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14 The family that digs potatoes Vol 24 No 1 | January 12, 2026
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Agri co-ops feel chill of sector deals Neal Wallace
NEWS
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Agribusiness
HE sale last year of a majority stake in Alliance Group to Irish company Dawn Meats brings to four the number of primary sector co-operatives that have passed into foreign ownership, in whole or in part, in the past 14 years. Business leaders say this is not a sign the co-op business model is broken – but does underline the need to grow the value of the product and business. Co-operatives were formed to provide farmers with buying and selling strength and some control over processing and marketing. Where co-ops can struggle is maximising what they pay for product while remaining profitable and raising new capital. Fonterra’s dominance means the dairy industry is still mostly owned by farmer co-ops and up until the turn of the century coops owned the majority of the meat industry, too. That is no longer the case. In addition to Alliance, significant primary sector cooperatives sold into foreign ownership include 50% of Silver Fern Farms Ltd (SFF) to Shanghai Maling in 2016, Westland Milk to Yili in 2019 and Fonterra Brands to Lactalis in 2025. Alliance, SFF and Westland
were all weighed down by debt and their shareholders unable or unwilling to provide extra capital. In Fonterra’s case, the board concluded it could make better use of funds released from the sale of its consumer brands business. James Lockhart, formerly of Massey University business school, said the overhelming support for selling – from 88% of Fonterra shareholders and 87% of Alliance shareholders – was a surprise and illustrates how little farmers value ownership of an enterprise beyond the farm gate. “I thought there would be debate but they both were overwhelmingly in support of selling.” Where Alliance and Fonterra shareholders did not see the value, Lockhart said, Dawn Meats and Lactalis do – even if it is on the other side of the world. SFF Co-op chair Anna Nelson said there are multiple reasons for farmers to support co-ops – or withdraw their support – such as society’s approach to food production and whether the next generation want to farm. “If there is not a new generation willing to be involved in a business, it can drive short-term choices.” Co-operative Business New Zealand chief executive Saya Wahrlich said research shows that co-ops last 52 years, on average, Continued page 3
Ewe beauty! Goss sets world record All eyes are on Simon Goss as he powers to a new nine-hour strong wool ewe world shearing record at Te Pa Station in Waimarino last week. Goss shore 732 sheep over the day, one more than the previous record set by Matt Smith in 2016. Photo: Samantha Taylor
NEWS 9
Losses in millions as hail thrashes wheat Canterbury cropping farmers are facing significant financial losses after a series of hail events damaged crops. Duncan Copland, who farms near Ashburton, says he will have to cut his losses and start again. Photo: Annette Scott
NEWS 8 McClay rejects claims that trade negotiations with India were rushed.
Molesworth future already set out in previous plan five years ago.
The future is in farming for premium plates, says Dr Victoria Hatton.
NEWS 3
NEWS 7
OPINION 11
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Wiese resigns
Real Estate . . . . . . . . 19-21
Alliance Group chief executive Willie Wiese is stepping down after three years in the role. Wiese has resigned “to attend to some pressing family matters and focus on new opportunities”. Last year Alliance shareholders voted to sell 65% of the cooperative to Ireland-based Dawn Meats. Niall Browne, the group chief executive at Dawn Meats, has been appointed Alliance’s acting chief executive.
Marketplace . . . . . . . 22-23
McClay to decide
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Trade Minister Todd McClay says he will decide in the next three months if New Zealand will sue Canada at the World Trade Organisation over its damaging milk pricing policies. The Dairy Companies Association of NZ first wrote to McClay in August 2024 about the “increasingly urgent” problem of a wave of subsidised Canadian dairy production hitting global markets. McClay agreed that Canadian milk pricing policies are harming the global trade in dairy products but has still not decided what steps to take.
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SERVICES: Former New Zealand Rural Support Trust chair Neil Bateup was one of several agriculture industry people to be recognised in the 2026 New Years Honours.
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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 12, 2026
India FTA runs into politics at home Nigel Stirling
MARKETS
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Trade
RADE Minister Todd McClay has hit back at claims he rushed negotiations for a trade deal with India, saying the agreement may have been at risk if he didn’t conclude it when he did. The deal is in question anyway after NZ First invoked the “agree to disagree” provision of its coalition agreement with the National and ACT parties and said it would not support enabling legislation. The support of the opposition Labour Party would give the government the parliamentary majority it needs, but its position is unclear after it joined NZ First in criticising the deal when it was announced before Christmas. NZ First leader Winston Peters told Farmers Weekly the deal does not deliver enough for the dairy industry and gives away too much – including what he believes are major concessions on immigration and a pledge for NZ to invest US$20 billion in India within 15 years or lose market access gains. Peters said Prime Minister Continued from page 1 compared to 11 for a limited liability company. Such length of tenure leads to intergenerational thinking. But co-ops have to promote awareness of their role. “How do you keep an understanding of why a co-op was formed in the front of mind for new members and new generations?” Farmer, company director and professor of farm and agribusiness management at Massey University Nicola Shadbolt said a co-op can have a variety of structures provided it meets the rules of the International Co-operative Alliance. Those structures are also influenced by government regulations, such as the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act, and by history. A supporter of co-ops, Shadbolt describes them as “a socialist construct in a capitalist skin” that creates a system of mutual benefit for members. Those questioning the role of co-ops should ask what the alternative is and should understand the cumulative benefits – “What is the counter factual? When is the collective strength the most beneficial to my space? It may not just be the price.” Mark Wynne, the former chair of Alliance, former chief executive of fertiliser co-operative Ballance and chair of the new Alliance Investment Co-operative, said ownership structure does not differentiate between a highperforming corporation and a high-performing co-operative. Wynne believes co-ops are still relevant but they need to be competitive, with success or failure determined by how they operate in-market.
DEADLINE: NZ First leader Winston Peters says Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, pictured during a visit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, erred before the last election by promising he would conclude an Indian trade deal before the end of the current parliamentary term. Photo: Facebook
the Indian dairy industry,” Peters said. But McClay told Farmers Weekly he had judged the timing was right to do a deal now. “India has elections this year and that will bind up a lot of their ability to make decisions. “Secondly, they have been negotiating with seven or eight other countries and it became increasingly clear should we miss the opportunity to do the highquality deal that we agreed to then, we might have ended up going to the back of the queue.” United States President Donald Trump’s 50% tariff on Indian exports to the US had also provided a tailwind for the talks. The negotiations were conducted over a short time relative to other trade deals, McClay said, but he denied they were rushed. Intensive engagement with the Indian side meant “we have taken what would normally take three to four years and undertaken it in 12 months,” he said. Furthermore, claims the deal would open the floodgates to Indian immigration and committed NZ to an unrealistic investment target were inaccurate. The US$20bn investment pledge only committed the government
to use its “best endeavours” to promote NZ investment in India. It was not automatic that India would revoke market access gains should NZ not hit the target, McClay said. McClay said he was hopeful Labour would eventually swing in behind the deal as it had for every other major trade agreement. The FTA reduces tariffs on some dairy, sheepmeat, wool, apples, wine, seafood, apples, forestry products and kiwifruit, and is “an agreement worth putting in place”, he said.
This week’s poll question:
Should the government have pushed harder for a better trade deal with India?
Christopher Luxon had erred before the last election by promising he would conclude an Indian trade deal before the end of the current parliamentary term. “I thought to myself you have never played cards – the last thing you do is show people your hand,” he said. Concluding the talks with nearly a year till it hit its self-imposed
deadline was the government’s second error, Peters said. NZ needed that time to convince India that opening its dairy markets to imports was in its national interest. “When they examine their food requirements for their population then there is an opportunity of persuading them, but you had to put in the work on the ground with
A benefit of co-ops is that they tend to have a loyal supply base, which provides some business resilience. On the other hand, corporations benefit from an ability to quickly raise fresh capital, which makes them responsive to opportunities. Running a billion-dollar company requires a board with varied expertise, but Wynne said of more relevance is the mindset, capability and skill of those directors. Former SFF chair Rob Hewett, who is the current chair of Farmlands Co-op, said coops are an extension of a farm business that requires appropriate attention. “It’s like anything. If a farmer chooses not to invest in their farm, say not to apply fertiliser, then ultimately there will be consequences.” Raising new capital from members can be challenging and means boards need to retain strong debt-equity ratios, but that can limit the amount available to be paid in dividends and rebates. Farmers have options when it comes to who they supply, and the younger generation do not have the same compulsion to join a coop. There needs to be “a real and clear value proposition” for them to join, Hewett said. To remain relevant, co-ops need to interpret market signals and provide opportunities for farmers to supply into specialty programmes. For a retail co-op, Hewett said, the route to market has become more complex with online offerings and competition from small niche players.
Meat exporters dodge bullet on China
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See pages 4-5
Have your say at farmersweekly.co.nz/poll
Nigel Stirling
MARKETS
Production
MEAT exporters are breathing a sigh of relief after China backed off an earlier proposal to impose restrictive import quotas on New Zealand beef imports. On New Year’s day China brought a year-long investigation into beef imports to an end with the announcement of quotas for its six largest beef suppliers. NZ had been staring down the barrel of having to make do with 150,000 tonnes annually, roughly equal to exports in 2023 and 2024, leaving exporters little room for manoeuvre should Chinese demand recover or returns relative to other markets improve. Instead, NZ ended up with 206,000 tonnes for the 2026 calendar year, rising to 210,000 tonnes in 2027, and 214,000 tonnes in 2028 before they expire. Shipments exceeding a country’s quota incur tariffs of 55%. NZ’s allocation compares favourably to Australia’s 205,000 tonnes – well short of the 295,000 tonnes that country sold between January and November last year. Beef imports from China’s biggest supplier – Brazil – will be severely cut back, with quota of 1.106 million tonnes in 2026, rising to 1.151m tonnes in 2028, but still short of the 1.34m tonnes it sold in 2024. The United States receives 164,000 tonnes in 2026, rising to 171,000 tonnes in 2028, well ahead of the 55,000 tonnes it supplied between January and November last year, although American exports had been limited by China’s refusal to
EXPORTS: NZ had been staring down the barrel of having to make do with 150,000 tonnes annually, roughly equal to exports in 2023 and 2024. roll over licences for some US plants. Meat Industry Association chair Nathan Guy said NZ had been “fortunate” even though the quotas cut across the unlimited tariff-free access granted under the 2008 free trade agreement between the countries. “Of course, we find any quota measures restrictive and ultimately, they distort markets and can lower returns for companies and farmers. “But right now, when we look at other countries, we are one of the fortunate ones.” Guy praised the efforts of his former National Party colleague, Trade Minister Todd McClay, as well as those of trade officials, which he said had been instrumental in NZ’s comparatively favourable treatment.
Farmers Weekly understands “reference year” volumes used by Chinese officials to calculate each country’s quota allocations had meant NZ was initially being lined up for a starting quota of 150,000 tonnes or less. However, intensive lobbying by McClay of his Chinese counterpart, starting at the OECD trade ministers meeting in Paris in June and culminating at November’s APEC meeting in South Korea, appears to have been enough to sway the Chinese. During the hour-long APEC meeting, which ran over the allotted time of 20 minutes, McClay is understood to have spent much of it convincing his counterpart that NZ beef sold for higher prices than rival imports and was not undercutting prices paid to Chinese farmers.
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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 12, 2026
Special Report
Meat co-ops there when sector needed them Neal Wallace
NEWS
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Agribusiness
ATE last century, farmer co-operatives owned most of the meat industry in New Zealand, a 60-year legacy of farmers breaking up the dominance of foreign-owned meat companies. But it hasn’t lasted. Falling stock numbers, successive annual losses and rising debt has in the past 15 years seen co-op dominance of the meat sector end with the final nail last year’s sale of a 65% stake in Alliance Group to Ireland-based Dawn Meats for $270 million. Those same issues forced Silver Fern Farms (SFF) to sell half its business to China-based Shanghai Maling in 2016. In 2010 Talleys Group had bought AFFCO. Co-ops were formed last century by sheep and beef farmers to compete with the predominantly UK-owned processors, to ensure access to processing space and to share in the profits. The subsequent lifting of controls on building new processing plants in the 1980s and falling
livestock numbers eroded the coop dominance. Co-ops also tend to operate ageing, large, multi-chain plants that are expensive to run and to maintain. As financial pressures grew through the 1990s and 2000s, the co-ops found themselves with growing debt. Requests to shareholders for new capital largely went unheeded, leaving the only option the seeking of outside investment. “It’s very hard to raise capital when you are on the downward side. Life gets quite tough,” said Mark Wynne, the former chair of Alliance Group and the current chair of the newly formed Alliance Investment Co-operative. Wynne said every day four large and about 50 smaller meat companies battle for a share of a diminishing number of prime animals. That creates a contradictory environment in which they have to pay competitive prices while surviving in what is a low-margin, commodity-based industry. He said the environment allows farmers to become traders, selling to the highest bidder rather than committing to a single processor.
Wynne still believes co-ops are relevant and have the benefit of resilience from a large, loyal shareholder base. Co-ops tend to think intergenerationally but he acknowledges younger farmers have selling options and do not need to be a shareholder in a co-op in order to supply their stock. James Lockhart, formerly of Massey University business school, asked whether Alliance shareholders – had they known before voting on the Dawn Meats deal that the co-op was once again profitable – would have voted differently. He said the vote was evidence of a loss of shareholder loyalty to Alliance. “If you go back 20 or 25 years and think of the degree of loyalty behind PPCS [SFF forerunner Primary Producers Co-operative Society] and Alliance at that time, I would have thought Alliance had overwhelmingly more support than PPCS ever did.” He could understand the reason for the sale but was not convinced of its justification. “I don’t understand the willingness to simply sell.” SFF Co-op chair Anna Nelson
TOO LATE: James Lockhart, formerly of Massey University business school, asked whether Alliance shareholders – had they known before voting on the Dawn Meats deal that the co-op was once again profitable – would have voted differently.
It’s very hard to raise capital when you are on the downward side. Life gets quite tough. Mark Wynne Alliance questions whether farmers understand the benefits of a coop in accessing processing space when needed, such as in a drought. Farmers have more investment choices than they have capital, which means co-ops need to promote the benefits they offer. While understanding the financial pressures on young
farmers, Nelson said the co-op structure is the ideal vehicle for food producers to respond to market questions about food production and supply. She said Shanghai Maling’s 50% stake in SFF allows the company to make investments that were previously impossible. Rob Hewett, the former chair of SFF and current chair of Farmlands, said co-ops are an extension of a farm business beyond the farm gate. To stay relevant, Hewett said, processing co-ops need to determine market signals and then allow shareholders to participate in supply programmes to fill those markets.
Mutual model blamed for bad management Neal Wallace, Annette Scott and Richard Rennie
NEWS
Agribusiness
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OO often the primary sector avoids confronting major industry issues until it is too late, says Dean Rabbidge, who farms at Wyndham in Southland. Alliance delayed asking shareholders for a capital injection and when it eventually did, Rabbidge said, meat prices had fallen and farmers could not afford to contribute. “It is frustrating the way we wait until things are at the rock bottom before we have a conversation. “All these big discussions are at exactly the wrong time.” Alliance subsequently secured outside private investment. Farmers have the choice to supply companies that do not require becoming a co-op shareholder, a costly expense at a time young farmers have limited capital. A member of two co-operatives, Rabbidge accepts they act in the best interests of shareholders but believes hybrid ownership will become more common. Southland farmer Dave Pinckney was instrumental in trying to retain Alliance in co-op ownership and said operational excellence is critical for any ownership model. “Under the supplier ownership model, suppliers receive a competitive price on the day of supply and benefit from profits generated beyond the farm gate.”
Hawke’s Bay farmer and Alliance shareholder Heath Kingston said meat co-ops face a major challenge from declining stock numbers, which reduces their need for coop functions such as guaranteed processing capacity. “It isn’t as relevant today. The relevance of a co-op in the meat industry is zero.” In contrast, small processors are flexible and nimble. Kingston joined Alliance not because it was a co-op but he supported how it functioned and now has about $1 million in shares in Alliance, which he describes as burdensome early in his farming career. Good decision-making rather than business structure determines success, said Te Aroha farmer Richard Cookson. Cookson has plenty of his family farming business equity exposed to those decisions, supplying Tatua, Fonterra and the Dairy Goat Co-operative. “Many failures around cooperatives are really attributable to poor decision-making and poor governance, but the co-operative model gets blamed for it.” He said from 2008-2018 Fonterra management was dominated by governance hellbent on growth at all costs. “Now we have a co-operative that is taking more of a Tatua approach, with greater clarity on why they exist, and what is creating value for its shareholders. “Tatua has done well thanks to lower gearing and having a clarity
about being different. It has more to do with that than about being a co-operative.” He maintains co-op shareholders tend to prefer taking risks, meaning the co-op entity needs to minimise its own risk, something reflected in Fonterra’s approach today. Cookson said the risks of trying to process and market perishable products from the bottom of the world are greater now than ever before with geopolitical, climate and business challenges. “We see Fonterra as really the only entity in NZ with the muscle to push back and hold its own against some of those large corporates like Danone and Nestlé.” Mid Canterbury dairy farmer David Geddes supports co-ops, saying they are values driven and benefit members by combining resources to achieve economies of scales and market influence. “It goes back to the NZ Dairy Board days for me. “I am a firm believer of the co-op model, it is common ground across the globe, we are all in it together, buying into the whole global benefit in marketing and bringing the benefits back to the farm gate.” He likes their focus on benefiting members, democratic control, community sustainability and offering an alternative by pooling resources, sharing risks and keeping profits local. “The model is right if it is followed. We have seen at times where governance gets it wrong and the blame goes on the co-op, rather than the leadership’s decision-making.”
RIGHT MODEL: Canterbury dairy farmer David Geddes is a strong supporter of co-ops.
BUSINESS AS USUAL: Richard Cookson, a Waikato shareholder in multiple coops, says any failure is often more attributable to poor management decisions.
START DISCUSSIONS NOW: Southland farmer Dean Rabbidge says the primary sector tends to delay discussing crucial issues.
NO LONGER RELEVANT: A fall in stock numbers has reduced the need for some meat co-op functions, says Hawke’s Bay farmer Heath Kingston.
Special Report
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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 12, 2026
Meat industry co-ops ‘dealt a poor hand’ Gerald Piddock
NEWS
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Agribusiness
HE meat industry faces a perfect storm of significant land use change, a declining pool of product to sell, stranded assets and aged and depreciating plants, Fonterra chair Peter McBride says. Operating a co-operative model in the sector requires a resilient balance sheet that can withstand significant shocks – and he suspects some of the sector’s meat companies are not properly prepared. “We live in the commodity cycle and geopolitics events can happen that hit you from the side.”
There’s no room for arrogance in a co-op, particularly in a large, regulated entity that has significant market power. Peter McBride Fonterra There might be things the meat co-operatives could have done to mitigate some of that, but “I think, overwhelmingly, they were dealt a shit hand”, he said. He pointed out that some meat companies, such as Greenlea, are doing very well, but they do not process sheep. The industry players that are hurting are the ones that rely on sheepmeat. “It’s easy to criticise, it’s much harder when you’re in that room, having to deal with it.” For Fonterra, relationship management is key, he said. “It’s how you engage, how you turn up and be consistent, being upfront and honest, but
also being humble. There’s no room for arrogance in a co-op, particularly in a large, regulated entity that has significant market power.” McBride recently met with a group of younger dairy farmers – mostly sharemilkers and contract milkers. It is important that farmers at this stage in their careers feel part of the cooperative, he said. “It’s something we have put a huge effort into in the last few years because we realised that our capital structure and how we were engaging wasn’t working for that next generation.” Fonterra’s managing director for co-operative affairs, Matt Bolger, said the cultural aspect of being a co-op member – farmers helping farmers – is a big attraction for many of its farmers. For others, they know that over the long term it is by far the strongest commercial model for a dairy farmer, he said. For a co-op of Fonterra’s size, maintaining that takes work and is both a challenge and strength of the business. “You have to stay really close to the owners so there’s some benefits in that too.” McBride said the co-op also has to be aligned in understanding what its purpose is, and it must align its risk appetite to its core shareholder base. “It’s easy to behave like a corporate with other people’s money, but if you value your shareholders’ capital, you take a different approach.” Former chair Sir Henry van der Heyden said never paying out more than what is earned during a financial year is absolutely critical to running a successful co-operative. “That was so fundamental. I spent quite a bit of time
Clean you can count on.
understanding why co-ops struggled and went out of business – it was through some periods of time where they paid out more than what they earned. “You will always survive as a coop as long as you don’t pay out more than what you earned.” He believes this is what tripped up meat industry co-operatives, but he also acknowledged that the sector has a much more complex buying and selling system. “They had losses by paying more for meat but, to be fair on them, with dairy co-ops, we set a milk price for the next 12 months so it’s easier to work out what you’ve actually earned.” Meat companies have a weekly price but do their accounts on an annual basis. “You have a different meat schedule every single week and you are paying for meat today that you’re selling in three months’ time and might be losing money on it – you can’t actually recoup it – and you pay 100% of what the beast is worth. “With us in the dairy industry, we pay you 70% of the milk price and there were some years where we had to drop the milk price and get some money back.” Also key is recognising the difference between representation and governance. A co-op’s directors are there to protect the co-op first. Not allowing shareholders to drive the co-op’s decisions is also key, Van der Heyden said. “The directors are ultimately accountable to the co-op. The difference between representation and governance is that as a governor, your first duty is to the co-op.”
NEXT WEEK: Fertiliser co-ops
GENERATION: Fonterra chair Peter McBride recently met with a group of younger dairy farmers – mostly sharemilkers and contract milkers. He says it is important that farmers at this stage in their careers feel part of the cooperative.
Mutual benefit milestones Neal Wallace
NEWS
Agribusiness CO-OPERATIVELY owned primary sector businesses grew out of farmers’ need for the timely processing of milk and processing of prime sheep and beef. Retail co-operatives were subsequently formed to strengthen buying power for fertiliser and rural inputs. According Co-operative Business New Zealand, the first co-op established in the country was the Nelson Building Society, set up in 1864. In 2008 the Southland Building Society, established in 1869, became SBS Bank, believed to be the first building society in
the world to have achieved bank registration while retaining its mutual structure. There were several unsuccessful attempts to set up producer co-operatives from the 1840s, before the first, the Otago Cooperative Cheese Company, was established at John Mathieson’s Springfield farm on the Otago Peninsula near Dunedin on August 22 1871. By 1900, there were 111 dairy co-operatives operating in NZ. Today there are more than 330 co-operatives, mutuals, societies and credit unions in NZ, covering almost every sector. The country’s top 30 cooperatives contribute 13% of GDP by revenue and employ more than 41,000 people. WORKING TOGETHER: Cooperatives have been contributing to the economy since 1864, and today there are more than 330 of them in the country.
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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 12, 2026
Molesworth future already set out in previous plan Richard Rennie
NEWS
Land
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AKING Molesworth Station a “station for the nation” could already have been laid out in a plan completed five years ago. AgFirst farm consultant and chair Erica van Reenen completed the Molesworth Integrated Landscape and Farm Management Plan in 2020, to a generally positive reception from the station’s multiple stakeholders, including the Department of Conservation, iwi and the current lessee, Pāmu. Van Reenen was named rural professional of the year last year by the New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management. “In terms of timing it was not done because Molesworth’s longterm management plan was being compiled at the time. It was more strategic than that, but it was done so it could inform the plan from a farming perspective,” she said. The station’s new long-term management plan was put on hold when court action involving local hapu Ngāti Kuri and the DoC meant it had to be revisited. Meantime the station continues
to operate under its 2013 plan. Ex-manager Jim Ward is advocating that Molesworth become a “station for the nation”, continuing to run as a commercial operation while also embodying environmental and recreational goals under a charitable trust. Recommendations in Van Reenen’s plan included improving water reticulation to minimise stock intrusion into streams, more wetland establishment, greater environmental monitoring, wilding pine eradication and willow tree reduction. “We recognised it was possible to continue to run a commercial farm, whilst allowing for additional recreational assets like cycle trails in the Severn through to tarns at Tarndale, and to investigate opportunities for an agri-tourism venture on Molesworth,” she said. “Unfortunately, not one single bit has been able to be applied yet.” Like many, Van Reenen is wary of what the future will now bring for Molesworth, given Pāmu’s tenure is likely to end when the lease comes up for renewal in June, and the new long-term plan is still not finalised. “It is not, however, too late. Nothing changes quickly at
Molesworth and much of what we were recommending could still be included.” She noted the 2020 farm plan did not make specific reference to wearable livestock collar technology, something that has advanced quickly since then, and could be implemented to further manage cattle movement in the sensitive environment. She said that “just keeping status quo management has some major issues attached, including the problem of wilding pines”. Van Reenen challenged current environmental management by the DoC in areas such as pest control. “There’s a protectionist, conservation-at-all-costs approach in some areas, when focusing on other areas like wilding pines could make so much more difference.” There is also pressure to see greater public access to Molesworth during the year, but Van Reenen challenged the practicality and wisdom of that. “It could be a better option to keep the level of public access as it is, but let’s look at other opportunities, like restoring the hand-cut track up to the top of the Awatere.”
GOOD FIT: AgFirst consultant and chair Erica van Reenen says her plan for Molesworth Station fits well with ex-manager Jim Ward’s vision for the massive estate.
It is not, however, too late. Nothing changes quickly at Molesworth and much of what we were recommending could still be included. Erica van Reenen AgFirst Environmental advocate consultant Alison Dewes said the leadership of Ward, the previous manager of Molesworth, had proven that farmers are very capable of protecting and controlling pest incursions and water quality to enhance the high country.
Her support was echoed by freshwater advocate Marnie Prickett, who completed her Master’s degree on Molesworth, examining the impact cattle had on the station’s water quality. “There were no surprises in that I found where cattle were concentrated the impact tended to be greater, while when spread over a wide area they had minimal impact.” Her work helped identify issues around areas like cattle yards, where runoff could be managed. She and Van Reenen were both concerned that the station may end up in plantation pine trees, depending on what the new lease description may allow.
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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 12, 2026
News
Losses in millions as hail thrashes wheat Annette Scott
NEWS
H
Arable
AIL-battered cropping farmers are counting losses in the millions of dollars after a series of the worst hail events ever recorded by United Wheatgrowers New Zealand. Three separate hail events that thrashed Canterbury over the Christmas and New Year period left farmers in the grain bowl of the country stripped of their crops, many hit not just once but all three times. United Wheatgrowers NZ (UWG) chair Michael Tayler said historically on average one hail event would affect 10-15 farms, taking in 300 to 400 hectares. “At this stage, from these events, I have had 71 claims come in accounting for almost 5000ha of wheat, and that’s not all yet. “This is the worst season for hail in the scheme’s history.” UWG is a wheat grower-driven organisation that manages a disaster relief insurance scheme for all wheat growers under a levy payer scheme. “This is nothing short of
devastating. Total crops have been decimated. These hail events have struck at the worst time, right on harvest.” Tayler noted UWG specifically manages insurance for just wheat crops, both feed and milling. “There are many stories of highvalue seed crops, grass, barley, radish hit hardest, but these crops are outside of the UWG scheme. “There are some [farmers] who have lost virtually everything, it’s just devastating; millions of dollars’ worth of crops. People are stepping up, it’s farmers working for farmers.” UWG has had to act quickly to pull in a large pool of assessors, working with the UWG Electoral Committee and Federated Farmers Arable sector to address the volume of claims. There have been a couple of claims from Southland and Otago, and the rest are in the Canterbury region. “Pretty much you could touch on any cropping farmer between the Rangitata and Rakaia rivers, mostly across the Ashburton district, and they will have been affected.” Tayler said it’s too early to put a value on the losses, “but it will be
GDT delivers surprise opening for 2026
It sure is a shock when it happens, all that work. It’s income a year in the making, that’s the hardest part. Duncan Copland Ashburton
DAMAGE: It’s big-decision time for Mid Canterbury cropping farmer Duncan Copland as he assesses his hail-ravaged crops. Photo: Annette Scott enormous; millions and millions”. Getting over the initial shock of the “mean event”, Duncan Copland, who farms just north of Ashburton, said it’s now about decisions. “There are paddocks you just don’t know what to do with. Cut losses and start again is about it, but you have a crop rotation and a
RISE: Prices rose for seven dairy commodities, although the cheese increases were small.
Hugh Stringleman
MARKETS
Dairy
FRESH demand from the Middle East has pushed Global Dairy Trade auction prices to an unexpected 6.3% increase, after nine consecutive auction price index declines dating back to mid-August. The first fortnightly auction for 2026 produced extraordinary results, including whole milk powder up 7.2%, anhydrous milk fat up 7.4% and skim milk powder up 5.4%. Prices rose for seven dairy commodities sold, although the cheese increases were small. The GDT index had dropped 20% since August and recovered one-third of that movement in just one auction. NZX head of dairy insights Cristina Alvarado said competition remained strong from China, accounting for 44% of the volume sold – and the buying share from the Middle East doubled to 21%. Although price signals from the prior GDT Pulse event and the S&G/NZX Dairy Derivatives market had anticipated recovery, “the magnitude of
the move materially exceeded expectations”. “Total volumes offered declined from the previous event, consistent with our milk production moving past peak. “The combination of lower available supply and a broad improvement in regional participation pushed prices higher across all commodities offered.”
The magnitude of the move materially exceeded expectations. Cristina Alvarado NZX The rebound in prices was strongest for milk powders, but milk fat products also posted solid gains, contrary to pre-event expectations. “Overall, this GDT event reinforced the sensitivity of prices to shifts in regional demand when platform volumes tighten.
“While hand-to-mouth buying behaviour remains evident, the strength and breadth of this event highlight that latent demand can re-emerge quickly when availability declines, amplifying price responses across the GDT complex.” The prolonged fall in GDT prices late last year was attributed to the 3.4% seasonto-date milk production increase in NZ, along with recent 3-4% monthly increases in Europe and the United States. Alvarado said that more demand for dairy commodities across the world may help stabilise the GDT market for the beginning of the new calendar year. A Fonterra spokesperson said that the wide forecast range for the farmgate milk price of $8 to $11/kgMS was set at the beginning of the season because of the expected volatility in commodity prices, which is happening now. “Our narrowed forecast of $8.50-$9.50 and midpoint of $9 remains within the original range.”
forward plan, what to grow, what will the companies want next season? “You can’t rush it but you have actually got to make that decision and cut the losses.” Copland has 200ha of hailravaged crops across wheat, barley, clover, kale, radish and spinach. “They were looking amazing on
Christmas Eve, but they’re worth nothing now, sliced off by the sheer volume and velocity of the hail. “It sure is a shock when it happens, all that work. It’s income a year in the making, that’s the hardest part. “There’s a lot of farmers much worse hit than me. It’s also the flow-on, the seed companies and the export markets.” Copland is looking at losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and said he knows of farmers facing losses in millions of dollars. “It’s sure been a mean event and we just have to get on with it now,” Copland said, as he headed off to harvest a paddock of peas that managed to escape the worst of the hail.
Southern ram sales show how it’s done Hugh Stringleman
MARKETS
Livestock
THE second year of the Adelong Poll Dorset stud dispersal at Ellesmere, Canterbury, saw a complete clearance of 140 rams, averaging $1740. The top price was $9500 paid by Warwick Boon and Ben and Lucy Butterick, and rams were purchased by buyers from Southland to Gisborne. Leading Poll Dorset breeders Neville and Dianne Greenwood held their 21st ram sale in mid-December and the last of their ewes will be sold in February. Neville was made an Officer in the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year’s Honours for services to the sheep industry after 55 years of Poll Dorset breeding along with primary industry and community leadership. During December the ram sales action shifted to the South Island. Merrydowns Stud, Gore, sold 88 of 93 Romneys offered with an average price of $2100 and a top price of $4100 made twice. Vendor Blair Robertson said his highest priced ram was a Merrydowns Southdown bought by Donald Murray for $7500 and the clearance was 69 from 81 with an average price of $1500. Snowdon Perendales and Suffolks, Windwhistle, had a top price of $8500 for Suffolk 342/24 sold to Raupuha Studs, Mahoenui, King Country.
Vendor Annabel Tripp said 64 Suffolk rams sold, six stud rams included, for an average of $1700. Perendale rams averaged $1826, with three stud rams included in the 72 sold, and 22 Romdale rams averaged $1705. Stoneylea Suffolks, Christchurch, sold 90 of 92 rams with an average price of $1320 and a top of $3400 paid by Thatcher Farming, Gisborne. The inaugural on-farm auction of rams for Mokoreta Genetics, Wyndham was a success, when 141 of 143 Suftex, Romney-Texel cross and Coopworth-Texel cross rams offered were sold for an average $2064 per head. Vendor Matt McCrae had been selling privately on farm for the past eight years. Nugen Texel, Cust, sold all 20 rams, for an average of $1700 and a top price of $6200, paid by David Somerville, Southland. Will Gibson of Foulden Hills Genetics, Middlemarch, said his inaugural on-farm ram sale was a near total sellout with 74 out of 75 rams sold. The White Suffolks averaged $1820 across all 29 sold, with a top price of $4000, the 28 Suffolks averaged $1317 with a top of $1700. The 17 of 18 Suftex rams offered averaged $1100 with a top of $1500. Waterton Sheep Stud, Cave, sold 11 stud rams across three breeds, Suffolk, South Suffolk and Charollais. The overall average was $1283 and the top price $3200 paid for a half share in a Suffolks ram.
News
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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 12, 2026
Rural Support pioneer heads NY honours Gerald Piddock
PEOPLE
SUPPORT: Nine hours, five runs and 732 qualifying ewes – Simon Goss’s world-record shearing effort in Waimarino drew hundreds of supporters and showcased the grit and precision behind elite shearing. Goss is pictured with partner Phoebe Wood.
Ewe beauty! Goss sets world 9-hour record Samantha Taylor
PEOPLE
Skills
APITI-born shearer Simon Goss set a new nine-hour strong wool ewe world record at Te Pa Station in Waimarino last week. It was a gruelling effort, broken into five runs, with the first run being two hours, starting at 5am. He shore 732 qualifying sheep over the day, one more than the previous record set by Matt Smith in 2016. Goss isn’t a stranger to world record attempts; he and Jamie Skiffington broke the eighthour two-stand strong wool lamb record in 2023, shearing 1420 lambs between them and knocking over the previous record of 1406 from 2002. “Your heart has to be in it to attempt a world shearing record,” said Phoebe Wood, Goss’s partner. It involved months of dedication, with a strict, nutritious diet and extensive training. Goss was at the gym every morning, off beer for months, and kept up with work, which doubled as practice in the lead-up to his world-record attempt. Goss has been full-time
shearing for around eight years, and grew up around the shearing shed. His dad, Alan, was a great shearer and his late mum, Ronny, was a legendary wool handler. Shearing instructor Russell Knight, who has been teaching shearing for over 30 years, said he can pick the shearers who will go far, with Goss being one of them. “He gets in the zone and goes for it,” Knight said. “It takes a lot of hard work, and you’ve got to back yourself to want to take on a world record.” Knight said a lot goes into organising a world shearing record. “The sheep have to be in good condition, the wool has to be just right, with the judges weighing a selection the day before – the sheep have to have three kilos of wool each. “If a record is being attempted in NZ we need to bring in an international judge too, so we’ve got one come from Australia for this event.” Wood said she and Goss were blown away by the support he received. Hundreds turned out to support his efforts, with a packed woolshed from 5am when he started his first run.
A
Honours
GRICULTURAL industry figures have featured prominently in the 2026 New Years Honours list for their services to the primary sector. Receiving the highest honour was former New Zealand Rural Support Trust chair Neil Bateup, who was made a companion of the NZ Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to the rural sector. It is the second time Bateup has been recognised, after being made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2018. Bateup said he was surprised and flattered when the email came through informing him of the honour. It was also greatly appreciated, he said. “It’s more about the organisation than necessarily me. I’ve been fortunate enough to chair Waikato and the national council for a period of time since its induction. “I’ve worked with some fantastic people and we have got a fantastic team around the country and it’s a recognition of what they do as well. It’s more than just me, it’s the whole team.” Bateup has served New Zealand’s rural sector over decades of leadership spanning governance roles, community engagement and adverse event response. He has chaired the Waikato Hauraki/Coromandel Rural Support Trust since 2018 and served as chair of the New Zealand Rural Support Trust from 2017 to 2024, having played a key role in establishing this national network. His work has helped ensure farmers and growers nationwide
Multi-purpose, maximum strength.
SERVICES: In the 2026 New Years Honours list, former New Zealand Rural Support Trust chair Neil Bateup was made a Companion of the NZ Order of Merit for services to the rural sector. have a dedicated, confidential and effective support network. He initiated the Waikato Primary Industry Adverse Events Cluster, bringing together people from across the sector along with Civil Defence and welfare agencies. Similar groups now operate across the country, providing support through adverse events from natural disasters to Mycoplasma bovis and the Covid-19 pandemic. He helped raise more than $3 million in private donations following Cyclone Gabrielle, personally ensuring funds and support were directed at the worst-hit regions. Among others who were honoured were: Former National Fieldays Society president and Morrinsville farmer Lloyd Downing, who was appointed an officer of the NZ Order of Merit (ONZM) for his services to agriculture and governance. Greenlea Premier Meats managing director Tony Egan, who was made an ONZM for services to
the agricultural industry and the community. Poll Dorset breeding pioneer Neville Greenwood from Christchurch, who was recognised with an ONZM for his services to the sheep industry. Two deer industry leaders were also made ONZM – South Canterbury’s Graham Carr and former DINZ chair and Fonterra director Andy Macfarlane. After winning Lincoln University’s Bledisloe Medal in early 2025, AgResearch scientist Dr Robyn Dynes was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to agricultural science. Amberley-based Beverley Forrester received an MNZM for services to the wool and fashion industries. Forrester built an award-winning wool business from her farm where she converted a fourth-generation sheep and beef farm to farming black and coloured sheep with the aim to provide high-quality, undyed and sustainably processed wool products.
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10 Editorial
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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 12, 2026
Opinion
This week’s poll question (see page 3):
Should the government have pushed harder for a better trade deal with India? Have your say at farmersweekly.co.nz/poll
LAST POLL QUESTION: Should Molesworth Station become a “station for the nation” and be taken over by a charitable trust?
From the Editor Alliance sealed fate of sector co-ops Neal Wallace
Senior reporter
W
HEN Alliance Group shareholders voted overwhelmingly last year to sell 65% of the co-operative to Irishbased Dawn Meats, co-operative ownership in the meat industry, the sector’s dominant ownership structure for nearly a century, came to an end. Fonterra’s size and the necessity for the daily collection and processing of perishable milk, means the dairy industry is still predominantly co-operatively owned. But as with the meat sector, a plethora of private companies are attracting suppliers who don’t believe in or want to be a member of a co-op. Dairy and meat co-ops were first established in New Zealand in the early 19th century to create member-owned businesses to compete with foreign-owned entities. They sought to strengthen the buying and selling positions of members, share the profits and meet their needs, including ensuring access to processing facilities. Today NZ has nearly 300 co-ops, mutuals,
societies and credit unions. Based on 2023-24 revenues, eight of the top 15 are agricultural entities. But the dominance of primary sector processing co-ops appears to be waning, especially in the meat industry. The 2001 creation of Fonterra from the merger of Kiwi and NZ Dairy Group strengthened the dairy co-op business model but since 2010 the three meat coops – PPCS, Alliance and AFFCO – have all passed, in whole or part, into private ownership. A core of advocates believe co-ops are still relevant in 2026 but others are not so convinced. For those farmers, many of them early in their careers, having to buy shares in a company to be eligible to sell their meat or milk seems senseless given the alternative of selling to private companies without making a financial contribution. In recent years dairy has been more profitable than meat and wool, milk production has been increasing and the sector has largely united behind the dominant Fonterra Co-op. Contrast that with 40-years of falling numbers of sheep and beef, the inconsistent financial performance of companies and, in the case of Alliance and Silver Fern Farms (SFF), ownership of large, ageing, multichain plants that are expensive to maintain. Alliance also found in the 2022-23 summer that operating for the benefit of shareholders, a role of co-ops, comes at a
cost that private businesses do not incur. Sensing drought was looming, it wore the cost of employing staff and starting chains earlier than normal, only for stock to not arrive when it started raining. For much of the 1980s and early 2000s, reform of the meat industry was stifled by bloody hard men running a bloody hard industry hellbent on turf protection.
A plethora of private companies are attracting suppliers who don’t believe in or want to be a member of a co-op. Those attitudes have certainly mellowed, but as SFF and Alliance have discovered, owning shares in a co-op does not translate into shareholders having the willingness or ability to invest new capital when the business is on its knees. While co-op ownership of the dairy processing industry appears settled, the challenges keep lining up for the meat industry, specifically the issue of excess capacity. Traditionally the co-ops have worn the cost of closing large-scale plants. The 2024 closure of Smithfield cost Alliance $50 million. Overcapacity is an industry-wide issue but we have something of a Mexican standoff by processors, and it will be a case of whether the co-ops or private companies blink first.
N E W E P I S O D E S W E E K LY
farmersweekly.co.nz/podcasts
IT IS a resounding yes. More than 90% of those who took the poll believe Molesworth Station should become a farm for all New Zealanders. Last month Farmers Weekly reported that support for Molesworth Station to become a “station for the nation” is proving strong across farming and environmental groups, though the pathway to achieving it remains a rocky one. In October former Molesworth manager Jim Ward revealed his proposal for the station, which involved it being taken over by a charitable trust when its lease from the Department of Conservation comes up for renewal in June next year. The majority of those who voted yes believe a focus needs to be put on ensuring pests and weeds are properly managed at the station. One voter said: “I have voted strongly yes, as long as the trustees are experts in their field, especially those tasked with making grassroots decisions re the management of the property, and not some boffin in Wellington with a degree who thinks they know.” Another said: “Molesworth needs to be managed to preserve its historical, biodiversity and public recreational values, and hopefully make some money along the way. A strong focus on effective weed and pest control is crucial.” Of the 9.3% who voted no, one voter said the property needed to remain a working farm run by “experienced farming people, not city dreamers”.
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Opinion
11 OpEd
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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 12, 2026
A view from the big paddock next door Eating the elephant
Phil Weir
Weir is an associate trustee of AGMARDT and a Beef + Lamb New Zealand farmer-elected director
D
URING my Nuffield travels, I met an interesting chap by the name of Jason Cotter. Jason grows grain on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, well outside the Australian wheatbelt, and he doesn’t mind a bit of complexity. At Tuerong Farm, he grows ancient varieties, operates a mill and sourdough bakery, exports to the Middle East, runs a herd of composite cattle for local beef supply and recently released Sea Otter, a beer made with a rare heritage barley. Jason writes and ponders the big questions of life, which makes him the perfect candidate for a twopart series of life lessons this fine summer. I asked him: What is something unusual about yourself that you love? In my twenties I lived and worked for a few years in a remote Warlpiri community in the Tanami, some way west of Alice Springs. The Warlpiri are one of the strongest tribes in Australia,
with an unbroken connection to their culture and land. Everyone spoke Warlpiri, with English perhaps the fourth language down the list. I worked mainly with old people, even a few first contact men and women in their eighties or nineties who had walked out of the bush sometime in the 20th century. Community life was at times all the harrowing things you might imagine, as well as intensely cultural and, I dunno, real. The surrounding country was beautiful, and often so vast it was physically altering to behold. The Warlpiri were/are a long way from a simulacrum pieced together from remnants, but alive and going strong as they have been for far longer than Western memory. It was a profound experience, to be part of Australia largely unseen and uncelebrated. I have only used the word ‘profound’ talking about that time in my life. I have travelled a bit by now and despite being at the heart of my country, it is perhaps the most foreign place I’ve ever been, which is a bit sad, I guess. I am lucky to have spent time in a unique Australia. It was also often fun and very funny. I had my 30th birthday in a dry riverbed with my parents, sister and brother-in-law, a couple of old men from my Warlpiri family, a big mob of their kids and grandkids, and a French nun from the Little Sisters of the Poor, who had lived there since the 1950s. I still write from time to time, after an earlier career as a professional writer. I recently wrote about the Black Saturday fires that razed my in-laws’ farm, for Wonderground. For the same magazine I also wrote about a hero of mine, the seed collector and geneticist Nikolai Vavilov. He fell out of favour with Stalin back in the day and died in a gulag.
Later, his scientist colleagues, understanding the importance of his collection to global plant breeding, died of starvation during the multi-year siege of Leningrad surrounded by a trove of edible grains and beans while the city was rife with cannibalism and bread was being made with sawdust. Every year we grow a little strip of Triticum vavilovii, an unusual node in wheat genetics, to honour them. I wrote for a deer-hunting magazine for a while. New Zealand has the international reputation (and a disgusting number of points on your reds) but Australia has great free-range hunting too. Hunting has always been restorative for me. It taps into something observant and mindful – it’s basically Buddhist, but fully armed and without the vegetarian bit! Why did you choose a life in food and fibre? I just love wheat. The colonel of kernels! Wheat is pretty much the foundation of our civilisation and seems to always be there at the key moments over the last 10,000 years. Trade from surpluses and subsequent concentrations of wealth formed city states and countries. The control of grain has kicked off and shaped the outcome of revolutions and conflicts – the Second World War, the Arab Spring and more recently Ukraine. It’s also an extremely diverse plant with a genome five times the size of the human genome. There’s a galaxy of morphologies and properties to enjoy. Commodity wheat barely scratches the surface. For a while there it looked like farming might skip my generation. We ran a few cattle and I helped set up our vineyard when my folks sold their business, but otherwise I was a professional writer for
VARIETY: Jason Cotter grows ancient grain varieties on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, where he also operates a mill and sourdough bakery, exports to the Middle East, runs a herd of composite cattle for local beef supply and recently released Sea Otter, a beer made with a rare heritage barley.
Despite being at the heart of my country, it is perhaps the most foreign place I’ve ever been, which is a bit sad, I guess. Jason Cotter Tuerong Farm, Mornington Peninsula the first part of my working life. Then I started cropping our worst paddock, just as ‘a bit of fun’. I wanted to make my own bread – I was having gut issues with commercial bread – and to perhaps hold the stubble quail a little longer to train my pointer. I also wondered if it was even possible to grow high-quality bread wheat in a high-rainfall maritime climate. There was a bit of good timing in there too: we sowed our first crop pretty much at the same time city chefs and artisan bakers started looking for particulars we were able to provide – short local supply chains, specific varieties and direct relationships with farmers. Essentially northern hemisphere
food culture trends that reflected long-term cultural practices and the influence of renowned chefs like Rene Redzepi and Dan Barber. We farm in a peri-urban area where localised food systems and direct-to-consumer businesses are not only possible but necessary, given the size of land holdings. Paddock-to-plate menus and modern consumers increasingly engage in specifics – they want to know the name of a variety, who grew it and where and how it was grown, not just how it was prepared. People are largely detached from where their food comes from, so I guess the kind of specifics we cater offer some kind of authentic connection and control in decision-making we most people lack when it comes to our food system. Enduser quality traits that guide consumer decision-making these days include nutritional value, sustainability, provenance, traceability, diversity etcetera. Though of course flavour is king. If it doesn’t taste good, it’s not going to fly – no one sits back after a meal and rubs their belly and says, ‘Jeez, that was sustainable!’
Farming to ensure a premium future In my view
Victoria Hatton
Dr Hatton is CEO of FoodHQ Innovation
A
S I was doing my usual prep for the family arriving home for Christmas last month, I reflected on the fact that my
trolley decisions weren’t about buying as much meat and dairy as possible; they were about which products felt special enough for the people I was having around my table. I was searching for food and wine that had a clear story, regenerative practice, better welfare, lower emissions, or a taste that justified the splurge. I can tell you I wasn’t alone in this. Such decisions are being made by consumers in London, Melbourne, Mumbai and Shanghai: the middle-of-the-market, the anonymous, bulk, “just meat” or “just milk” offer, is being squeezed from both sides, with the future written at the premium end of the shelf. That shift matters on farm, because it changes what is being bought from us. Increasingly, customers are paying for assurance, identity and alignment with their values as much as they are paying for kilograms of
product. They want to know where and how food was grown, how animals were treated, what the emissions profile looks like and whether rural communities are being looked after.
If we keep treating our output as commodity, we risk competing only on cost in a game we can never truly win. If we keep treating our output as commodity (basic product that is largely interchangeable with any other unit of the same thing), we risk competing only on cost in a game we can never truly win. There are three big demand trends driving this. First is premiumisation: even where overall meat or dairy consumption is flat or slowly rising, the higher-value segments – like
grass-fed, organic, animalwelfare-assured, “better for you” and provenance-branded – are generally growing faster than the bulk commodity tier. Consumers might eat red meat less often, but when they do, they are prepared to pay more for something that feels special, trusted and aligned with their health and environmental choices. Second is proof and provenance. “Trust us, we’re New Zealand” no longer cuts it on its own. Customers, regulators and investors are moving from faith to evidence: not just saying we are good, but showing it with simple, credible facts – clear records on emissions and water, independent checks on animal welfare, honest claims that can be traced back through the chain. Those who can supply that kind of proof and meet tighter specifications are increasingly separated from those who cannot,
and rewarded, even when they are technically selling the “same” product. Third is the diversification of the plate. Flexitarian diets, plantbased proteins and blended or hybrid products are no longer fringe experiments; they are becoming part of mainstream eating patterns in many of our key markets. That does not mean the end of animal protein, but it does change the role of meat and dairy: from everyday default to occasional centrepiece, and centrepieces are expected to be premium. For farmers, “less commodity, more premium” does not mean everyone launching a direct-to-consumer brand and spending evenings on social media. It means aligning farm systems with the attributes the premium end of the market pays Continued page 12
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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 12, 2026
Opinion
A silly season full of significant news Meaty matters
Allan Barber
Meat industry commentator: allan@barberstrategic.co.nz, http://allanbarber.wordpress.com
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HE period over Christmas and New Year is not usually characterised by major activity, affecting either our lives in general or more specifically international and domestic politics. This is far from the case over the present holiday season, even taking into account the shorter break taken by the rest of the world. The most dramatic event in recent days has been the United States’ capture and forced extradition of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores de Maduro. This action has been compared, for its speed of execution, to the British ousting of the Sultan of Zanzibar in 1896 and, for its contravention of international law, to the removal of Libya’s president Muammar Gaddafi more recently and the attack on Iraq in 2003.
US President Donald Trump’s latest flagrant disregard for international law puts the imposition of tariffs on the rest of the world completely in the shade, serving as further warning that small countries like New Zealand can expect no favours from the US. The other big development, far more favourable to New Zealand interests, was the unexpected announcement in the lead‑up to the Christmas break of the free trade agreement with India. While gains from this will take time to evolve, the long‑term benefits should be far greater than achieving a similar agreement with the US in the unlikely event this were to happen. The success of our trade negotiators in finalising the deal with India is somewhat clouded by the uncertainty of it achieving a parliamentary majority, which is a prerequisite for the FTA to come into force. It is baffling that National did not consult with Labour to ensure bipartisan support when it knew NZ First, specifically Winston Peters, would vote against the FTA because of deep‑rooted objection to freeing up migrant visas for Indian students and concerns about a lack of dairy access. One hopes Labour will see that the benefits of voting for the FTA will outweigh the short‑term satisfaction of political point‑ scoring. Significant access for beef and dairy was always going to prove impossible for India to include, while the gains for other agricultural produce, such as sheepmeat, wool, timber and
horticultural produce will provide opportunities for exporters to reach India’s growing middle class. One area of the agreement that may cause raised eyebrows is the commitment of US$20 billion in private investment by New Zealand business over 15 years, although non‑achievement does not automatically derail the FTA. Another important development is the announcement by China of a beef quota of 206,000 tonnes, rising to 214,000 tonnes, for New Zealand. Although this volume is very close to total beef exports to China in 2023/24, the amount exported last year was nearer 150,000. This quota is more favourable than for some other countries, which have seen their totals reduced. The difference in exports between the two years occurred both because of a large increase in demand from the US and a decrease in Chinese demand. That said, these are by far the two largest markets, with Japan, Canada and South Korea way behind. We can ill afford to get offside with either country, which underlines the difficulty of navigating the choppy waters between them. It may not please those idealists who would like New Zealand to adopt a more forceful position on issues such as Taiwan and Palestine, but a realistic assessment indicates a more nuanced approach suits our economic status and ambitions. On a completely different note of reflection over the holiday season, I have both enjoyed and
Continued from page 11 for and making those attributes visible and verifiable. Consistency, animal welfare, emissions profile, water stewardship, biodiversity, community contribution and story are no longer “nice extras”; they are the foundation of how processors and brands position New Zealand food. Premium products are differentiated by origin, environment, welfare, eating quality and health attributes, and buyers are willing to pay more for those characteristics than for anonymous volume. In practice, many processors already see their suppliers in informal “tiers” based on programme participation, data quality and ability to meet tighter specs. Those in the top tiers are often first in line for new contracts, premiums, co‑investment opportunities or access to special projects with high‑value customers. The risk of staying with the most basic, undemanding contracts is that over time they become the place where volume goes when no one else wants it, and the price reflects that. So, what does farming for premium plates look like over the next three to five years? First, it means choosing your lane. Not every farm can,
PROVE IT: In a world of sceptical consumers and greenwashing crackdowns, says Dr Victoria Hatton, ‘we know we’re good’ is less powerful than ‘here is how we show it’. or should, chase every trend. Some will lean into “trusted low‑emissions pasture‑based red meat”, others into regenerative stories with biodiversity and soil health, others into high‑integrity animal welfare or organic systems. The key is to be deliberate: pick one or two value propositions that fit your land, your skills and your processor relationships, then work backwards from what customers in that lane specify. Second, it means investing in proof, not just practice. Many New Zealand farmers are already doing world‑class work on riparian planting, nutrient management, animal care and community contribution. The challenge is making that visible in the supply
chain. That could mean better on‑farm recording, participation in verified programmes, or being willing to trial new measurement tools for emissions and biodiversity. In a world of sceptical consumers and greenwashing crackdowns, “we know we’re good” is less powerful than “here is how we show it”. Third, it means collaborating on story rather than carrying it alone. The most effective premium brands in global markets are usually partnerships between farmers, processors, marketers and sometimes regional or national bodies, each playing to their strengths. As farmers, the strength is
BENEFITS: While gains from the FTA with India will take time to evolve, the long-term benefits should be far greater than achieving a similar agreement with the United States in the unlikely event this were to happen, says Allan Barber.
It is baffling that National did not consult with Labour to ensure bipartisan support when it knew NZ First, specifically Winston Peters, would vote against the FTA. been frustrated by the cricket in Australia and in New Zealand. Seeing the huge crowds for the Ashes tests, which have lasted much too short a time for cricket fans and administrators alike, then comparing them with the West Indies series here has been frustrating. New Zealand crowds would hardly fill half a stand in Australia, regardless of the quality of the producing food with integrity; others are better placed to turn that into brand campaigns and export programmes. The opportunity is to be at the table shaping those stories, not just supplying them. The India free trade agreement underlines the point. Yes, tariffs fall away on most of what we send – sheepmeat, wool, forestry and a swathe of horticultural products get a clear leg‑up in one of the world’s fastest‑growing markets. But India’s new middle class is not asking for anonymous bulk; it is asking for safe, trusted, often premium food, and the deal creates space for exactly that kind of value‑added trade. The risk is treating India as a new outlet for commodity; the opportunity is to treat it as another premium customer and farm accordingly. None of this is about abandoning efficiency or forgetting that farming must pay. In fact, premiums that are not grounded in sound production economics are just fashion, and fashions change quickly. The point is that in a world where the middle of the market is being squeezed, clinging to the commodity model is a bigger financial risk than leaning thoughtfully into premium demand. Cost discipline remains essential, but margin increasingly comes from meaning.
cricket. In contrast, Australian fans have poured into their grounds in their tens of thousands, on many occasions having to watch dismal batting performances by both sides and superb Australian bowling, culminating in the series being decided before it really got started. My big cricket hope for this year is for New Zealand to play much better than England did in the Boxing Day test match at the MCG, for which the curator is compelled to provide a decent pitch after the two‑day debacle a couple of weeks ago. Here’s hoping 2026 brings a continuation of buoyant export prices, no disasters, completion of the FTA with India, and a new government with a workable majority that is favourable to agriculture. Ultimately, the most important shift is mental. For decades, the question has been “How do we produce more, more efficiently?” The question now needs to become “How do we produce what tomorrow’s customers will value most, and prove it?” That is a different conversation around the kitchen table and with advisers, processors and banks. It is less about chasing every new thing, and more about matching a clear sense of who the customer is with a deliberate farm strategy. When a young family in Tokyo, Los Angeles, Mumbai or London stands in front of the chiller trying to decide what to buy, they are making a choice about more than dinner. They are choosing which countries, practices and people they want to back with their money. The opportunity here is to make sure that, when they look for something special, safe and aligned with their values, New Zealand farmers are not another anonymous option in the middle of the shelf, but the premium plate they reach for first.
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2026: Our promise to you Hello everyone, Dean here. It’s incredible to think it’s the start of another year. As we produce our first paper of the year, I just want to say thanks for being here with us. 2025 was a good year for the industry. Farmers Weekly performed solidly, and we added new salaries - all young people, including a multimedia journalist and our son Charlie, who rejoined the business after 18 months working on farms in Scotland. But we still take nothing for granted in an everchanging media landscape.
Our New Year resolution is a simple one: Keep doing our job. Independent journalism, sharing stories from here and around the world and backing the hard work you all do. We’re still a family-owned enterprise, still handson, and still determined to bring on the next generation of young people. Last year we introduced the Voluntary Subscription system. It’s going well but needs to grow more, so we encourage you to join the Farmers Weekly family and add a V-Sub to your list of New Year’s resolutions. We’re grateful to be doing what we love, and to be sharing it with you as we head into the year ahead. Dean and Charlie Williamson.
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14 Hort Focus
Sector Focus
Horticulture
Buried treasure: this family digs potatoes Annette Scott
NEWS
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Horticulture
POTATO is not just a potato … Growing up on Fallgate Farm in South Canterbury, selling bags of potatoes out at the mailbox, James Bowan not only earned pocket money, he inherited his father’s passion for potatoes, too. As the family celebrates 50 years of growing the humble spud, the third generation is stepping up. “Now my three children, Archie, Maisy and Greta, do that too – only now they sell sacks of them through social media,” Bowan said. “They love it. They have found that hard work brings rewards and if they dig them, sort them, bag them and sell them, then that’s their Christmas or summer holiday money in their back pocket.” Bowan’s parents Raymond and Adrienne bought Fallgate Farm in 1975 Raymond was raised on a dairy farm, but he got hooked on potatoes in his teens, picking them by hand for a neighbour in his school holidays. When he left school, he went to work for a potato farmer. While he went back to dairying, his passion for potatoes never waned. “Dad found a spot that was good for growing potatoes.” While celebrating the 50th anniversary of putting down roots in the Canterbury soil, the Bowan family is very much looking to the future, and that’s always been the case. Raymond is still fully involved with the farm, where they also grow cereal, grass and speciality seed crops, and process peas. James Bowan manages the
growing operation, with his children keen to get involved. The growing side of the operation spans 1400 hectares with 250ha in potatoes, split between crisping varieties for potato chips, and those grown for processing into French fries. In 2009, when the Bluebird company, which the farm supplied, decided to move its operations to Auckland, the Bowans bought the empty factory building at Washdyke, near Timaru, and fitted it out to launch Heartland Potato Chips. “Mum and Dad did a very good thing to establish the factory. “Heartland Potato Chips, farmerowned from paddock to the packet, are now available countrywide and my sister Charlotte is general manager of that side of the business. “My wife Jess doesn’t work directly in the company, but she provides a lot of support behind the scenes.” Along with having potatoes in his blood, Bowan admits there must be some diesel too. “I love big machinery and there is a lot of that involved. “I think the greatest opportunity for our sector is the advance in technology. “The smart technology we have now is amazing. We have AI graders to sort the potatoes, so the quality of our product going to the factories has gone through the roof. “It is also much better for health and safety to not have people working on big machinery. “I think the technology we have tapped so far has just been the tip of the iceberg. “I’ve recently been in Europe to look at technology. We need to be looking at what’s available and planning for the future.”
VARIETY: The growing side of the Bowan operation spans 1400 hectares with 250ha in potatoes, split between crisping varieties for potato chips, and those destined for processing into French fries.
The biggest challenges Bowan sees for the sector are the increase in the regulatory environment and the difficulty in recruiting skilled staff. Then there’s the weather, which plays a big part on the outcome of each season’s yield.
ISSUES: James Bowan says the biggest issues facing the sector are the increase in the regulatory environment and the difficulty in recruiting skilled staff.
There’s a lot that goes into growing potatoes. “I really enjoy seeing the tubers being set, seeing them growing and harvesting them but it is all a delicate operation getting the soil and the nutrients right with harvesting a delicate operation to avoid bruising and marking the potato.” Despite the many varieties of potatoes available, Bowan suggests most consumers still tend to view potatoes as the humble spud. However, he does see opportunities for higher value consumer propositions in the future and feels educating consumers about the nutrient value and the exceptional versatility of potatoes is important. It’s also important to address long-standing perceptions about the carbohydrate content and increase awareness of the value of potatoes as part of a balanced diet, as an important source of nutrients including potassium, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B6, as well as dietary fibre.
“Potatoes aren’t difficult to cook, but more awareness is needed about the best type of potatoes for different cooking purposes and for storing.” It’s about finding the right characteristics. “A potato is not just a potato. There are some early maturing ones which build up their solid content early and are good for just rubbing their skin off and cooking right away “Then there are some that are slower to mature. You can store them and months later they still look very good.” Bowan has served on the board of Potatoes New Zealand for the past three years and is just starting another three-year term. He would like to see more people taking the step into governance or leadership roles in the sector. “I know it isn’t for everyone. I felt it was time to start giving back and I thought hard about if I could add value. “The great thing about the Potatoes NZ Board is that everyone brings different strengths to it.”
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FEDERATED 15 Feds
FARMERS Vol 4 No 1, January 12, 2026
fedfarm.org.nz
Langford: farmers are back on the front foot
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fter a few bruising years for farmers, Federated Farmers’ focus has now shifted from simply restoring confidence to driving the sector forward again, Wayne Langford says. Speaking on the Federated Farmers Podcast, Langford said 2025 delivered some of the most significant policy wins rural New Zealand has seen in a generation. “We had some huge results last year – wins that will save farmers significant time, money and stress, and set the platform for even better things in 2026. “Now, the focus can shift from working to restore farmer confidence to really pushing the sector forward. “Federated Farmers’ goal this year is to cement New Zealand agriculture’s world-leading position and sharpen our global competitiveness – with a government that’s behind us and letting us have a crack.” At the top of the 2025 wins list was a breakthrough on resource consents, Langford says. After sustained pressure from Federated Farmers, the Government agreed to roll over almost all existing resource consents until new resource management legislation is in place. “That’s a massive result – but it also took a lot of work from our team,” Langford says. “This win alone will save many
members tens of thousands of dollars – and for some, hundreds of thousands. “No other organisation pushed for this. We fought hard on behalf of farmers and ran a strong campaign the Government simply couldn’t ignore.” That success sits alongside sweeping changes to the resource management system revealed late in the year. The reforms will significantly reduce the number of consents farmers need, limit notification requirements, remove unnecessary cultural impact assessments, and require compensation for restrictive overlays like Significant Natural Areas.
Farmers can see we’re really clear on what we’re asking for, they understand what we’re doing, and they want to be part of it. Wayne Langford Federated Farmers president “For years we’ve been pushing back against Outstanding Natural Landscapes and Significant Natural Areas,” Langford says. “Where that’s moved to now is huge: if councils want these things, then they should have to pay compensation for them. That’s
what farmers have been saying all along.” Climate policy has also shifted markedly in farmers’ favour. Federated Farmers’ advocacy secured a review of methane targets, a ban on whole-farm conversions to carbon forestry, and the Government taking a price on agricultural emissions off the table. “Unrealistic and unscientific methane reduction targets have been hanging over farmers’ heads for years now, and that had a real impact on farmer confidence. “To end up where we have, with the targets slashed from 24-48% down to 14-24% is absolutely huge for farmers. I think we’re sitting in a really solid place, and the science is only going to get better.” Banking reform was another major front in 2025. Federated Farmers’ push on capital requirements, backed by member surveys and a Parliamentary inquiry, forced the Reserve Bank to rethink its settings. “Although the Reserve Bank hasn’t eased the capital requirements nearly enough, the changes will still save the average farmer more than $10,000 a year,” Langford says. “We’ll keep pushing for the Reserve Bank to be far less conservative, as the capital settings remain among the most restrictive in the world.” Out on the road, Langford says the feedback from farmers has been strikingly consistent.
BIG SAVINGS: Pressure from Federated Farmers that saw the Government agree to roll over almost all resource consents will, on its own, save many farmers tens of thousands of dollars, says Wayne Langford. “The biggest thing people keep saying is that Feds is back,” he says. “Farmers can see that we’re really clear on what we’re asking for, they understand what we’re doing, and they want to be part of it. “That’s not something I heard much in my first few years on the board.” He puts that down to a more proactive, solutions-focused style of advocacy – front-footing issues rather than simply responding to policy once it lands. “That’s challenged how we operate internally,” he says. “But the payoff has been some of the best discussions I’ve seen in years within the Federated Farmers leadership team. People are engaged and we’re talking about the issues that matter.” With another General Election looming, work is underway on the next set of priorities for Federated Farmers, alongside continued engagement across the political spectrum, Langford says.
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At the same time, major challenges remain at a regional level, including local government reform and the reshaping of freshwater and planning rules. For Langford, the message to farmers is clear: the momentum built in 2025 matters, but 2026 is the year where we lock it in. “These wins didn’t happen by accident,” he says. “They happened because farmers backed us, stayed engaged and pushed for change. The opportunity now is to turn that progress into lasting results. “I invite anyone who’s not yet a member to join up, so we can make the farming voice even stronger and help get our sector really humming again.”
MORE:
You can hear Wayne Langford’s full reflections, including what’s ahead for farmers in 2026, in Federated Farmers Podcast episode 67 out on 6 January – fedfarm.org.nz/podcast
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January 12, 2026 – fedfarm.org.nz
Federated Farmers
Satisfaction with banks improves – but more work to do
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armers are feeling more satisfied with their bank and under less pressure, but the sector remains well short of confidence levels seen last decade, Federated Farmers’ latest banking survey shows. In the November survey, 61% of farmers reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their bank, about steady from the May 2025 survey. “That’s a good improvement from the 51% satisfaction rate from our survey this time last year but it’s a long way off from the 80% level recorded in 2017,” Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Mark Hooper says. Just on 14% of the nearly 600survey respondents said they were feeling undue pressure from banks, down from 24% in November last year. “Clearly, economic conditions weigh in on these farmer sentiments but it’s also true that good communication, access to advice,
lending terms and other factors are part of the equation. “For example, nearly a quarter said their bank hadn’t allowed them to structure their debt in the most efficient or appropriate way, such as restricting access to fixed rates, splitting loans, or using interest-only periods. “That’s up from 19% in the previous survey.” Hooper says comments from farmers also stressed the importance of the bank manager relationship. “Good managers were praised, with one farmer saying, ‘we have a fantastic bank manager who understands farming’. “But many complained about turnover, inexperience, and poor communication. “One comment - ‘haven’t seen our bank manager for six and a half years’ - captures that frustration.” Banks, their charges and services, and competition in the rural lending market have been a focus for Feder-
ated Farmers over the past two years. “We’ve been a driving force behind the inquiry into banking, the Reserve Bank capital review, and the Commerce Commission’s investigation into cartel-like behaviour,” Hooper says. “Just this week we’ve seen the result of that, with the Reserve Bank easing capital settings, which will save the average farmer $11,000 a year in annual interest costs. “It’s just a shame we couldn’t persuade the Reserve Bank to be less cautious and conservative, as they could have eased the settings much more.” Hooper says that result, and the findings from the banking survey, show that Federated Farmers’ fight for a better deal for farmers from banks needs to continue. “In the interests of farmers and also food production, export earnings and the wider economy - we won’t be letting up on that pressure for the lowest possible borrowing costs for our members.”
FOCUS: Banks, their charges and services, and competition in the rural lending market have been a focus over the past two years.
CLEAR CUT: David Birkett says the new contract checklists will help growers to avoid problems arising from ambiguous wording and gaps in agreements.
New checklists to level up arable agreements Four new contract checklists have been released to help New Zealand’s arable growers navigate contract discussions with greater confidence. David Birkett, Federated Farmers arable chairperson, says the checklists were created to reduce confusion, highlight key details and improve clarity on both sides of the table. “We really wanted to help New Zealand growers when they’re entering contract negotiations, and these checklists step them through all the key things to look for,” he says. “They also remind buyers, merchants, and seed companies of the standard information expected in fair, transparent agreements. “They’re not legal documents, but they’re designed to make discussions simpler and more consistent.” Developed by the Federated Farmers Arable Council, the checklists are free to download
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from the Federated Farmers website. They cover four key areas of the arable sector: grains, maize grain, maize silage, and herbage seed. The checklists include things like moisture limits, test weights, payment terms, area or tonnage, risk, and dispute resolution. Birkett says the checklists come at a crucial time. “We know that growers frequently encounter ambiguous wording in contracts, particularly around payment timing, termination clauses, moisture adjustments and quality deductions. “By using these checklists, growers can identify gaps or unclear areas before signing. “It’s great to see that some companies have already begun improving contract wording based on discussions.” He adds that having the checklists in one place – and free to access – will help improve consistency and transparency across the sector.
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Federated Farmers
fedfarm.org.nz –January 12, 2026
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Reserve Bank capital changes fall short
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ederated Farmers says changes to bank capital settings will save farmers some money, but don’t go anywhere near far enough to make a meaningful difference or unlock economic growth. Late last year the Reserve Bank announced the results of its review into bank capital settings, easing the amount banks need to hold as a buffer against losses. Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Mark Hooper says while the changes will deliver some savings for farmers, they fall well short of expectations. “There will be a lot of farmers out there who are incredibly disappointed the Reserve Bank hasn’t gone further in winding back these outrageously high capital settings. “New Zealand has some of the most conservative capital rules in the world, and unfortunately, this announcement doesn’t change that – it’s just more of the same.
“I wouldn’t go quite as far as saying we were handed a lump of coal for Christmas, but it’s probably the equivalent of unwrapping a new pair of work socks.” In 2019, proposed changes to the Reserve Bank’s capital holding rules were estimated to increase lending costs for farmers by around 100 basis points. This would have added an extra $40,000 in annual interest payments for the average Federated Farmers member.
I wouldn’t go quite as far as saying we were handed a lump of coal for Christmas, but it’s probably the equivalent of unwrapping a new pair of work socks. Mark Hooper Federated Farmers banking spokesperson
LEADERSHIP: Mark Hooper hopes new Reserve Bank governor, Anna Breman, will show some real leadership by delivering some relief on borrowing costs.
“While the Reserve Bank’s announcement is a step in the right direction, it has only walked back that huge increase by a measly 23 basis points,” Hooper says. “That means three-quarters of the extra and unnecessary interest payments remain.” With around $62 billion in agriculture debt in New Zealand, the capital setting changes equate to $144 million being saved for the sector each year. “That might sound like a big number but it could have been – and should have been – much more,” Hooper says. “Federated Farmers’ regular banking survey of our members shows the average farm mortgage is around $4.9 million. “Based on that, the average saving will be about $11,000 per farmer each year – a small number relative to their overall interest costs.” Federated Farmers has long argued the Reserve Bank’s approach to capital settings is far too conservative – and unfortunately, that looks set to continue. “In 2019, the Reserve Bank tightened capital requirements, and those costs were passed straight on to customers,” Hooper says. “We’ve argued that the 1-in200-year risk settings were overly conservative by international standards and didn’t reflect the real risk of farming loans. “Those settings have piled unnecessary cost and stress onto farming families. “We’re pleased the Reserve Bank has decided to lower the settings, but it’s not enough to truly ease that pressure in rural New Zealand.” In its decision released on December 17, the Reserve Bank said the new settings will reduce the overall cost of banks’ funding, which it expects to see passed on as benefits to New Zealanders through increased lending and reduced
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SHORT-CHANGED: Mark Hooper says while it’s great the Reserve Bank will ease the amount banks need to hold as a buffer against losses, a less conservative stance would have saved farmers hundreds of millions of dollars more in lower costs. rates, which the Reserve Bank will monitor closely. It also said that, although it was reducing capital settings relative to what it selected in 2019, its requirements remain relatively conservative when compared internationally. Hooper questions the reason for that and says Federated Farmers will continue pushing for the bank to come more in line with international levels. He says easing the capital settings further would result in wider benefits for the rural economy. “When farmers are paying less in interest, they have more capacity to invest back into their businesses, into environmental protection, and into productivity,” Hooper says.
“That’s good for farming families, for rural communities and for New Zealand’s economy as a whole. “I hope the new Reserve Bank governor, Anna Breman, will separate herself from the poor decisions of her predecessors and show some real leadership by delivering some relief on borrowing costs. “She has an opportunity to align New Zealand’s capital settings with international norms. “We’ll keep pushing for the lowest possible borrowing costs for farmers, and for a banking system that properly reflects the realities of farming risk.” The Reserve Bank will release more information on the capital setting changes in February 2026, including a detailed response to submissions.
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January 12, 2026 – fedfarm.org.nz
Farmers get long-awaited clarity on West Coast stewardship land
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ong-awaited decisions on West Coast stewardship land will deliver the clarity farmers and many others have been waiting for, Federated Farmers say. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka late last year confirmed that decisions have been made on about 80% of stewardship land assessed on the West Coast – the most significant reclassification of public conservation land since DOC was founded in 1987. Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Richard Dawkins says this is the certainty farmers have been asking for over many years. “This decision puts to bed decades of confusion and gives farmers confidence about the future of the land they’ve responsibly managed for generations. “Having appropriate classifications assigned finally means those who use the land, such as farmers, know what they can and can’t do on that land. “It’s clarity, certainty and commonsense – and it’s hugely appreciated.” Stewardship land has been a source of growing uncertainty because it was effectively a holding category created in 1987 when DOC was formed. Land that didn’t fit neatly into a particular classification – and was often important to local communities for grazing, mining, tourism and recreation – was parked in the stewardship basket since 1987 until a national review could take place. “For nearly 40 years this land has just sat there in limbo. It badly needed to be sorted, and Minister Potaka has now done exactly that,” Dawkins says. “I want to also acknowledge Simon Cameron, Federated Farmers meat & wool vice chair, and West Coast president, who’s done a huge amount of work on this.”
He says many people had begun with the assumption stewardship land was inherently high-value conservation land. “That’s been frustrating, because much of this land was excluded from National Park status precisely because of its community value, long-standing grazing, and lower conservation attributes. “People were starting to reinterpret what this land was, and that created real anxiety for the farmers with grazing licences. “It had become a major headache, but these decisions end that uncertainty.” More than 190,000 hectares will be protected under the Reserves Act, and over 300,000 hectares will receive additional protection under the Conservation Act. Potaka says another 4300 hectares will be considered for addition to National Parks, and a further 3300 hectares will be investigated for disposal. Existing rights such as grazing licences and tourism concessions will continue for their full term. A key part of the announcement is that reclassified areas will become Conservation Park, supported by a much simpler and clearer planning framework that will be introduced in next year’s proposed amendments to the Conservation Act. The old system — with multiple overlapping strategies, management plans and interpretation challenges — will be replaced by just two documents: a National Policy Statement for Conservation, and a straightforward area plan. “The Minister has assured us that grazing, mining, recreation and tourism will be clearly identified as permitted activities where appropriate,” Dawkins says. “That level of clarity is exactly what farmers need.” The West Coast reclassification covers 644,000 hectares, and
LANDMARK MOMENT: Richard Dawkins says it’s fantastic to get clarity on the status of West Coast stewardship land. Farmers now want to see longer-term grazing licences at a realistic price.
Ten years is not certainty – it’s sitting on the fence. We’re looking for 15-year [grazing] licences as a minimum without public notification, and ideally 25 to 30 years. Richard Dawkins Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Dawkins estimates more than 400,000 hectares currently have grazing licences attached. “That’s not new land. These are long-established runs – many farmers are managing pieces of land their families have grazed for generations,” he says. While Federated Farmers is strongly supportive of the decisions, Dawkins says some important
details must still be worked through. “The first thing is tenure length. Current 10-year grazing licences with no right of renewal are inadequate for long-term farm planning. “Ten years is not certainty – it’s sitting on the fence. We’re looking for 15-year licences as a minimum without public notification, and ideally 25 to 30 years.” The second is pricing, Dawkins says. DOC has previously attempted to benchmark grazing licence fees against pastoral leases, despite pastoral lessees having exclusive possession – something grazing licensees on public conservation land do not enjoy. “It’s apples and oranges. Anyone can access these areas at any time under DOC rules, and that creates risks for both farmers and the public.” Dawkins says Federated Farmers will continue working with DOC to ensure access is well managed.
THINKING ABOUT DIVERSIFYING YOUR FARM SYSTEM? Get expert insights, resources and support, straight to your inbox. ManawatuNZ.co.nz/LandDiversification
“We absolutely want hunters, trampers, rafters and tourists to enjoy these areas. “We just need simple communication protocols, so everyone knows who is where. It’s about safety and giving people the best possible experience. “If a farmer is heading up in a chopper to muster cattle back down a valley, they need to know if trampers are in the area or there could be some real problems for everyone.” For Dawkins, the announcement is a landmark moment. “This has been hanging over farmers since 1987. Now the Government has delivered, and that means farmers can get on with managing the land well for the next generation.” Federated Farmers looks forward to continuing to work with Minister Potaka and DOC as the detail is finalised.
19 Real Estate
RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL
NEW LISTING
OPOTIKI, BAY OF PLENTY 2060 Motu Road
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1694ha Grazing/Wilderness - Toatoa 2060 Motu Road, Toatoa, is a grazing wilderness property comprising a total of 1694.0115 hectares located approximately 40 kilometers from the Opotiki township, and inland to the south east at Toatoa on the Motu Trail Road. The property includes expansive river flats which are fenced serviced by sheep and cattle yards. • Approximately 500 hectares (more or less) grazing with about 150ha regenerating scrub with the balance in native forest • Improvements include a 1960s/1970s build three bedroom home • Four-stand shearing shed with covered and open sheep yards/pens • Three-bay implement shed with lean-to • Stock yards with two holding pens, a drafting race, crush, weigh pad • Load out race and ramp • Dual water supply, stream and spring supply pressure pumped for domestic use This Motu Road holding offers a unique chance to secure a piece of Hinterland New Zealand. There is an opportunity here to farm, conserve, hunt or develop eco-tourism with this setting offering endless opportunities for the right buyer.
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Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 4.00pm, Friday 27 February
VIEW 11.00am-2.00pm Thursday 15, 22, 29 January & 5 February
Phil Goldsmith M 027 494 1844 E pgoldsmith@pggwrightson.co.nz
pggwre.co.nz/WHK42747
OPEN DAY
PAENGAROA, BOP 80 Roydon Downs Road 'Roma' – G3 Production Block • • • •
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5.48can ha G3 at 55-62m elevation Cryptomeria and Casuarina boundary shelter with hail net overhead Fully irrigated and water frost protected 250m² concrete floor shed with workshop and offices with enough space to base your operation Three year average OGR $227,782!!
If you want to own one of the best gold kiwifruit orchards in NZ, then buy Roma.
OPEN DAY
DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY
Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 3.00pm, Friday 30 January
VIEW 12.00-2.00pm
Tuesday 13 & 20 January
PAENGAROA, BOP 80 Roydon Downs Road 'Amalfi' – G3 Production Block • • • • •
8.63can ha G3 at 20-50m elevation 3.6 x 6m bays, double planted strip male Full irrigation and frost protection system Man made internal Cryptomeria and Casuarina boundary shelter Three year average OGR $231,659!!
DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY
Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 3.00pm, Friday 30 January
VIEW 12.00-2.00pm
Tuesday 13 & 20 January
If you have been on the hunt for an ultra high performing G3 production block, this is it! Tim Gallagher M 027 801 2888 E tim.gallagher@pggwrightson.co.nz
pggwre.co.nz/TEP42739 PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008
For more great rural listings, visit www.pggwre.co.nz www.pggwre.co.nz PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under the REAA 2008
Tim Gallagher M 027 801 2888 E tim.gallagher@pggwrightson.co.nz pggwre.co.nz/TEP42741 Helping grow the country
NZ’s leading rural real estate company Helping grow the country
20
Gisborne 749 Kanakanaia Road New Listing
Scan for more
Large lifestyle, small farm
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Auction 12.00pm, Thu 12th Feb, 2026, (unless sold prior), Property Brokers, 66 Reads Quay, Gisborne View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/GIR215418
• 24.71ha (more or less) • Gisborne CBD 38km • Te Karaka 7.5km • Flat to easy contour • Stock yards A superb offering of 24.71 hectares of well-balanced land, combining flat and easy contour, excellent water supply via 3 dams, plus a handful of troughs. A very tidy and well-presented property including stockyards and loading race. The very tidy three-bedroom home sits in lovely grounds and features both open and covered decks, plus a swimming pool and spa. Bigger than a lifestyle block, smaller than a full-time farm, a superb all-round package. Plus GST (if any).
Tom Lane M 027 866 5263
E toml@pb.co.nz
Franz Josef 598 Waiho Flat Road
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Large scale South Westland dairy farm A significant opportunity to secure a large freehold property of 759 ha (approx. 580 ha effective) located on the Waiho Flats south of Franz Josef township in South Westland. This well-established dairy unit currently milks 800 cows, delivering a four-year average of 268,598 kgMS, with historical production peaking at 391,000 kgMS - highlighting genuine upside for the next owner. The farm features an excellent mix of silt and alluvial free draining soils, and is well subdivided with predominately three wire electric fencing and an extensive network of all-weather lanes. Infrastructure includes a 60-bail rotary dairy shed (built 2003) with a 600 cow circular yard, in-shed meal feeding and a DeLaval plant. Supporting buildings include a large hay barn, six-bay calf shed, two implement sheds, generator shed, covered fert bin, and cattle yards. This is a semi self-contained operation with approximately 400 calves reared annually, and young stock grazed on farm.
Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz
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Tender closes 12.00pm, Mon 2nd Feb, 2026 (unless sold prior), at Property Brokers Hokitika office, 97 Revell Street, Hokitika 7810 View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/HKR203446 Gareth Cox M 021 250 9714
E gareth@pb.co.nz
Anna Hart M 027 294 9678
E anna.hart@pb.co.nz Proud to be here
Real Estate
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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 12, 2026
NEW LISTING
Norsewood 83 Norsewood Ormondville Road
Hawke’s Bay 108 Sandy Creek Road, Tutira
Dairy run off - 63ha
229ha dairy with herd on Halter
Well-positioned in the heart of the highly regarded Norsewood district, this dairy run-off block is set within one of the region’s most established and sought-after dairy farming areas, widely recognised for being summer-safe. The circa 63-hectare bare land holding offers an ideal balance of contour, comprising flat and gently rolling country with some steeper hill sections, making it exceptionally well-suited to its role as a productive and reliable run off block. Infrastructure includes an excellent set of cattle yards and a 4 bay hay shed. Very good reticulated water supply and good fertiliser history are key features of this fabulous property.
63.8462 ha Auction (unless sold prior) 11am, Mon 2 Feb 2026 69 High Street, Dannevirke View by appointment Vic Ellingham 027 201 6707 vic.ellingham@bayleys.co.nz EASTERN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008
bayleys.co.nz/2871244
SELLING YOUR FARM? Your agent may suggest you advertise in their brand publication. We suggest you remind them that this is the publication you, and every other farmer you know, reads.
Call 0800 85 25 80 realestate@agrihq.co.nz
For those looking for an affordable first dairy farming opportunity, this 229 hectare easy contoured dairy farm located only 49 kilometres north of Napier city is a must view. Currently milking a conservative 290 cows, the previous peak production sits at 137,000kg/MS from an approximately 160 hectare milking platform. Consent to irrigate 62 hectares and with Halter technology this farm is set to go to a new level. Improvements include a 26 aside herringbone with cup removers, a solid three bedroom main house, a refurbished three bedroom cottage, single men's quarters and several implement sheds. Priced to sell, buyer enquiry over $5,200,000, this farm has plenty of potential.
229.672 ha For Sale by Deadline Private Treaty 4pm, Wed 21 Jan 2026 15 Havelock Road, Havelock North View by appointment Tony Rasmussen 027 429 2253 tony.rasmussen@bayleys.co.nz Chris Heenan 027 599 3527 chris.heenan@bayleys.co.nz EASTERN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008
bayleys.co.nz/2854337
Boundary lines are indicative only
Waimate 142 Deep Creek Road Versatile land Brookside Farm comprises 149.83 hectares (more or less) of productive land in the Hook district, underpinned by reliable Claremont silt loam soils and a flat to rolling contour. Currently operated as a successful arable unit growing oilseed rape, wheat, and grass seed in rotation, the farm has consistently delivered strong results when benchmarked within the industry, and over time has produced some of the operation’s highest performing yields. The land is exceptionally versatile. Its stone free Claremont silt loams are well suited to continued arable production, while also providing a strong platform for cut and carry or dairy support systems, whether for young stock, wintering, or producing bulk supplements.
bayleys.co.nz/5529191
149.8254 ha Deadline Sale (unless sold prior) 2pm, Thu 29 Jan 2026 View by appointment Hamish Lane 027 685 6204 hamish.lane@bayleys.co.nz Al Brown 022 188 6601 al.brown@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008
22 Marketplace
Marketplace
FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 12, 2026
Live Goats Wanted
Call Dean Edwards: 027 332 2996 www.deanedwardsfarmconsultant.co.nz dean.edwardsfc@gmail.com
Bring your own 4X4 on a guided tour to discover more of the South Island.
Towable Flail Mower
14HP. Vanguard Briggs & Stratton Motor. Electric start. 1.2m cut Sstandard and rear discharge available 2 year Mower Master Warranty Assembled by Kiwis for Kiwi STARTING FROM conditions – built to last.
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Tour 1: Molesworth Station, St James, Mailings Pass & Rainbow Stations Dates: Feb 16-19, March 13-16, March 23-26 FULL, April 8-11, April 17-20 FULL.
GO THE MOA!
Ph: 0274 351 955
For a cost effective portable steel solution to your stock handling needs.
$4900 GST INCLUSIVE
Tour 2: North Otago Tag-along Tour
Dates: Feb 8-12 FULL, Feb 23-27 FULL, March 16-20.
To find out more visit
www.mowermaster.co.nz
Phone 028 461 5112 Email: sales@mowermaster.co.nz
E: info@southislandtoursnz.com • www.southislandtoursnz.com
TRUCK FOR SALE
2010 Hino 300 • 215,000kms • 9 Tonnes RUC • Comes with: Effluent tank, water tank, lockable toolbox, CB radio, spare wheel, remote control crane, aluminium sides
• Draw beam certified 3.5 tonnes • Red Ark braking system • New electric hoist motor • New turbo at 200,000km • New front tyres
Advertise with us
Reach every farmer in New Zealand every week
Nationwide Stockcrate • Length 4.950m, width 2.310m • Almost new crate cover
• Certified bobby calf cover • Crate doors open to take pellets
Call Julie 027 705 7181
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Truck & crate are in mint order – $88,800+GST Ring Ray Kerley 0274 930 299 for more info
electro-tek.com
MOWER MASTER TOWABLE MOWERS
4X4 TAGALONG TOURS
Molesworth Cycle Tours for group bookings by arrangement
Ph: 06 357 2454 electro-tek@xtra.co.nz
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www.boeckmann.co.nz robert@boeckmann.co.nz 021 02255648
Free Introductory On-Farm Consultation
NEW AND RE-SHARPENING OF ALL MAKES OF EARMARKERS LK0123230©
Interested? Contact Matthew 021 308 609
$17,995+GST
Serving Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Central Plateau, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki & Lower North Island
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Over 20 years helping NZ dairy farmers boost productivity, profitability & compliance
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• Model DK-AL 3218/35 • Unsurpassed quality and specification • Electro-hydraulic with wireless remote • Side and rear tipping • 3.5 t GVM (2.5 t payload) • 6 t rated hydraulic ram • 3.25m x 1.8m deck • Removeable 350mm alu sidewalls
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DEAN EDWARDS FARM CONSULTING LTD ▲
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Cash payments or agreed trading terms. Dressed weight or Hoof purchased valuations. Negotiated delivery terms – covering areas Pahiatua to Featherston. Minimum consignments of 20 up to 500.
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Hooftrimmers - Dehorners - Ear Markers - Zon Birdscarers
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Contact Fred today
fredsfencing.co.nz Ph: 027 22 88 190
LK0123225©
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Marketplace
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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 12, 2026
CLASSIFIEDS
CRUTCHING TRAILERS Triple – Double – Single trailers available
New dates for the 2026-27 season are available on request.
– Ring/full/belly crutch – Eye wigging – 3-6 stand shearing trailers – Based in Canterbury covering all the South Island – Est. 1995
irontreeproducts.co.nz
LK0123247©
info@nzadventures.co.nz Ph: 027 550 6727 or 027 435 4267
www.nzadventures.co.nz
Drive from station to station and experience the majestic South Island High Country
• Self drive your own 4WD from Blenheim to Cardrona in Central Otago including Molesworth through a network of high country tracks with a 7 day 8 night tour • Stay in comfortable farmstays, lodges & historic hotels • Travel at a quieter pace with smaller, fully guided tour groups
List your job with us
DOGS FOR SALE PARAPARA/MAKIRIKIRI SDT Clubs annual working sheep dog sale on 24th January 2026 at 966 Ruatangata Road, Whangaehu. Sign posted from SH3. Auction 12 noon, viewing from 10.30am. Register dogs for sale with Secretary Brenda O’Leary email: brenda. dog@inspire.net.nz or 027 292 2173. All Enquiries to Duncan Atkinson Ph 027 242 2881 or Auctioneer Chris Hay Ph 027 632 7177.
Call Julie Hill 027 705 7181 classifieds@agrihq.co.nz farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz
CONNECTING RURAL EMPLOYERS AND JOB SEEKERS
GOATS WANTED FERAL GOATS WANTED. Pick-up within 24 hours. Prices based on works schedule. Phone Vicky Le Feuvre 07 893 8916 or 027 363 2932.
On 780ha, rolling to steep contour our beef breeding and finishing block winters 1,200 head including Angus breeding cows plus R1 & R2’s. Located at Aotea, 1hr to Te Awamutu, 1hr20 to Hamilton, this is a great seaside community.
STORM DAMAGE & SITE CLEARANCE
marineindustrial.abequipment.co.nz
We are seeking an experienced Farm Manager who has a passion for the industry, has outstanding stockmanship and pasture management with the ability to achieve good livestock growth and finishing to maximise the farms potential, proven staff management, good communication, record keeping and all general on farm skills. Having 2-4 working dogs, under good command, will be required.
VIEW RESTORATIONS & REDUCTIONS
Accommodation is a 3 bedroom weatherboard home, with heatpump and single lockable garaging. Primary school is available locally.
PRUNING FOR HEALTH
As a Maori Trust farm the successful applicant will liaise with their representative for all day-to-day communication and direction.
HORTICULTURE NZ KELP. FRESH, wild ocean harvested giant kelp. The world’s richest source of natural iodine. Dried and milled for use in agriculture and horticulture. Growth promotant / stock health food. As seen on Country Calendar. Orders to: 03 322 6115 or info@nzkelp.co.nz
LIVESTOCK FOR SALE WILTSHIRES-ARVIDSON. Self shearing sheep. No1 for Facial Eczema. David 027 2771 556. BOOK AN AD. For only $3.30 + gst per word you can book a word only ad in Farmers Weekly Classifieds. Ph 0800 85 25 80 to book in or email wordads@agrihq.co.nz
Pre-employment drug testing will be undertaken and a Ministry of Justice criminal history check may be requested. A 90-day trial period will apply.
Sincro 16 to 93 kVA Inmesol 40 to 360 kVA
Contact Dean Shaw CALL 027 403 3960
GOATS WANTED. All weights. All breeds. Prompt service. Payment on pick up. My on farm prices will not be beaten. Phone David Hutchings 07 895 8845 or 0274 519 249. Feral goats mustered on a 50/50 share basis.
0800 423 283
www.beavertree.co.nz
If this position sounds like you and you are living in NZ, have 8+years beef farming experience, take pride in a job well done, have a clean drivers licence, and are drug free, please apply by email sending your up-to-date CV, at least two recent referees, to: admin@cardon.co.nz Applications close Tues 20 January 2026. Anne Burdon – Cardon Rural Recruitment
SALE TALK AN AVID duck hunter was in the market for a new bird dog. His search ended when he found a dog that could actually walk on water to retrieve a duck. Shocked by his find, he was sure none of his friends would ever believe him. He decided to try to break the news to a friend of his, the eternal pessimist who refused to be impressed with anything. This surely would impress him. He invited the friend to hunt with him and his new dog. As they waited by the shore, a flock of ducks flew by. They fired, and a duck fell. The dog responded and jumped into the water. The dog, however, did not sink but instead walked across the water to retrieve the bird, never getting more than its paws wet. This continued all day long; each time a duck fell, the dog walked across the surface of the water to retrieve it. The pessimist watched carefully, saw everything, but did not say a single word. On the drive home the hunter asked his friend, “Did you notice anything unusual about my dog?” “Yes I did. He can’t swim.”
SITUATIONS VACANT HANDYMAN GENERAL. Wanted person who is capable of various maintenance and farm duties on Sheep and Beef Station in the Waitomo District. Tidy two bedroom cottage available. Hours flexible. Phone John on 027 442 3921 for more details.
WANTED TO BUY ATOMIZERS FOR C-DAX Spray Boom. Phone 027 230 6664. RIDE-ON or tow behind mower. Phone Gary 021 967 388. SAWN SHED TIMBER including Black Maire, Matai, Totara, Rimu, Mac, Redwood, Western Red Cedar etc. Also buying salvaged native logs. Phone Richard Uren. NZ Native Timber Supplies. Phone 027 688 2954. WHAT’S SITTING IN your barn? Ford, Ferguson, Hitachi, Komatsu, JD. Be it an excavator, loader or tractor, wherever it is in NZ. Don’t let it rust. We may trade in and return you a brand new bucket for your digger or cash for your pocket. Email admin@loaderparts.co.nz or phone Colin 0274 426 936.
WANTED TO RENT OLD FARM HOUSE or cottage in quiet Manawatu/ Whanganui region. Txt 027 672 6435.
Advertise with us Call 0800 85 25 80 wordads@agrihq.co.nz
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Leading Provider of Generator Sets Nationwide
DOLOMITE
60c BALES / 50c FADGES per kg for dags. Replacement woolpacks. PV Weber Wools. Kawakawa Road, Feilding. Phone 027 458 2727.
DRYSTOCK FARM MANAGER
DIFFICULT & LARGE REMOVALS
ATTENTION FARMERS
0800 436 566
NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR 2027
Or contact John Mulholland Mobile 027 228 8152 lnfo@highcountryjourneys.co.nz
HIGH PRESSURE WATER PUMPS, suitable on high headlifts. Low energy usage for single/3-phase motors, waterwheel and turbine drives. Low maintenance costs and easy to service. Enquiries phone 04 526 4415, email sales@hydra-cell.co.nz
For a delivered price call ....
jobs
www.highcountryjourneys.co.nz
FLY OR LICE problem? Electrodip – the magic eye sheepjetter since 1989 with unique self adjusting sides. Incredible chemical and time savings with proven effectiveness. Phone 07 573 8512 w w w. e l e c t ro d i p. c o m
NZ’s finest BioGro certified Mg fertiliser
HIGH COUNTRY JOURNEYS
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Phone 021 047 9299
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Adamsshearing.com
Three sizes available
PUMPS
CRAIGCO SHEEP JETTERS. Sensor Jet. Deal to fly and Lice now. Guaranteed performance. Unbeatable pricing. Phone 06 835 6863. www.craigcojetters.com
Call Shaun Adams 021 204 1274
Heavy duty, long lasting incinerators
ANIMAL HANDLING
143/50 PW 161/67 RA 100% top 10 All Breeds for NZ )
24 Livestock
24
ows contracted to LIC for 2011 matings o calve from 16-7-12, 6.5 weeks sey and Kiwi cross ed toAutumn be 420Calving cows Ayrshire after non nt, culls, older cows & 5% rejection Herd For Salems/cow, tion last season 347kgs Long established Autumn calving Ayrshire herd, s ms/ha, on rolling to steeper recorded ancestry 93% and replacements. ed farm, no meal, palm kernel or maize Approximately 240 Ayrshire MA cows, DTC
FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 12, 2026
ANNUAL 15MTH TRADITIONAL BEEF HEIFER SALE
from 1st April 2026 to nominated Ayrshire AB and tailed with beef bulls.
replacement stock also available
500kg MS/cow 2024/25 season, consistently 430-480kg MS/cow. System 3, rotary cowshed. ng genetics to beBoluses. one of All cows& carrypotential SmaXtec monitoring
Friday23January,2026 |12.30pm
ies leading suppliers of Genetics 50 well-grown Autumn calving Ayrshire in-calfto heifers, DTC from 1st April 2026 to Ayrshire ndustry for years to come. Full details
HeldatTuakausaleyards
North Waikato. agents: to the Located sole marketing
Further details contact: Brian Robinson inson Phone BRLL 0272 410 051 b.robinson1@xtra.co.nz 410051 or 07 8583132
LK0123372©
55 Autumn 2025-born Ayrshire heifer calves.
LK0120785©
bulls.
Check out Poll Dorset NZ on Facebook nzsheep.co.nz/poll-dorset-breeders
ner arketing Service 82 8771 or 07 846 4491
Livestock
MASTERTON EWE FAIR Wednesday 21st January 2026 Masterton Saleyards | 11am start Comprising approx: 8000 Ewes • 1000 2th Ewes
A/C Waipuna Valley Farms
• 1150 4th–5yr Romdale Ewes
Comprising 1250 head:
• 400 6th-5yr Rom/Coop Ewes
• 850 x 15 month Angus Heifers
• 3900 5yr Romney Ewes
• 220 x 15 month Hereford/Angus Heifers
• 980 5yr Ewes
• 180 x 15 month Exotic Heifers
• 900 M/A Ewes Further enquiries to:
• 50 x 15 month Hereford Approx 300-370 kg liveweight. Farmed in large mobs on genuine hill country. Heifers guaranteed empty. Cattle renowned for shifting ability.
PGG Wrightson Andrew McKay 027 419 7366 Carrfields Carey Ashwell 021 433 274 Further info can be found on:
1% buying rebate paid to outside companies by prior arrangement.
www.mastertonsaleyards.com PGG Wrightson Livestock- Wairarapa
For more information: David Short (Vendor) 027 472 3441 Stephen Hickey (PGW) 027 444 3570 NZ’s Virtual Saleyard bidr.co.nz Helping grow the country
In-calf Heifers & this years replacement calves available also.
Contact: Sam Cowley Ph: 021 263 2019, Email: sam@byl.co.nz
View full herd listings at: www.byllivestock.co.nz
Follow instagram.com/pgwlivestock
Helping grow the country
Waitui Wiltshire Annual Stock Sale
Tuesday 27th January
A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY! Three digit herd code - completely closed herd, 100% ancestry, G3 profiled. 450ms/cow, 100k SCC for the season, OAD from Christmas. 78% 6 week in-calf rate - 6-10% MT rate. Whole herd AI Short Gestation to end mating. $3,300.
FIND US ON INSTAGRAM
THE EXPERTS IN EVERYTHING LIVESTOCK.
220 x Friesian/Friesian X In-calf Cows BW: 137, PW: 169, 100% Anc. DTC 10th July, All AB. TB Status: C10, Lepto vacc. SCC 79,000. Ave. prod. 450m/s per cow, 1300m/s per ha.
Secure a genuine, high-performing herd
Follow fb.com/pgwlivestock
Specialists in GENETICS
DEER & VELVET
SHEEP & BEEF
DAIRY
Scan to find out more or visit:
pggwrightson.co.nz/livestock fb.com/pgwlivestock instagram.com/pgwlivestock
Bidding starts at Noon Viewing from 11am 12 Wairepu East Road, Taihape Bidr will also be available There will be a selection of: • Ewe Lambs • 2th Ewes • MA Ewes • 2th Rams • SIL Recorded Stock Contact: Charles (farm owner) 027 753 2099 Matt (PGG stock agent) 027 242 9479 LK0123297©
FRIESIAN/FRIESIAN X HERD
FIND US ON FACEBOOK
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Livestock
THE GUMS ANNUAL MELROSE ONFARMRAMSALE RAM SALE RAMSALES TUESDAY 27TH JANUARY A/c The Stevenson Family, Cheviot Thursday 15th January
Melrose Partnership-DK, MJ & AJM Rutherford 1193 Virginia Road, Hawarden Viewing from 11am, Sale 1pm > 70 Mid Micron Rams Rams available to purchase via Helmsman auction. Further enquiries: Travis Dalzell (Hazlett) 027 202 0196 Callum Dunnett (Hazlett) 027 462 0126 Dugald Rutherford (Vendor) 03 314 4180 Andrew Rutherford (Vendor) 021 505 806
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026
Auction - Viewing 9am, Sale 11am > 35 Dorset Down Rams > 15 Southdown Dorset Down x Rams Helmsman Auction - Sale 2pm > 45 Quarterbred Rams > 10 Merino Rams > 79 Halfbred Rams Bidr® online bidding option available - www.bidr.co.nz Catalogue available via contact details below or at the following websites: www.thegums.nz www.hazlett.nz/whats-on www.rurallivestock.co.nz/Auctions
Further enquiries: Callum Dunnett (Hazlett) 027 462 0126 Jon Waghorn (Hazlett) 027 462 0121 Anthony Cox (RLL) 027 208 3071 Robbie Reid (RLL) 027 473 0868
hazlett.nz
SHEDDINGSALE 7TH ANNUAL POLL HAWARDEN SALEYARDS Friday 23rd January - 11am Start
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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 12, 2026
MERINO RAM SALE
FRIDAY 16TH JANUARY - 2PM
> 50 Belborough Dorper Annual Draft Ewes > 50 Belborough Dorper Ewe Lambs > 15 Belborough Dorper Ram Lambs > 5 Belborough Dorper 2th Rams > 1100 Wiltshire 2th Ewes > 150 Wiltshire Mixed Age Ewes > 1000 Wiltshire Ewe Lambs
Glenallen Merinos, JS & PA Butters Ltd 226 Glenallen Road - Viewing from 11am
Further enquiries: Alby Orchard 027 534 5753 (Hazlett) Alex Horn 027 591 8449 (PGGW) Donald Cooke 0274 730 857 (RLL)
Sale will be sign posted from Waikari Township
> 65 grunty, good shifting Poll Merino 1 Shear Rams, bred to work
Further enquiries: Jimmy Butters (Vendor) 027 755 4065 Travis Dalzell (Hazlett) 027 202 0196 Callum Dunnett (Hazlett) 027 462 0126
> Thursday 15th January THE GUMS, Cheviot In conjunction with RLL 45 Quarterbred Rams 10 Merino Rams 79 Halfbred Rams 35 Dorset Down Rams 15 South Dorset Rams > Friday 16th January GLENALLEN, Waikari 65 Poll Merino Rams > Tuesday 20th January GORE STUD FAIR, Gore Showgrounds All Breeds > Monday 26th January CLEARDALE, Rakaia Gorge 108 SX Fine Wool Rams 12 Merino Rams > Tuesday 27th January MELROSE, Hawarden 75 Mid Micron Rams > Friday 30th January MARYBURN, Tekapo 70 Poll Merino Rams > Wednesday 4th February TEMUKA RAM, Temuka All Breeds > Friday 13th February SHEFFIELD RAM, Sheffield All Breeds > Friday 27th February BELTEX NZ RAM, Mt Somers In conjunction with PGGW & Carrfields 10 Beltex Ram Lambs 40 Beltex Suffolk Ram Lambs 20 Beltex Cheviot Ram Lambs 10 Beltex Texel Ram Lambs Further enquiries: Callum Dunnett 027 462 0126
2ND ANNUAL ELITE HIGH INDEX – AUTUMN CALVING COW SALE
Adair Farming Ltd Morrinsville Sale Yard 3rd February 2026 12 Noon start
A quality line of 151 elite autumn calving cows offered in one standout draft. • Average BW: 243 • Average PW: 495 • Top BW: 408 • Top PW: 933 A well-bred line of Friesian, Kiwicross and Jersey cows, calving from 26th February. All cows have been mated to AI Friesian and Charolais, offering strong genetic potential for both milk production and beef value. These cows represent a proven, high-performing herd with the numbers to back them up — ideal for buyers chasing reliability, production, and future returns. Contact: NZFLL Shaun Bicknell 027 221 1977
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2025 Ram Sale Results Review
91 Stud White Dorper Ewes 69 Pure -Bred Commercial White Dorper Ewes 4 Stud White Dorper Rams
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4 Stud Black Dorper Ewes 19 Pure -Bred Commercial Black Dorper Ewes 1 Black Dorper Ram (Type 4)
10 Pure -Bred Commercial White Dorper Rams
Approx. 4 Stud Black Dorper Ewe
Approx . 30 White Dorper Ewe
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12 White Dorper Ram
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Lambs Approx.
Farmers Weekly February 2 In partnership with FE Gold
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Year of the horse or year of the sheep?
STRONG MARKET: The red flag indicates the starting point of the Stortford Lodge 2-tooth and mixed-age ewe fair, but there were no red flags for the market. This opening line of Romney 2-tooths from J & MS Wilson, Onga Onga, set the scene for a strong market when they sold for $328 per head.
Industry gets off on the right foot for 2026 at hotly contested Stortford Lodge fair. Suz Bremner
MARKETS
I
Livestock
T MAY be the year of the horse in the Chinese zodiac, but for New Zealand farmers the year is shaping up to be the year of the sheep, having got off on the right foot as demand for breeding ewes lifts and results were record-breaking at the recent Stortford Lodge 2-tooth and mixed-age ewe fair. It was a market that rewarded the farmers who have shouldered the responsibility of keeping the New Zealand sheep industry alive by continuing to farm breeding ewes, and was a pivotal result for the industry. Romney ewes topped all age sections with the top 2-tooth reaching $382, 4-tooth and 6-tooth, $271-$273 and 5-year ewes, $256. A very positive end to 2025 and good future prospects for ewe and lamb markets, along with high buy-in prices for cattle and timely rain for some regions all combined to lift competition for the 13,200 breeding ewes offered on Tuesday, January 6. A huge crowd gathered in the alleyways around the sheep, keen to contest on the quality lines put up by vendors stretching from Wairoa through to Dannevirke.
The fair included several annual draft consignments, but tallies were also bolstered by three large consignments offered due to changes in farm policies or loss of lease. The fair got underway with a quality line-up of 3500 2-tooths, offered mainly in 14 lines of larger tallies. Spectators around the first pen from J & MS Wilson, Onga Onga, were shoulder to shoulder, with nervousness and excitement felt in the sweltering Hawke’s Bay heat. The first bid called for was $320 for the line of purpose-bred annual draft, Turanganui-bred Romney ewes, which sent murmurs through the crowd. While they didn’t open at that, once bidding was underway they soon surpassed that level to finish at $328 per head, putting a peg firmly in the sand for the 2-tooth market. This line sold to a regular Waikato buyer, who then placed a winning bid of $382 on another line from the same vendor and Forbes Cameron-bred, which topped the fair and set a new national record for commercial 2-tooth ewes. The closest results to this level in the AgriHQ database were from 2020, with a line of 2-tooth Romney ewes making $322 at Matawhero, while Border
Leicester-Romney ewes at Temuka sold for $355. By section end, nine lines of Romney 2-tooths had exceeded $300 per head. The market barely faltered as the fair moved into the 4-tooth ewe section, though the ewes were not the heavyweights found in the 2-tooth section, having had lambs the past season and presented more in their working clothes. The top price of $273 was spent on a line of Romney ewes from Te Rangi Station, Tutira, which were sired by Hildreth rams and had a high scanning result of 175-180%. The 6-tooth Romney section returned $180-$271, and 4-year $197-$248. The crowd patiently waited for the 5-year section, which was the biggest of the day at 4600-head. The 5-year ewe market lifted $80-$90 per head on last year and Romney easily stood out. Large station lines of big-framed annual draft Romney ewes from Wairoa
2th & 5yr Romney Ewe Average Prices Stortford Lodge 2th & MA Ewe Fair 300 200 100 0
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2-tooth drew in many repeat buyers and with run-outs allowed for these pens, provided plenty of activity. For a while the market actually strengthened as buyers started to feel like they may miss out, though it did button off towards the end on the medium types. Mangatawhiti Station, Ohuka, took top honours at $256, and most Romney ewes sold for $196-
2026
$252, while Romdale returned $173-$240. A consignment of capital stock Kelso ewes from Birch Hill, Porangahau were offered due to a change in farm policy and had a keen following from local and Manawatū buyers. The sole line of 2-tooths sold for $291, while 4-tooth and 6-tooth made $222-$258.
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27
Markets
27
FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 12, 2026
Cattle
Sheep
Deer
Beef
Sheep Meat
Venison
Slaughter price (NZ$/kgCW)
Xmas Week Last year
Slaughter price (NZ$/kgCW)
Xmas Week Last year
Slaughter price (NZ$/kgCW)
Xmas Week
Last year
North Island P2 steer (300kg)
9.30
6.85
North Island lamb (18kg)
10.85
8.05
North Island AP stag (60kg)
10.45
9.10
North Island M2 bull (300kg)
9.40
7.15
North Island mutton (25kg)
6.25
4.15
South Island AP stag (60kg)
10.40
9.10
North Island M cow (190kg)
7.20
5.35
South Island lamb (18kg)
10.80
7.90
South Island P2 steer (300kg)
9.20
6.85
South Island mutton (25kg)
6.15
3.95
Fertiliser
South Island M2 bull (300kg)
8.80
6.90
Last week
Last year
South Island M cow (190kg)
7.05
5.10
DAP
1519
1292
Potash (MoP)
922
797
Super
512
452
Urea (Coated)
1006
900
Export markets (NZ$/kg)
Fertiliser
China lamb flaps
11.30
10.57
Wool
Export markets (NZ$/kg) US imported 95CL bull
14.26
US domestic 90CL cow
12.02
15.38
12.87
NOTE: Slaughter values are weighted average gross operating prices including premiums but excluding breed premiums for cattle.
(NZ$/kg clean)
18-Dec
Last year
Crossbred fleece
4.64
3.66
Crossbred second shear
4.38
3.57
Courtesy of www.fusca.co.nz
NZ average (NZ$/tonne)
Forestry
Steer slaughter price ($/kgCW)
Lamb slaughter price ($/kgCW)
Exports
10.0
12.0
NZ Log Exports (m3)
November
Last year
China
9,734,024
1,490,854
Rest of world
246,795
221,481
Carbon price (NZ$/tonne)
Last week
Last year
38.3
62.5
9.0
10.0
8.0 8.0
7.0 6.0
NZU Dec
Feb Apr North Isla nd
Jun Aug South Island
6.0
Oct
Source: AgriHQ
80
800
60
600
40
400
20
200
13-Oct 13-Nov 5-yr ave
Dairy
13-Dec This year
Feb Apr North Isla nd
Jun Aug South Island
Oct
Source: AgriHQ
NZ lamb & mutton slaughter (thous. head)
NZ cattle slaughter (thous. head)
0 13-Sep
Dec
13-Jan 13-Feb Last yea r
Data provided by
Milk price futures ($/kgMS)
9.0 8.0
0 13-Sep
13-Oct 13-Nov 13-Dec 5-yr Ave This year
Feb
Apr
Sep-2026
Jun
Aug Sep-2027
Oct
Dec
Close
YTD High YTD Low
ArborGen Holdings Limited
0.132
0.132
0.132
The a2 Milk Company Limited
10.58
10.79
10.54
Comvita Limited
0.51
0.515
0.505
Delegat Group Limited
4.66
4.71
4.6
Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)
8.21
8.216
8.1
Foley Wines Limited
0.615
0.63
0.615
Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)
1
1
1
NZ King Salmon Investments Limited
0.21
0.21
0.198
PGG Wrightson Limited
2.22
2.22
2.17
Rua Bioscience Limited
0.028
0.028
0.028
400
Dec
Feb Apr Feed Wheat
Jun
Aug Oct Dec Feed Barley Source: NZX
Waikato palm kernel & maize ($/tonne)
Nearest contract Xmas Week Prior week
Data provided by
Company
Source: NZX
Dairy Futures (US$/t)
Oct
Source: AgriHQ
Canterbury feed wheat & feed barley ($/tonne)
450
Dec
Jun Aug South Island
Listed Agri shares
8.5 8.0
Feb Apr North Isla nd
Grain
500
9.0
Dec
13-Jan 13-Feb Last yea r
10.0 9.5
11.0 10.0
550
10.5
Stag Slaughter price ($/kgCW)
4 weeks prior
600
Sanford Limited (NS)
7.71
7.71
7.4
WMP
3100
3180
3295
550
Scales Corporation Limited
5.85
5.95
5.82
SMP
2480
2500
2545
500
Seeka Limited
4.64
4.66
4.61
AMF
5490
5540
6130
450
Synlait Milk Limited
0.63
0.65
0.625
Butter
4845
4905
5575
400
T&G Global Limited
2.25
2.25
2.23
Milk Price
9.04
9.15
9.56
350
S&P/NZX Primary Sector Equity Index
16233
16233
16132
S&P/NZX 50 Index
13715
13715
13587
S&P/NZX 10 Index
13093
13093
12940
300
Dec
Feb
Apr PKE
Jun
Aug Maize
Oct
Dec
Source: NZX
28
28
FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 12, 2026
Markets
Weekly saleyard results These weekly saleyard results are collated by the AgriHQ LivestockEye team. Cattle weights and prices are averages and sheep prices are ranges. For more detailed results and analysis subscribe to your selection of LivestockEye reports. Scan the QR code or visit www.agrihq.co.nz/livestock-reports Kaikohe | January 7 | 414 cattle
Tuakau | January 7 | 590 cattle
$/kg or $/hd
Frankton | January 7 | 246 cattle
$/kg or $/hd
R2 steers, 342kg
4.96
Prime dairy-beef steers, 665kg
4.99
R2 bulls, 320kg
4.63
Prime traditional bulls, 625kg
5.33
Weaner steers, 102kg
860
Prime traditional heifers, 510kg
4.87
Weaner bulls, 111kg
796
Prime dairy-beef heifers, 500kg
4.84
Weaner heifers, 101kg
709
Boner Friesian cows, 550kg
3.34
Boner crossbred cows, 505kg
3.21
Wellsford | January 5 | 178 cattle
$/kg or $/hd
Frankton | January 6 | 273 cattle
$/kg or $/hd Weaner dairy-beef steers, 95kg
770
Weaner dairy-beef bulls, 135kg
880
Weaner dairy-beef heifers, 115kg
750
Prime traditional bulls, 630kg
4.96
Prime Jersey bulls, 475kg
4.71
Rangiuru | January 6 | 355 cattle, 134 sheep
$/kg or $/hd
$/kg or $/hd
Weaner dairy-beef steers, 120kg
860
Prime exotic-dairy steers, 634kg
4.88
R2 dairy-beef steers, 330kg
5.31
R2 dairy-beef steers, 355kg
5.04
Prime traditional bulls, 689kg
4.91
Prime traditional bulls, 615kg
5.13
R2 Jersey bulls, 350kg
3.70
Boner Friesian cows, 545kg
3.30
Boner Friesian cows, 565kg
3.28
Prime Friesian steers, 635kg
4.92
FEELING THE HEAT: The ewe market was almost as hot as the day at Stortford Lodge on Tuesday, January 6. This pen of 200 Romney from Mangatawhiti Station, Ohuka, were the first 5-year options to go under the hammer and sold for $245. PGG Wrightson regional livestock manager Neil Common, left, and auctioneer Hamish Holst made the most of the shade.
Get ahead of the market Keep track of saleyard data, key market indicators and livestock news from across the country, with the only reports that have people onsite collecting data daily.
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29
Markets
29
FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 12, 2026
MONOCHROME: It was a full week at Te Kuiti saleyards with five days of back-to-back sales. While most sales offered a variety of breeding, the 15-month traditional steer sale on Wednesday was a sea of black Angus coats with sporadic white and red patches where there was Hereford influence. These antibiotic-free Angus steers averaged 481kg and made $5.30/kg, $2550. Photo: bidr.co.nz
QUIET IN TOWN: With on-farm sales in full swing, the Temuka saleyards were quiet for the first sale of 2026 on Monday, January 5. This pen of mixed-sex lambs collected $152.
TOP OF THE POPS: These Romney 2-tooths from J & MS Wilson, Onga Onga, fetched $382 and were the top earners at the Stortford Lodge 2-tooth and mixed-age ewe fair on Tuesday, January 6.
Prime traditional bulls, 565kg
5.08
Stortford Lodge | January 6 | 13,185 sheep
Rongotea | January 6 | 90 cattle, 3 sheep
Prime Jersey bulls, 505kg
4.86
Prime dairy-beef heifers, 515kg
4.86
2-tooth Romney ewes, all
215-382
Weaner dairy-beef heifers, 125kg
Boner crossbred cows, 470kg
3.05
4-tooth Romney ewes, all
174-273
Canterbury Park | January 6 | 87 cattle, 2078 sheep
Prime ewes, all
60-171
4-tooth Kelso ewes, all
222-258
6-tooth Romney ewes, all
180-271
$/kg or $/hd
4-year Romney ewes, all
196-248
R3 traditional steers, 560kg
5.27
5-year Romney ewes, all
185-256
R3 exotic-beef steers, 650kg
5.19
5-year Romdale ewes, most
173-236
R3 dairy-beef steers, 550kg
5.10
Mixed-age Romney ewes, all
140-212
Te Kuiti | January 5 | 1072 cattle
Te Kuiti | January 6 | 692 cattle
$/kg or $/hd
Stortford Lodge | January 7 | 145 cattle, 2689 sheep
$/kg or $/hd R2 exotic-beef steers, 440kg
5.58
Te Kuiti | January 7 | 1018 cattle
$/kg or $/hd R2 traditional steers, 400kg
5.47
Taranaki | January 7 | 175 cattle
$/kg or $/hd R2 Jersey bulls, 355kg
4.25
Prime traditional bulls, 630kg
5.21
Boner Friesian cows, 525kg
3.57
Stortford Lodge | January 5 | 246 sheep
$/kg or $/hd
$/kg or $/hd R3 dairy-beef heifers, 450kg
4.75
Weaner Friesian bulls, 115kg
740
$/kg or $/hd 780
$/kg or $/hd Prime dairy-beef steers, 565kg
4.97
Prime Jersey bulls, 435kg
4.39
Prime dairy-beef heifers, 540kg
5.04
Store terminal-cross, shorn mixed-sex lambs, all
124-154
Store crossbred, woolly mixed-sex lambs, most
101-167
Prime ewes, most
125-228
Prime lambs, most
169-250
Temuka | January 5 | 236 cattle, 1193 sheep
$/kg or $/hd Prime dairy-beef steers, 560kg
4.85
Store Romney cryptorchid lambs, all
130.50-155
Prime Jersey bulls, 470kg
4.83
Store blackface mixed-sex lambs, most
115-162
Prime dairy-beef heifers, 505kg
4.89
Boner Friesian cows, 550kg
3.42
Store mixed-sex lambs, all
148-152
Prime ewes, most
140-199
Prime mixed-sex lambs, most
160-218
Feilding | January 5 | 225 cattle, 1206 sheep
$/kg or $/hd Prime traditional bulls, 635kg
5.28
Prime Jersey bulls, 460kg
4.67
Boner Friesian cows, 545kg
3.56
Boner crossbred cows, 560kg
3.26
Prime ewes, most
110-179
Prime ewes, most
Prime adult males, all
92-128
Prime mixed-sex lambs, all
Balclutha | January 7
$/kg or $/hd Store lambs, all
90-145
100-198
Prime ewes, all
70-238
140-261
Prime lambs, all
150-282
30
Weather
In partnership with ruralweather.co.nz
Summer in NZ – what lies ahead Philip Duncan
NEWS
T
Weather
HE year 2026 is kicking off on a high, at least as far as air pressure is concerned, with a reduction in rain events and thunderstorms and wind (generally speaking). Those downpours a week or two ago have left the soil very wet around the North Island in particular with Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki, East Cape, Gisborne/ Tairawhiti and northern Hawke’s Bay much wetter than usual for mid-January. My Dad in the eastern Waikato town of Te Aroha told me on January 3 that he had already recorded 100mm at their property, above January’s monthly average – in just the first three days. In the lower North Island the soil moisture maps have reversed from where they were at the end of last year, with the east now wetter than the west (Wairarapa vs Manawatū, for example). The South Island, from a soil moisture point of view, has more dry zones than wet. But overall
much of NZ is average to wetter than average underfoot right now. Regions that are still leaning dry in some areas are the Far North, Manawatū, Horowhenua, Southland and coastal Otago. Last year I said this summer was likely to bring “variety” and that sure is what we’ve had so far, usually good for many farmers but a headache for those camping in tents! Variety looks to continue – but high pressure should bring longer, hotter, dry days.
NZ really is halfway between a lot of the action. The tropics is looking especially energetic in the coming weeks. At the time of writing this column a tropical cyclone was possible around New Caledonia by this coming Sunday (not locked in), but NZ has a lot of high pressure yet to come on through. The placement of these NZ-based anticyclones will eventually determine any future path of possible tropical cyclones. Following the recent weekend’s wind and heat, this week kicks off with a more refreshing change for many, dropping temperatures
in most regions, especially the southern South Island. The weather going into this weekend is messier, with the potential for humid and wet weather again moving into the North Island thanks to low pressure in the Tasman Sea. While a long way out still, next Monday may have another cooler start for some regions as a larger anticyclone moves in – but this is also when the tropics may be producing a fair amount of low pressure zones. NZ really is halfway between a lot of the action and if it wasn’t for the incoming highs I’d suggest we’d be swamped with low pressure systems from both north and south of the country. As for La Niña, it is still around and likely will be for the rest of summer. This means low pressure is very likely to continue to form from Queensland over to about Fiji (that is, north of NZ) and each week those lows will be wanting to sink southwards. The only thing stopping them will be the highs exiting Australia for NZ and – for now – those highs look to dominate the NZ area in January more than the lows do.
THE BLUE GREW: Thunderstorms, rain and low pressure in late December and early January have seen wetter than usual soil conditions in a number of farming regions. Image: Earth Sciences NZ
Together ... at last. Classic partnerships in Kiwi farming are few and far between, but here’s one we reckon is worth making a song and dance about. Keep an eye out for these two characters over the next few months, as Ravensdown and Footrot Flats team up to celebrate 50 years (give or take) of farming in New Zealand. Find out more at ravensdown.co.nz/footrot