settings that enable growers to succeed, especially in the area of resource management, and will continue to focus on ensuring certainty for growers into 2026. It’s important that any approach recognises that growers are already taking action to protect the environment.

Ultimately, growers need certainty for the future. We’ve also continued to advocate strongly for the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. Growers take their responsibilities to Pacific workers seriously, but need certainty that the Government will complete the review of the scheme to ensure the overall RSE settings provide good outcomes for employees, for growers and for the Pacific. Water, as always, remains front of mind. Without reliable access to water, our fruit and vegetables cannot grow. That’s why we’ve welcomed proactive thinking, such as new water storage options for the Heretaunga Plains. A national water strategy that balances environmental sustainability with food production is long overdue. This year also reminded us how

vulnerable our industry can be. The detection of a fruit fly and yellow-legged hornets, both in Auckland, is a reminder of the biosecurity threats that could so easily disrupt our growing systems. It underlines the importance of strong biosecurity systems and a rapid response. And in July, severe flooding across Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough once again tested growers’ resilience. Orchards, vineyards and market gardens were hit hard, with damage to crops, homes and infrastructure. The way local growers and communities rallied together was again inspiring. HortNZ and the Government jointly contributed funding to help with immediate recovery and co-ordination efforts. Despite the challenges that 2025 threw us, there’s much to celebrate. Horticulture continues to be a powerhouse of New Zealand’s economy, with export revenue forecast to reach record levels. Domestically, the summer season is a reminder of what our growers deliver every day. From cherries and strawberries to lettuces, potatoes and sweetcorn, the amazing range of fresh fruit and vegetables on Kiwi tables this Christmas is thanks to the hard work of thousands of people across the country. As we look ahead to 2026, HortNZ remains focused on ensuring growers have the tools, resources and policy settings they need to thrive. To all our growers, thank you for your resilience, hard work and commitment. Merry Christmas – here’s to a productive and positive year ahead.

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NZ Farmer

December 2025

34 Viticulture NZ Farmer

Chardonnay shines at wine show Awards

Experience Marlborough, which opened for the first time in September. Rapaura Springs’ ROHE Southern chardonnay has won three Valleys Pinot Noir also won the company trophies – including the a fourth trophy this year – the Fruitfed top prize – at the 2025 Supplies Champion Southern Valleys Marlborough Wine Show. Award. Rapaura Springs Isabel Estate won three trophies, Bouldevines Single Vineyard including Marlborough Research Chardonnay 2024 pipped more Centre’s New Zealand Wine than 500 Marlborough Centre Legacy Award wines to be crowned for the Wild Barrique QuayConnect Chardonnay’s 2018, Champion Wine of 2020 and 2022 the Show, and also vintages. won The Coterie Isabel Estate Wine of Provenance also won the De and Vintech Pacific Sangosse NZ Champion title Champion Pinot for chardonnay Noir 2022 and Older (current vintage). title for the Single Chief judge Stu Vineyard Pinot Noir Marfell said the 2021, and the Scenic champion wine was Hotel Marlborough a difficult choice as Champion Rosé with the there were so many Marlborough Rosé 2025. outstanding trophy In total, 21 trophies winners at this year’s were awarded at the QuayConnect’s Jaron McLeod, left, Marlborough Wine show. presents the QuayConnect Champion Show Celebration event, “But the Rapaura Wine of the Show trophy to Michael alongside a special Springs Bouldevines Bann, of Rapaura Springs. Single Vineyard Lifetime Achievement Chardonnay is a deserved Award given to Kimberley champion. With its beautiful citrus nose, and Kevin Judd, of Greywacke Wines. a touch of savoury flintiness and wild They moved from Australia in 1983, and ferment complexity, it is a remarkable Kevin Judd became winemaker at Cloudy wine with loads of complexity and focus,” Bay, before the first Cloudy Bay sauvignon Marfell said. “It is a great ambassador for blanc took the world by storm in 1985. how good Marlborough chardonnay can Kevin spent 25 years with the business, be.” but left in 2009 to launch Greywacke with The awards evening was held on Kimberley. November 14 at the Wine + Food While his father convinced him to study

Marlborough reporters

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winemaking instead of photography, the two careers have run in parallel, and Kevin’s images have featured in books The Colour of Wine and The Landscape of New Zealand Wine. Earlier this year, he was named a Marlborough Living Cultural Treasure for his photography. Wine Marlborough general manager Marcus Pickens said Kevin’s influence on Marlborough’s global reputation has been profound – both through wine and photography – and Kimberley’s wine marketing, hosting and support has also shone a light on the region. This year, 91 gold, 144 silver and 180 bronze medals were awarded at the Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by Quay Connect. Trophy winners ■ Winequip Champion Sparkling: Diamond Heart Waihopai Cuvée 2020 ■ WineWorks Champion Sauvignon Blanc Current Vintage: Kim Crawford Small Parcels Sauvignon Blanc 2025 ■ WineWorks Champion Sauvignon Blanc 2024 and Older: Delta Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2024 ■ Chandler Glass and Packaging Alternate Style Sauvignon Blanc: Saint Clair Barrique Sauvignon Blanc 2021 ■ Vintech Pacific Champion Chardonnay Current Vintage: Rapaura Springs Bouldevines Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2024 ■ Vintech Pacific Champion Chardonnay 2022 and Older: te Pā Reserve Collection “Auntsfield Vineyard” Chardonnay 2022 ■ Label and Litho Champion Pinot Gris: Nautilus Pinot Gris 2025 ■ Interpack Champion Riesling: Mount Riley Marlborough Riesling 2025

■ Wine Brokers New Zealand Champion Gewürztraminer: Leefield Station The Gatherer Gewürztraminer 2025 ■ Barrel Finance and Logistics Champion Sweet Wine: Brancott Estate Letter Series B Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2023 ■ Marlborough Wine + Food Experience Champion Other White Wine: Forrest Chenin Blanc 2025 ■ De Sangosse NZ Champion Pinot Noir Current Vintage: te Pā Reserve Collection “Westhaven” Pinot Noir 2024 ■ De Sangosse NZ Champion Pinot Noir 2022 and Older: Isabel Estate Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021 ■ Scenic Hotel Marlborough Champion Rosé: Isabel Estate Marlborough Rosé 2025 ■ Vit Management Ltd Champion Organic Wine: Rimapere Plot 101 Sauvignon Blanc 2024 ■ The Coterie Wine of Provenance: Rapaura Springs Bouldevines Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2024 ■ Central Express Ltd Champion Wairau Valley: Mount Riley Marlborough Riesling 2025 ■ Fruitfed Supplies Champion Southern Valleys: ROHE Southern Valleys Pinot Noir by Rapaura Springs 2024 ■ Circuit Logistics Champion Awatere and South Marlborough: Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2025 ■ New Zealand Wine Centre Legacy Award, sponsored by Marlborough Research Centre: Isabel Estate Wild Barrique Chardonnay 2018/2020/2022 ■ QuayConnect Champion Wine of the Show 2025: Rapaura Springs Bouldevines Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2024

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December 2025

NZ Farmer

Viticulture NZ Farmer 35

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Vineyards reverting from organic Two of Marlborough’s biggest wineries have converted huge swathes of vineyards from organic back to conventional farming. By Andy Brew.

Marlborough wine companies are reverting from organic practices back to conventional methods. GREG D WASS

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ndevin has reverted about 100ha of its 130ha of organic vineyards back to nonorganic, while Vinarchy, which owns Brancott Estate, has converted about 80ha of its 150ha back to conventional farming – a practice that employs external resources such as synthetic pesticides, fertilisers and pumping in extra water. Bart Arnst, a Marlborough winemaker and founding member of Organic Winegrowers New Zealand, said Indevin, which bought Villa Maria Estate in 2021, and Vinarchy, which bought Pernod Ricard in April this year, had inherited the organic vineyards, but growing grapes organically didn’t fit the companies’ economic blueprint. “It very much depends on your business model,” Arnst said. “If your business model, like some of these bigger companies, is based around high volume and quantity, then organics is not for you. “If your business model is about supplying a cheaper product offshore then you might have some tonnage-per-hectare expectations which are just not achievable with organics, and that’s particularly so with Marlborough sauvignon blanc.” Arnst said that by switching back to conventional farming practices, wineries

were able to get higher crop yields while reducing operational costs in tough economic times. High cropping referred to vines producing a high number of grape bunches or high yields of grapes per unit area, increasing the quantity of grapes harvested but potentially negatively affecting wine quality. “It’s generally accepted in most situations that organics are more expensive to grow than conventional,” Arnst said. “Organic practitioners are focused on quality rather than quantity, so you’re not trying to stimulate growth with synthetic fertilisers etc, and your property is giving you growth that it’s capable of doing naturally. “If their business model is basically providing cheap Marlborough sauvignon

blanc to the supermarkets of England, then organics just won’t fit.” Structural constraints, higher certification costs, and uncertain recognition in export markets were also contributing to the drop in organics. Last year, New Zealand’s wine exports dropped both by value (12.2%) and volume (13%), with Marlborough growers affected more than most regions, as the region produced about 75% of New Zealand’s wine exports. Braden Crosby, the Bragato Research Institute’s knowledge transfer and engagement lead, said there would always be vineyards “that come in and out of organic production” depending on their business models and global markets. “Under the current scenarios, if you take an existing vineyard and put it into the

organic system, there will be a decrease in yields. “If your business model is for that [higher-cropping], then it would make sense to take that out of that [organic] system.” But organic growing offered plenty of benefits to winegrowers, as well as the wider environment. Faster ripening produced lower sugar and higher quality wines, and the plants were more resistant to pests and diseases, Crosby said. Organic grape growers used natural products such as sulphur or seaweedbased sprays to combat disease. With conventional methods, the vines could build up resistance to synthetic fungicides. Arnst said high-crop farming had also caused a glut of Marlborough sauvignon blanc on the market, and combined with a global drop in demand, meant the practice was unsustainable, both economically and environmentally. “There’s a bit of an oversupply issue at the moment and a lot of these companies have now gone to these growers and said ‘we don’t want the volume we’ve had in the past’, to try to reduce the intake into the wineries,” he said. “Everywhere I go there are vineyards that are obviously not going to get harvested this year. “There’s a lot of people putting their vineyards to sleep for a couple of years or they’re deciding it’s time to pull it out and re-evaluate. “I’ve never seen it like this, and I’ve been here since the mid-90s – there’s going to be a lot of people who are going to have no homes for their grapes essentially.” Indevin and Vinarchy declined to comment.

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NZ Farmer

December 2025

and Safety 36 Health NZ Farmer

The importance of looking both ways The latest safety alert by Safer Farms highlights the need to check both ways before pulling out.

T Safer Farms is a membership organisation that recognises the whole sector benefits from improved health and safety. It brings together farmers and senior leaders from agribusiness, agricultural industry groups and government.

Safety alerts are a great way to learn from incidents that have happened on other farms. Ask yourself: ■ Could this happen on my farm? ■ What do I have in place to prevent this from happening? ■ How can I implement these lessons?

This article is part of its safety alert series – lessons from real-life incidents that have happened on farm. They are produced under Safer Farms’ Farm Without Harm strategy and action plan, which has been developed by the agriculture sector, for the agriculture sector.

New safety alerts are added regularly. Alerts can be printed out for use in training and discussions. To see others or subscribe to have safety alerts emailed to you, go to: farmwithoutharm.org.nz/safety-alerts

he importance of safety at crossings and intersections is the subject of the latest safety alert from Safer Farms. Safety alerts document real-life incidents, distilling key lessons from farmers into concise, one-page handouts for managers to use in safety discussions with their teams. In this case, a side-by-side driven by a farm worker collided head-on with a ute driven by a member of the public when turning out of a gateway onto a road. The crash occurred in an 80kph speed zone. The ute driver managed to brake before the collision, which reduced the impact involved. Both vehicles were significantly damaged, and the side-by-side was a total loss. The side-by-side driver suffered bruising from the seatbelt, but

Above left: After a recent collision between a side-by-side and ute, a safety alert has been issued for farmers to remind them to make sure the way is clear before proceeding.

was very fortunate not to sustain further injuries. Sunstrike and overgrown vegetation may have been contributing factors, as they limited the driver’s visibility of oncoming traffic. Key lessons: ■ Stay alert, fully stop and carefully look both ways before entering onto or crossing a road, even the ones you drive every day; ■ Vegetation around crossings and intersections needs to be kept trimmed back or removed so there is a clear view of oncoming traffic; ■ Install signage at road crossings to remind drivers to stop and look; ■ Whenever you are operating a vehicle, make sure you are wearing a seatbelt and the required PPE – this includes seatbelts, helmets, hi-viz clothing and sunglasses when needed; ■ Make sure anyone using a farm vehicle is competent and has completed driver training, and that vehicles are in good working and serviced condition; ■ Limit or remove any distractions that could take your focus away from driving. This includes cellphones, background music, headphones or performing other tasks; ■ Before you start, check that you are up to the task. Are you tired or distracted? Is there anything that will impact your driving? Talk to your team or manager if you are unsure or have concerns.

December 2025

NZ Farmer

Employment News 37 NZ Farmer

Updated all day at

Managing risks at festive shindigs The team at Peninsula take a look at how employers can manage alcohol and other drug risks on their farms over the holiday period.

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s the festive season approaches, many rural businesses and farms across New Zealand are planning end-of-year celebrations. These events are a great way to thank your team for their hard work, but they also bring added responsibilities for farm owners and employers. Alcohol consumption and, in some cases, other drug use can create serious health and safety risks, especially in environments where machinery, vehicles and livestock are involved. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, employers have a duty to provide a safe workplace and manage hazards, including impairment caused by alcohol or other drugs. Employees also have a responsibility to turn up fit for work and ensure their actions don’t harm themselves or others. When celebrations blur these lines, the consequences can be costly, both financially and reputationally. Why it matters Alcohol and other drug use can impair judgment, slow reaction times and increase the likelihood of accidents. In

End-of-year celebrations invloving alcohol, and possibly other drugs, can mean added responsibilities for farm owners and employers – but there are steps that can be taken to minimise risks.

rural settings, where tasks often involve heavy machinery or unpredictable animals, impairment can turn a routine job into a serious incident. The NZ Drug Foundation suggests that employers take a proactive approach to managing these risks by implementing clear policies and fostering a culture of safety.

controls for safety-sensitive roles like machinery operators. If you plan to serve alcohol at a work event, you remain responsible for your employees’ safety. The Alcohol Advisory Council recommends following host responsibility principles: provide food, limit alcohol availability, offer non-alcoholic options and arrange safe transport home.

Your legal obligations While there’s no blanket law on drug and alcohol testing, employers must take “reasonably practicable” steps to eliminate or minimise risks. This may include: ■ Having a clear workplace policy on alcohol and other drug use, ideally included in an employee handbook that is signed by the staff member. ■ Consulting with employees when developing or updating policies. ■ Managing impairment risks proportionately – for example, stronger

Practical steps for employers Review your policy: Make sure your drug and alcohol policy is up to date and clearly states expectations for work-related events. Include consequences for breaches and outline support options, such as employee assistance programmes. Communicate before the event: Remind staff of the policy and reinforce that safety remains a priority – even during celebrations. Make it clear that turning up impaired for work the next day is unacceptable.

N-Boost® is the Smart Way to Supercharge Your Pasture

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“The role N-Boost® plays in our business is pretty significant. We’re growing a whole lot of extra pasture, and it’s maintaining really good quality. It’s a cheap way to produce pasture, and it works. At the heart of our operation, grass is everything. It’s the foundation of our profitable system, and with N-Boost®, we’re pushing it further than ever. We aim for maximum utilisation, growing as many tonnes per hectare as possible, without compromising quality. N-Boost® helps us do exactly that. We’ve used N-Boost® all year round, and the results speak for themselves: better pasture, lower nitrogen use, and real savings. It’s self-explanatory, why wouldn’t you be using it?” Choose N-Boost® and see the difference in every paddock. Learn more at www.donaghys.co.nz/performancelab or call 0800 942 006.

Plan responsibly ■ Communicate clear expectations before the party by reminding employees of the code of conduct, and the expectation of professional behaviour and safe-drinking practices. ■ Serve alcohol in moderation. ■ Provide plenty of food and non-alcoholic drinks. ■ Set an end time for the event. ■ Organise transport options for those who have been drinking. ■ Assign a designated sober person – generally a person of authority who can put a stop to excessive drinking and behaviour that is “getting out of hand” and can make sure employees get safely to their transport home. Watch for signs of impairment Train managers to recognise symptoms of drug or alcohol misuse, such as slurred speech, poor co-ordination or erratic behaviour. Early intervention can prevent accidents and protect your team. Looking ahead The festive season should be enjoyable, but it’s also a time when risks increase. By planning ahead and reinforcing your workplace policies, you can keep celebrations safe and compliant. Remember: managing impairment isn’t just about avoiding legal trouble – it’s about protecting your people and your business. For more information and advice, go to: peninsulagrouplimited.co.nz

NZ Farmer

December 2025

the Farm 38 On NZ Farmer

Free to roam

Despite its remote location, Pitt Island has a natural rugged beauty with a deeply rooted sense of community that lured one woman back from the mainland to run the family farm. By Arpége Taratoa-Rangikura.

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aewyn “Tommi” Gregory-Hunt (Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri) grew up on Rangihaute Rangiauria Pitt Island – part of Rēkohu Wharekauri Chatham Islands – enjoying a childhood defined by rugged, open landscapes, self-reliance and the deep connections that come from being part of a community of 40 people. Now the island’s sole stock agent, she is following in her father’s footsteps and raising her daughter, Mikayla, the same way that she was – free to roam. “I grew up looking at this view for most of my life, and it still takes my breath away,” Tommi says, describing the view from her childhood home. “On hot, sunny days, it’s easy to see it as beautiful. But even on the really wet, cold days, it’s amazing – you’ve got sea views for 180 degrees, outlying islands and, on really clear nights, sometimes you can see the lights of vehicles on the road, far in the distance.” Raised in a small and tight-knit island community on Pitt Island, her upbringing was unlike anything most children in Aotearoa New Zealand experience today. There was no such thing as strangers – everyone knew and cared for one another. “There’s no separation – where kids hang out with kids their age and adults stick to their groups. Here, you hang out with anyone and everyone, and you have a great time,” she explains. For Tommi, the third of six siblings, it was a childhood full of adventure and

Tommi returned to Pitt Island after attending boarding school. She’s now its only stock agent.

freedom. At just 10 years old, she and her younger brother went pig hunting alone. “We caught a pig and brought it home to Mum, who was equally proud and really, really terrified,” the now 31-year-old laughs. “She was like, ‘What would you have done if it was bigger?’ And we hadn’t even thought about that!” Horse-riding was the main mode of transport – push bikes weren’t practical and petrol was an expensive commodity.

But for all its wild beauty, island life had its limitations. There was no high school so, at 13 she left for boarding school in Ōamaru – an experience she embraced despite the culture shock. “I went from an island of 40 people to a class of 36 – and it was insane.” While her two eldest sisters didn’t particularly warm to boarding school, Tommi loved it. “There was always something going on – hostel trips, games, sport – it was an active, fun environment.” Sport quickly became a major part of her life at school. With an upbringing that was constantly physical – riding horses, hunting and spending time outdoors – she naturally gravitated toward contact sports. “I think growing up here made me pretty resilient. We grew up rough and tumble, always outside, always moving,” she says. “I was probably just stubborn more than anything – I was never the fastest or the flashiest, but I’d put my head down and get stuck in.” She joined the rugby and hockey teams, and was selected for representative teams, competing at a high level. A humble woman, Tommi credits her success in sports to her coaches and team-mates. “It was a huge shift from Pitt, where you just make up games at school and play with whoever’s around,” she says. “Suddenly, there were set positions, strategy, rules – it was a whole different world. I was lucky to have some great coaches and a strong team around me.” Leaving school, she set her sights on

becoming a vet, heading to Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University in Te Papaioea Palmerston North. But after missing out on pre-vet selection, she pivoted toward a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Animal Science. “By the time the next intake came around, I was already deep into the degree and actually really enjoying it, so I stuck with it.” University life led her to various farm jobs, moving between the rural landscapes of Aotearoa and back home to work on Rangiauria – which, although still part of Aotearoa, tends to be talked about by the people who live there “like it’s a separate country,” says Tommi. It was during this time that she met Tim Mahony – now her husband – when they worked together in Ōamaru for Phil Cleland, a shearing contractor. In true island fashion, when her father was tasked with picking up Tim from Ōtautahi Christchurch airport, the introduction was brief: “Dad called me and said, ‘What does your mate look like?’ I said, ‘White and blond,’ and he goes, ‘Yep, found him.’ Then he hung up,” Tommi laughs. Despite being a shearer by trade, Tim, 40, got his first experience of working on a farm after arriving on Rangiauria. “I assumed he had some kind of rural background, but as we were driving back, he casually mentioned, ‘I’ve never actually worked on a farm before.’ I was like, ‘Oh, cool. This will be fun’.” Together, they built a life split between Rangiauria and the mainland. Tommi worked as a shearer and then a farm

December 2025

NZ Farmer

OnNZ the Farm 39 Farmer

Updated all day at

With her dad having taken a step back from the farm, Tommi now runs the property alongside her husband, though she still goes to her father for advice.

For all its beauty, growing up on Pitt Island had its limitations, but for Raewyn “Tommi” Gregory-Hunt, it will always be home.

PHOTOS: ASHLEIGH RYAN/SHEPHERDESS/

Tim and Tommi met in Ōamaru when they were working for a shearing contractor. They’re accompanyed by their daughter Mikayla.

The view from the holding paddock just above the woolshed on the family farm, is of Maung’Rē/Mangere Island – the larger rock formation directly in front – and Tapuaenuku Little Mangere Island, to the left. Both islands are now bird sanctuaries.

“

There’s no separation – where kids hang out with kids their age and adults stick to their groups. Here, you hang out with anyone and everyone, and you have a great time. Tommi Gregory-Hunt

manager, but when her father was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis in 2023, a new path opened up – one that had been discussed long before and now became a reality. “My dad had always planned for me to train under him as a stock agent, but when he got sick, he told Hazlett, the company he was working for, ‘Tommi’s still keen, and she lives here – she’s the right person for the job’.”

She was flown to Tīmaru for a year of training and in July 2024, officially took over the role. As the only female stock agent at Hazlett, she feels lucky that she never had to fight to prove her place. “I know a lot of women in this industry had to push really hard to be accepted, but when I started, everyone just brought me in and treated me like one of them.” Life as a stock agent on Rangiauria is vastly different from working on the mainland. For one thing, there are no long drives between clients. “A lot of the job is just listening to people vent, especially about shipping,” she says. “The boat’s only so big, the weather’s unpredictable, and farmers might be ready to ship but have to wait a month. You just have to help them navigate that.” Beyond logistics, her role has acquired another aspect. “I’m kind of like the island’s storyteller,” she says. “Some people don’t leave their farm much, so by the time I visit, I’m the one bringing them news – who’s had a baby, who’s done what. You become this link between people.” It’s this connection that she wants for her daughter, Mikayla, 3. There was no question about whether she would be raised on Rangiauria. “I didn’t want a life dictated by the clock, where it’s all about the rat race. Here, time doesn’t rule you – the weather does.” She sees Mikayla’s childhood mirroring her own – full of adventure, learning from the land, and Mikayla is a growing up in a place ninth-generation where everyone has a Pitt Islander and skill to share. accompanies her “The school here mother when she does so much outdoor heads out on the learning. Someone’s farm – sometimes going to teach them helping and beekeeping, my sister’s sometimes going to teach them hindering. weaving. If you talk to the right person long enough, they’ll teach you everything they know.” For Tommi, life is full of work and family, exactly as she wants it – rooted in the land, shaped by the community, and always with a story to share. This story appears in the Kōanga Spring edition 2025 of Shepherdess magazine, out now. Find each issue in supermarkets, dairies and specialty book and design stores across the motu. Subscribe and order your copy online at shepherdess.co.nz.

a w e e ke n d - l o n g f est i va l j u st f o r y o u . 6 - 8 m a rc h 2 0 2 6 to k a n u i , m u ri h i k u s o u t h l a n d t i c ke t s o n s a l e n o w s h e p h e r d es s m u st e r . c o . n z

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NZ Farmer

December 2025

the Farm 40 On NZ Farmer

Giving back to the industry A Northland farmer who has served in a large number of governance roles in the agricultural sector and community is encouraging others to step up and create a dynamic region. By Steve Macmillan.

Greg Gent grew up on his family’s dairy farm and, when his dad passed away, he took it over and increased the operation.

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young Ruāwai boy who progressed through the ranks to become a successful farmer and leader in governance wants more Northlanders to follow suit to strengthen the region. And if Greg Gent ever takes the time to look back fully over his farming and governance careers, there will be plenty to mull over. While he is a deep thinker when it comes to the business of farming and industry, he has adopted and developed simple philosophies over the years that have led to business success in many sectors. “We farm a number of dairy farms, all on the Ruāwai flats. Our philosophy is around financial return – particularly Return on Investment (ROI),” he explains. “The industry has historically used Gent doesn’t get milksolids per cow to spend a lot of and milksolids per time on the farm, hectare as effectively a which is now run proxy for profit. by his daughter “Generally, that and son-in-law worked very well as it Dan Knibbs – was effectively a measure pictured with his for pasture eaten and children Theo cow quality. The quality and Em. of the national herd has tightened over time, thanks to the great work done by LIC.” The other huge change is the amount of supplementary feed brought in. He believes measuring per hectare production is irrelevant when a portion of the production comes from a feed pad. “Our industry will only survive if it remains internationally competitive. Our competitive advantage is the grass we can grow versus most other dairy producers. Being sure pasture harvested is maximised is part of our farming model.” Gent grew up on the land where he farms now. When he was a lad, the farm was 32 hectares and milked 70 cows. Leaving school, he started in banking at the BNZ, where he did what were then known as Banking Association exams – a little like studying accounting extramurally today. “Then when my father became terminally ill, I got a leave of absence to assist my mother. He subsequently died and I stayed and that was the start of my farming career. “I dairy farmed fulltime for circa 12 years with my wife Ann. I then became chairperson of the Ruāwai Primary board of trustees. The school had issues and I learnt a huge amount in that role, learning I still use. I did that for five years. “I then stood for the board of the Northland Dairy Co-op and was elected. Eighteen months later, the chairperson

Ruāwai farmer Greg Gent with the purpose-built calf-rearing shed, which he says is gold to the multi-farm operation. STEVE MACMILLAN

was not re-elected to the board, so I became the chairperson.” Gent then progressed to an array of chairperson and board roles, including serving time with Northland Dairy, Kiwi Dairies, Fonterra, Farmers Mutual Group, Plant & Food Research, Equestrian Sports NZ and Southern Cross Group – both the insurance business and the healthcare provider – as well as being Kaipara District Council mayor. At one point, he was also at the helm of the Kaipara District Council review team and Food Safety review group, reporting to the deputy governor of Ministry of Primary Industries and the minister of agriculture. He also delved back into education as facilitator of the Springboard Trust, an initiative where he assisted Northland principals to adopt business-like practices to manage their schools. Gent says delivering Fonterra and being chairperson of Southern Cross, both large organisations by New Zealand standards, have been career highlights. Never content with not challenging himself, in 2000 he undertook what he describes as a compressed MBA by completing an Advanced Management

Gent in the special playground he built for his grandchildren. STEVE MACMILLAN

Programme at INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France. While he gets out on the land as often as possible, he is still busy in the corporate world as chairperson of Dairy Holdings and Seafood NZ, and board adviser to Theland (part of Shanghai/Pengxin Group). On the local front, he remains a member of the Raupō drainage committee in Ruāwai.

Throughout all those decades, he says, Ann was the rock running the farming enterprise until their daughter Leisha and son-in-law Dan Knibbs stepped up to operate the farms as they progressively buy into the operation. Part of that farming mix is a 444ha beef unit at Tinopai with an adjoining 100ha lease block. With a farm manager in place, 600-700 of the beef/Friesian-cross calves reared in a purpose-built calf shed on one of the dairy units are fattened at Tinopai. “We have a mix of breeds crossed with our dairy cows and we never have less than 1000 head on the property and never more than 2000. “The bulls are sold privately at 14 months for finishing because we are not bull farmers and the unit is not set up for bull farming. “It is a kikuyu dominant farm, which gets us through in summer. The heifers and steers are sent to the freezing works at two years to avoid having them on a second winter.” Gent believes farmers face challenges with their licence to operate. “Farming has largely become a scale game, although well operated smaller operations can do well. At scale, the whole dynamic of farming changes. In our case, we moved from managing cows to managing people.” Gent has always worked hard to ensure staff aren’t overloaded so they can operate more safely, enjoy their roles, and have time to spend off-farm doing their own thing. He has also developed a farming model to ensure over-capitalisation of plant and equipment does not happen. “If you do the numbers accurately, owning lots of gear does not work. We have one tractor per farm, one silage wagon, two tip trailers, quads for use largely in spring, and two-wheelers,” which he says are far safer and more comfortable to ride. “Our farming model is as simple as we can make it. It is largely grass based and with little machinery. If we get the basics right, everything else falls into place. Any spending needs an ROI and if the numbers don’t work, it doesn’t happen. “Food production is a great sector to be in. We must be internationally competitive as we effectively have no domestic market with circa five million people due to the wealth gap in New Zealand. “Science has got us to where we are now. I am confident science will continue to provide solutions, augmented by farmers who will adopt that science where needed. “As a country, we rely on pastoral farming and we really need another Fonterra doing something different in another couple of sectors. But in the end, the sun shines, it rains, and the grass grows. We don’t want to lose sight of that.” The key to success in business is having good people, sound financial management and an attainable vision, observes Gent. “I would love to see more good governors developing in Northland. The best advice I can give to people looking at governance roles beyond school boards, which are the ideal starting point, is to take any opportunities to learn and be very sure governance is for you. “Governance is ultimately about creating value, and judgment and courage are two non-negotiable skills. Financial literacy is also a must, as everything ultimately has a financial outcome.” With his governance hat off, Gent says he loves nothing more than getting out on the farm and enjoying time with his grandchildren. “Community means a lot, that’s why we choose to live in Ruāwai. It’s my sanctuary.”

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NZ Farmer

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December 2025

42 Travel NZ Farmer

Princess on the Rhine

Swapping housework for castles, Leonie Jarrett gets to live her own Cinderella story on a river cruise along the Rhine and Moselle.

about the castles we were passing on either side of us. Abbeloos’ commentary was broadcast through the onboard Quietvox machines (individual earpieces) so that anyone who wanted to hear the commentary could. He told us stories about the castles and the famous Lorelei Rock, including the legend of the siren and her enchanting song, said to be the cause of the high number of shipwrecks in the area.

F

or two weeks, I felt like a princess. Cinderella at the ball, but without the nasty stepmum and stepsisters. From my luxurious suite to my floating carriage (also known as the Super Ship Victoria), to my butler and delicious cocktails being prepared for me, I was effortlessly transported to romantic towns and storybook castles. My Uniworld Cruises carriage took me to five European countries and to several Unesco World Heritage Sites. Every port from Brussels to Basel had something interesting to offer, but the ones that most made me feel like a princess were the German ports. From Cochem to Rüdesheim to Bernkastel-Kues to the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, this area is straight out of the pages of a fairytale. The Moselle and Rhine rivers wind their way through valleys covered in vineyards and green fields as castles dot the landscape.

A fairytale come true Reichsburg Castle dominates the fairytale town of Cochem. This was once a toll castle where trading ships stopped to pay taxes, and if they didn’t stop, a chain across the Moselle River stopped them from proceeding. The castle was largely ruined by Louis XIV’s troops in 1689 during the Nine Years’ War – one of many they destroyed along the Moselle River. But the Tower of Reichsburg Castle survived – and when locals could not explain how it escaped the damage, they decided there must have been witchcraft involved, and christened it “The Witches’ Tower”, a name that remains to this day. I toured inside Reichsburg Castle as a Uniworld-included excursion and heard

Above: The writer and her husband at BernkastelKues, Germany. LEONIE JARRETT

Left: A suite on Uniworld’s SS Victoria.

the story of wealthy Berlin businessman, Louis Ravené, who bought the castle as a gift and summer house for his wife. Ravené spent nearly 10 years reconstructing the castle in a neo-gothic architectural style. Sadly for Ravené, his wife divorced him and local lore says he died of a broken heart two years after the renovations were finished. Sad as that tale was, I felt like a princess touring the fully furnished rooms of Reichsburg Castle and posing for photos on the balcony overlooking the Moselle. We stopped at the gingerbread town of Bernkastel-Kues, a

medieval town that looks like Hansel and Gretel were born here. No wonder it is called the Pearl of the Moselle. The half-timbered houses are gorgeous, but were built that way for cost rather than beauty. Made with cob (a mixture of clay, straw, sand and water), half-timbered houses were much cheaper to build than stone houses. Germans still use an expression, ‘steinreich’ or in English, ‘stone rich’ – meaning wealthy. Scenic sailing through the Unescoprotected Upper Middle Rhine Valley felt like sailing through film sets. In this 65-kilometre stretch of the Rhine, there are more than 40 castles. Our cruise director, Piet Abbeloos, narrated stories

Uniworld’s Super Ship Victoria on the Moselle.

A princess onboard The SS Victoria team made me feel like a celebrity and could not do enough for me. From multiple offers of a baristamade coffee each morning to continually refilling my glass at lunch and dinner to asking me how my day was, I was made to feel very special. Staying in a suite, I had never had a more luxurious nor a more spacious stateroom. At 23.5m2, my stateroom was substantially bigger than most European hotel rooms I have stayed in. And the lavish bathroom had two vanities. Forget the “can’t swing a cat” cruise ship shower – this one was spacious and luxe with options for rainfall or handheld. With a butler at my disposal (two, in fact, the beautifully dressed Valentin and Alexander) and unlimited laundry that was delivered back clean, pressed and on hangers ready to go into my walk-in robe, this was two weeks of luxury, of being pampered, of being spoiled. The food, too, was incredible. Ever-changing buffets for breakfast and lunch and four-course a la carte dinners that would not be out of place in a fine-dining restaurant on land. The return to the real world After two weeks of bliss, my cruise and time playing princess did have to end. My luxury floating boutique hotel didn’t turn into a pumpkin, but it did have new guests to pamper and I had to get used to cooking, cleaning and doing my own laundry again. The life of a princess was good while it lasted. I’m counting the weeks until I can roleplay royalty again. The writer was a guest of Uniworld Cruises.

Fact file Uniworld’s 15-day Rhine, Moselle and Belgium Grand Discovery, from Brussels to Basel, is priced from NZ$15,599. See: uniworld.com/nz

Getting there:

Reichsburg Castle in Cochem. LEONIE JARRETT

Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Hainan Airlines and Cathay Pacific with codeshare partner Air New Zealand fly Auckland to Brussels with a stopover.

December 2025

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NZ Farmer

Real Estate 45 NZ Farmer

Updated all day at

Dairy farm fetches record $34m after bidding war The 394ha farm at Rakaia set a staggering ‘all-time record for Canterbury’ for its per hectare rate, selling for $10m more than the starting bid with 14 bidders in the room. By Tatiana Gibbs.

A

fter a bidding war that spanned $10 million from the starting bid to the final hammer, a Canterbury dairy farm has sold at auction for $34m. The sale was an “all-time record for Canterbury”, achieving a record-breaking price of $87,000 per hectare, Bayleys real estate agent Ben Turner said. The property, called Kyle Park, spans about 394 hectares on Lambies Rd in Rakaia, near Ashburton. The sale comes as recent figures revealed Canterbury dairy farmers are each nearly $1.4m richer – on average – than they were a year ago, as land values climb alongside strong milk prices and Fonterra’s upcoming payout from its consumer brands sale. Listed by Bayleys, the property sold at auction on November 6. There were Strong 14 groups in the room in a payouts and position to bid and about land gains five or six bidders in “fierce are putting competition right to the more cash very end”, Turner said. and equity in Bidding started at the hands of $24m and initially rose Canterbury in $250,000 lots, before farmers. KELLY HODEL/ its first call at $30.5m. WAIKATO TIMES Bids then increased by $100,000 at a time until it reached $34m, slowing to $50,000 advances until its final call. The result took 70 bids. “It’s a reflection of the quality of property and the asset,” Turner said. “Converted [to dairy] in 2016, it has got modern infrastructure, a very good quality dairy asset, in a well regarded location.” It was bought by a local Canterbury family that has other dairy farming assets in central and mid-Canterbury. The sellers decided to sell the property because of their “age and stage”, Turner said, with retiring partners and one group from the equity partnership electing to reinvest in a growing family business. Each party was “very pleased with the result”, he said. Turner, who handled the sale with agent Craig Blackburn, said the result dwarfed typical prices, with most dairy farms last season selling in the $50,000s to early $60,000s per hectare, while this year’s previous highs reached up to $65,000 per hectare. “We haven’t seen a sale at that level ever,” he said. “That’s why it really shows the quality and value in the asset, and to have that many buyers in Canterbury at that level shows the grunt of the dairy industry here.

Above: The Kyle Park dairy farm near Ashburton sold for $34.4 million at auction recently. Left: The 394-hectare property consistently milks 1350 cows. Below: The farm has housing for staff and their families. BAYLEYS

“Canterbury flourishes in tough economic times [because] we’ve got such a long area of irrigated flats that drives our local economy.” Mid-Canterbury Federated Farmers president David Acland said it was a “significant” sale that showed the value of farming and confidence in agriculture. The last big sale he was aware of was in the mid $60,000s per hectare, a figure shattered by Thursday’s sale. “It shows investors have got great confidence in the industry and farmland,” he said. Acland noted the property was in a “multi purpose area”, which was also good for cropping, making it a flexible and future-proofed investment. The property listing described it as a “compelling opportunity to acquire a large-scale, well-established dairy farm in a prime location” about 30 kilometres from Ashburton. The farm converted to dairy in 2016 after a long history of intensive arable and vegetable production, and consistently milks 1350 cows. It operates under the Synlait ‘Lead with Pride Gold Elite’ programme. As well as farm infrastructure, it has

housing for staff and their families. “Kyle Park stands out as a highly productive and well-run dairy unit, offering scale, performance and long-term reliability,” the listing said. Figures from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand show the median price of dairy land in Canterbury has risen by 12.2% to $50,810 per hectare since September 2024. Based on a typical farm of 250ha, drawn from recent listings, that equates to a

$1.39m increase in value over the past year. Canterbury could get 35,000 more dairy cows on its pastures after dairy conversions leaped following the expiry on January 1, 2020 of regulations that banned consents that would add to nitrogen loads. The expiry allows dairy conversions and expansions to resume if farmers obtain the necessary consents to take water and discharge stock effluents.

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