Issuu

INSIDE: Irish meat processing company takes over Alliance

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NOVEMBER 2025 EDITION

Government invests millions in methane research P12

D L SO Fonterra brands gone Farmer shareholders have said yes to selling off iconic brands to French dairy giant. P6

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November 2025

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November 2025

NZ Farmer

News 3 NZ Farmer

Updated all day at

Metallica fans and farmers rock it to help food security Fans of heavy metal band Metallica will join forces with food charity Meet the Need to tackle food insecurity in New Zealand and help families in need. By Sonita Chandar.

Left: Heavy metal band Metallica and its food charity All Within My Hands are joining forces with Meet the Need this month to tackle food insecurity when the band plays in Auckland. Below: Meet the Need supplies mince and milk meals to Kiwis in need.

n American heavy metal band and farmers will be rocking it this November when Metallica’s M27 World Tour ﬁnally makes its way Down

Under. As well as performing in Auckland, the band’s All Within My Hands Foundation (AWMHF) is banding together with farmer-led charity Meet the Need to ﬁght hunger. Combined, they will deliver a unique volunteer food packing event that will put the spotlight on one of the country’s fastest-growing challenges – food insecurity. Food insecurity is an issue affecting a growing number of New Zealanders, from young families to older Kiwis struggling with rising living costs. In the past year alone, food banks have reported record demand, with thousands more families seeking help each week, including those who did not need assistance previously. By joining forces, AWMHF and Meet the Need are raising awareness of this hidden issue, highlighting the role farmers play in feeding the nation, and showcasing the power of community-driven solutions. This unique, one-off event will bring together 50 Metallica fans to pack food parcels for Kiwi families in need, combining the passion of music fans with the generosity of New Zealand farmers. Zellara Holden, general manager of

BRADEN FASTIER/ STUFF

Meet the Need, says it is delighted to be the charity partner with AWMHF’s “ﬁght against hunger” to help Kiwi families in need. Holden also says the event is a powerful reminder of why causes like this matter. “It’s incredibly special to have the support of Metallica’s foundation All Within My Hands. Right now, one in four children in New Zealand are going hungry, and we need to shine a light on this reality. By bringing fans, farmers and our community together, we can make a real impact, and turn fan power into a force for good.”

All Within My Hands Foundation Founded in 2017 by members of Metallica, the non-proﬁt philanthropic organisation AWMHF is dedicated to creating sustainable communities by supporting workforce education, ﬁghting hunger, and providing critical local services. Supporting local food banks while on tour is something Metallica has been doing quietly for years. The creation of the foundation allowed the band to take this kind of giving to the next level. At every

stop, a portion of ticket sales is donated to a local food bank. The foundation has donated millions of dollars worldwide to tackle food insecurity, fund scholarships, and deliver aid to vulnerable communities. Meet the Need Created by farmers Siobhan O’Malley and Wayne Langford, Meet the Need is a farmer-led charity working to change the face of food security in New Zealand. Farmers donate livestock or milk, which is processed and distributed to more than 110 food banks and community organisations nationwide, ensuring highquality, locally sourced protein reaches the people who need it most. Since its inception in 2020, through livestock and cash donations, Meet the Need has provided the equivalent of more than a million meals across the country. This event is made possible by CNH, a global leader in agricultural and construction equipment, which, through its Case IH brand, has partnered with Meet the Need and nominated it as the charity partner for AWMHF’s New Zealand tour, recognising the strong alignment between AWMHF’s focus on hunger relief and the work of Meet the Need within the New Zealand farming community. This volunteer event will make a tangible difference for families doing it tough. Spots are limited – fans can sign up and be part of something special at meettheneed.org.nz/metallica-awmhvolunteer-signup-page/

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NZ Farmer

November 2025

From the Editor Contents 03 Joining forces

Metallica’s All Within My Hands and Meet the Need band together to address food security

06 Farmers have their say

Fonterra shareholders vote on sale of brands to French company Lactalis

Alliance sale Farmers vote yes to Irish meat company deal

Gumboot Friday returns Iconic event helps young New Zealanders receive mental health support

Methane investment Government investing millions in methane dairy genetics research

Weather woes Adverse weather events and water restrictions could put squeeze on Canterbury dairy farms

20 Looking ahead

Leading wool companies join forces to ensure a better future for the sector

Game-changing tech Arable sector to beneﬁt from new app

28 Avocado delight

Avocados are growing so well in Taranaki, the grower is building his own packhouse

34 Pineapples can grow here

Northland farmers establish ﬁrst and only commercial pineapple-growing business

Contact us NZ FARMER EDITOR Sonita Chandar 027 446 6221 sonita.chandar@stuff.co.nz DESIGN Kwok Yi Lee, Nina Weil, Sam Davenport COVER PAGE Kwok Yi Lee, Images: Supplied, Ricky Wilson, Gerard Hutching, Minka Firth HEAD OF REGIONAL & RURAL MARKETS Kate Boreham 021 279 5361 kate.boreham@stuff.co.nz

Farmers take the bait

t has been the talk of the town in farming circles but it is official. Our iconic and beloved brands will now be controlled by French dairy giant Lactalis in a $4.22 billion deal. Fonterra dangled a carrot in front of farmer shareholders and they grabbed it with both hands, voting to sell brands such as Anchor and Mainland in New Zealand, as well as major consumer brands Anmum and Bega in the likes of Sri Lanka and Australia. The result has come as a bit of a surprise. From the number of calls and conversations I have had with farmers since the announcement of the proposed sale, I believed the vote would be no. Sure, there were others who said they would be voting in favour as they did see the dollar signs and said the money would be a great help. Farmers are set to receive a windfall of about $2 per share, equating to a total payout of $3.2b, which would lift total cash returns by roughly 20%, without any increase in farm production or output. Current estimates suggest some farmers could receive at least $200,000. That’s not to be sneezed at but, at the end of the day, it’s not going to go far and once it’s gone, it’s gone. Don’t expect farmers to rush out and buy fancy new cars, utes or boats either. Most are likely to pay down debt or upgrade farm equipment or machinery. NZ First leader Winston Peters said in an open letter before the vote, at $4b, they are giving it away. And when you consider Fonterra farmer shareholders have received a total payout of $16.2b over the year, up over 30% from last year, is he off the mark? These returns are made up of a ﬁnal farmgate milk price for the 2024/25 season of $10.16 per kilogram of milksolids, equating to $15.3b in milk payments, and a 57c dividend, equating to $916 million to shareholders and unit holders. As one farmer who voted against the sale said: “Once those brands get sold, we lose control and lose them forever. That money we get from the sale we would have made at a slower rate, granted, but would have received over the coming years. I think too many people saw dollar signs and that was the end of it.” And history has shown selling brands to overseas companies or moving production offshore is not always what you expect. Think Tip Top and Cadbury ... After selling Tip Top to British dairy giant Froneri in 2019, they stopped selling

Goody Goody Gum Drops and Cookies and Cream in 2-litre tubs. Fonterra will now be a much smaller operation, with a 27% reduction in employee headcount. It would also be less diversiﬁed and more dependent on China. It will focus on selling dairy products through its food service and ingredients businesses, including to Lactalis under multi-year supply deals, but challenges such as global trade and geopolitical tensions remain. Fonterra will also lose its ability to command premium prices for its commodities. Under the deal, Fonterra will still supply milk and ingredients to go into those brands for 10 years. Chief executive Miles Hurrell thinks it is unlikely Anchorbranded butter will one day be made without New Zealand milk. I think he is fooling himself. If Lactalis can buy cheaper milk elsewhere, it will do exactly that, just as any company would. The sale still needs regulatory clearance and the separation of its consumer brands, food service and ingredients businesses that are currently sharing operations at Fonterra. Only time will tell whether the carrot was rotten or not. Get in touch with us at nzfarmer@stuff.co.nz

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Fonterra dangled a carrot in front of farmer shareholders and they grabbed it with both hands.

November 2025

NZ Farmer

Opinion NZ Farmer 5

Updated all day at

‘Milestone study’ on nitrogen raises worrying wider issues “ Soil scientist Doug Edmeades has deep concerns about the science-industry-farmer relationship.

heard it ﬁrst on RNZ last month. My interest was piqued. Digging deeper, I found that the topic under discussion was the subject of an advertising blurb from Ballance Agri-Nutrients. I was astounded by its content. I decided to read about it in detail in a recent (2024) science paper in the New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research. I calmed down.

Why the huffing and puffing? The heading on the blurb was: Spring nitrogen proven to lift productivity in NZ’s first sheep performance trial this century. And the hyperbole did not end there. Later in the blurb, the experiment was described as “the first in New Zealand this century to quantify the impact of nitrogen fertiliser on animal production in lowland sheep systems”. I am talking about a 2024 field trial on pasture in Southland, in which the effect of nitrogen fertiliser (40kg N/ha), applied post-lambing (September 25, 2024) on ewe and lamb weights was measured over a period of 63 days. Result: fertiliser nitrogen

Is this the best we can expect from modern-day science? Doug Edmeades

(N) increased ewe and lamb liveweights by 5-6% at weaning. The trial was conducted by Bioeconomy Science Institute (formerly AgResearch), funded by Ballance AgriNutrients. Woopty-doo-dah! Fancy that: after all these many, many years of research, Ballance Agri-Nutrients has found that nitrogen fertiliser works. Perhaps they did not realise that research conducted in the 20th century can be rolled over into the 21st century. And there is plenty of it – go read the 2023 review on the subject by Colin Gray which “summarises some of the vast amount of research on N fertiliser use in grazed pasture systems” undertaken in New Zealand over the past 50 years. For the record, the nitrogen efficiency measured in the trial was 28kg DM/kg N applied, which lies within the national

range reported in the Gray review of 7-33kg DM/kg N. Yes, it is at the high end, but as the paper explains, the pasture growth rates were about 24% above the long-term average (10 years) for this site. In fairness to the authors of the blurb, they do say “This is a milestone study that provides hard evidence for something farmers have anecdotally believed for years” and “it conﬁrms that the gains are real and measurable”. But given the history of research on N fertiliser in New Zealand, why do another trial to discover what is already known? I suspect that the real reason for the blurb, given its wording, was not to advance research on N fertiliser, but is simply an advertisement for urea N. As it says: “It’s a practical low-cost tool farmers can use during one of the most demanding periods

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in the sheep farming calendar.” And now to the pointy end of this column. These days, it is normal for the authors of research papers to make a disclosure statement about the research. In this case we get: “No potential conﬂict of interest was reported by the author(s) other than WC who is employed by Ballance Agri-Nutrients who manufacture and supply fertilisers. “We would like to thank Ballance Agri-Nutrients for funding and support for this study.” It is reasonable to assume that the WC above refers to Warrick Catto of Ballance Agri-Nutrients. He was on the RNZ broadcast and is cited in the blurb. But I must make it absolutely clear that I am not pointing the ﬁnger at Catto. I am not casting aspersions on him – he is an honourable gentleman, doing a legitimate job for Ballance Agri-Nutrients. This example raises much deeper concerns about the science-industry-farmer relationship that we have created in modern-day New Zealand. Is this the best we can expect from modern-day science – a regurgitation of past research dressed up as new independent science for promotional purposes? The loser in this triumvirate is the farmer, the one most likely to be confused and possibly misled – the very person who owns the fertiliser co-op and whom the scientists claim to help.

NZ Farmer

November 2025

News 6 NZ Farmer Fonterra chairperson Peter McBride acknowledged that many farmers had an “emotional connection” to its brands.

RICKY WILSON/ STUFF

$4.2b Mainland brands sale a pivotal moment for Fonterra Fonterra farmer shareholders are in line for a oncein-a-generation windfall after voting overwhelmingly in favour of one of NZ’s largest corporate deals. By Rob Stock.

onterra farmer shareholders have voted overwhelmingly in favour of selling its Mainland consumer brands business to French multinational dairy giant Lactalis. At the company’s special general meeting last Thursday, 88.47% of the total farmer votes cast were in support of the divestment. The $4.22 billion sale marks a signiﬁcant moment in Fonterra management’s transformation plan for the co-operative, which will focus on supplying ingredients to food manufacturers and the global hospitality trade. The plan to sell the consumer brands business, which owns the venerable Anchor brand, was ﬁrst mooted in May last year, and is expected to see about $3.2b in capital returned to its shareowning dairy farmers. The successful vote came as little surprise, even after NZ First leader Winston Peters urged farmers to vote against the plan to keep the consumer brands in New Zealand ownership. ASB economists expected the

Dairy farmer Brendan Attrill expects farmers to reduce debt, but also to invest in improving their environmental footprints.

capital return to send a roughly $4.5b spending effect rippling through the economy as farmers put the capital to work, especially as it comes against a backdrop of a strong farm gate milk price. Most of the capital return would end up being spent on reducing farm debt, ASB expected, but some would be invested in farm businesses, and some would be spent by farmers to boost their lifestyles. Dairy farmer Brendan Attrill expects to see a large chunk of the capital returned deployed into reducing farm debt. But he also saw the capital return as a once-in-a-generation chance for farms to invest in reducing their environmental impact. “I am expecting some of the money

to go towards investing in farm effluent systems. That will ensure operations of farms can keep being sustainable.” This included keeping them in good shape to be passed to the next generation of farmers. That would have a positive impact on freshwater quality and biodiversity, he hoped. There was also an opportunity for dairy farms to invest in reducing their climate emissions, including through solar power systems. However, Attrill said scientiﬁc progress was needed to tackle dairy emissions. Like ASB, he thought a signiﬁcant chunk of the money returned by Fonterra would be used to take a chunk out of the roughly $63b of agri sector debt. That would improve farm balance sheets, and build in resilience for the next time global milk prices fall. But he was also expecting to see hardworking farmers spend some of the money living it up. He hoped farmers would take some of the capital return and spend it on things that were “precious to them”. This could include taking a long-overdue holiday with loved ones, he said. “We have all got our dreams,” he said. At a special shareholder meeting on Thursday, Fonterra chairperson Peter McBride told farmer shareholders that Fonterra had not taken the decision to sell the consumer brands business lightly. The sale process had been rigorous, and the price Lactalis was paying exceeded expectations, he said. However, he said: “I know many of you have an emotional connection to the brands and may be mourning their

potential change of ownership.” The business would be more simple, and investment in innovation would be more focused on developing food service and ingredients products. But, he said, the deal was not without risk. There was a risk that at some future date Lactalis might decide to buy less from Fonterra, and source milk from elsewhere. “Customer loyalty cannot be written into a contract forever,” he said. Miles Hurrell, Fonterra chief executive, said the sale of the consumer brands business would pave the way to higher sustained return on equity for shareholders, higher dividends to farmers, and the return of precious capital to farmers. “Ultimately, post-investment will be a more focused business with a lower cost base, delivering a better return to farmers,” Hurrell said. “We have a clear plan for the co op’s future that will build end to end value for generations of farmers to come.” The sale was backed by the Fonterra board. ASB saw pros and cons to the Fonterra sale. The cons included Fonterra becoming more dependent on exports to China as a proportion of its business, more commodity-focused, and it would lose its stake in a portion of the value-added dairy market. However, the bank’s economist noted that Fonterra’s consumer division had struggled to maintain pace in the competitive, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market, and would be able to focus on its ingredients and food service operations, which had been more successful.

November 2025

NZ Farmer

News 7 NZ Farmer

Updated all day at

Mainland windfall ‘won’t all go on gold-plated utes and tractors’ Fonterra deal

Susan Edmunds and Nona Pelletier of RNZ

etailers in rural New Zealand could be set for a boost after farmers voted last Thursday to go ahead with the sale of Fonterra’s consumer businesses to France’s

Lactalis. ASB economists earlier said the deal was expected to deliver a tax-free capital return of about $3.2 billion to 8000 shareholding farms throughout New Zealand. “The average return (to shareholders) would be around $392,000 if the sale goes ahead, and we estimate around 60% of shareholding farms could receive at least $200,000,” ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley said. But what will they do with it? Mike Jones, chief economist at BNZ, said the extra cashﬂow for farmers would give them options. “I think we will see a mix of retiring debt, addressing deferred maintenance, probably having a good look at expansion, whether it’s extra land or herd size … and probably a bit of a smattering of discretionary spending in there as well. But overall I think it’s probably going to depend on the age and stage of the participants receiving the money.” He said farmers were likely to be prudent. “It’s not going to all go on goldplated utes and tractors.” But he said, in combination with strong conditions in the primary export sector generally, it was likely to be a boost. “We’re just starting to see some evidence of a little bit of extra spending and investment. If you look at things like farm sales, tractors, fertiliser imports, rural building consents, all of those areas are starting to show a little bit of growth just in the last two or three months, that wasn’t there before. You wouldn’t say things are roaring away by any means, but there’s deﬁnitely some growth that’s

Now that farmers have voted in favour of selling Mainland brands including Anchor, they have options such as debt repayment and investment - and some face storm clean-up bills.

coming through. And I think kind of that in collaboration with lower interest rates doing their work as they do throughout the economy is certainly going to help us.” He said a lot of the money was likely to stay in the regions. Economist Cameron Bagrie said he expected more spending than debt repayment. “If you look at the $3.2 billion, it’s going to get ploughed into the economy in some shape or form. That’s about 0.7% of GDP. So, if you’re talking about a sizeable injection that’s going to hit rural New Zealand, then that will proliferate through to the city centres as well.” He said tractor sales were already up 13% on a year earlier, and that sort of import activity helped boost port cities. There were many factors working for farmers, he said, such as the lower New Zealand dollar, higher commodity prices and higher payout. “It looks like the icing on the cake will be

subject to approval, this $3.2 billion, which is going to get redeployed into farmers.” He said there was more optimism in rural New Zealand than in other parts of the country. “Auckland in particular is really struggling.” But Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan said farmers were notoriously conservative about spending so it was likely many would prioritise debt repayment. “It’s a capital payment effectively rather than an income payment, I’d expect them to probably be cognisant of that and any spending they do undertake is probably going to be more in that sort of capital area rather than rushing off down to the shops to buy a new lounge suite.” But he said it would help lift activity. “Give it 12 months, 18 months, I think it does help add a bit of momentum to those provincial economies because some of that capex will ﬂow through into more economic activity. But you’re pretty muted

in the first instance and I think it will be selective spending.” Kiernan said the provincial economy should help to improve New Zealand’s overall economic outlook into next year. “We have been watching the trends in dairy prices and to a lesser extent, horticulture prices over the last probably four months now or so, and they just have been softening a bit. They’re still at good levels but there’s a little bit of caution around that. “But the fact they’re still high does suggest to us that there will still be money flowing through the provinces.” CoreLogic chief property economist Kelvin Davidson said it was hard to say whether it would mean a boost for activity in the property market, such as in demand for holiday homes in areas adjacent to farming regions. “I think some farmers are likely to buy property, but others will no doubt pay down some debt, or buy plant and equipment. “I know anecdotally that farmers in Southland for example have currently got much bigger fish to fry in terms of ensuring consistent milk production without power, and any extra cash they might have may well go to storm cleanup.” The backstory Fonterra’s plan to sell Mainland followed a strategic review, led by chief executive Miles Hurrell, who was hired to turn the business around following a number of loss-making years. Given the debt, underperforming overseas businesses, and volatile commodity markets, Hurrell oversaw the sale of foreign assets. The result was the end of costly adventures in Brazil, Chile, China and elsewhere, as well as cost-cutting and the sale of non-core assets, such as ice cream maker Tip Top. Fonterra decided a simplified, strippeddown business was the best option for New Zealand’s dairy products.

NZ Farmer

November 2025

Opinion 8 NZ Farmer

RBNZ capital requirements Business adviser Gordon Stuart says the Reserve Bank of New Zealand is proposing a review that is welcome news.

management processes banks should have in place to manage liquidity risk; ■ Regularly report on their liquidity risk. How are loans priced? Banks have internal credit rating systems that determine the capital required for each loan. Loans to governments and multinationals such as Microsoft are low risk, whereas loans to construction, hospitality, horticulture, and sheep and beef farming are higher risk industries as they are assessed as more likely to default. Bank models estimate the risk parameters for each loan – probability of default (PD) or expected default frequency (EDF), loss given default (LGD), exposure at default (EAD), maturity (M) – which are inputs to work out how much capital is used and how it should be priced. Like Shylock, banks take security to reduce the LGD (they can sell your house or farm to recover their loan), and therefore reduce the capital applied to each loan.

he Reserve Bank is proposing to loosen bank capital requirements, which is a positive step. Given that backdrop, I thought it useful to take readers through some banking basics. Banks provide credit intermediation, taking funds from those with a surplus (depositors) and lending to those who need capital (borrowers). The margin (and fees) between deposits and lending rates provides the banks’ profit before operating costs and any losses. Banks take short-term, liquid deposits and turn them into longer-term loans for businesses, farms and house mortgages. To reduce the risk of loss, banks lend to a diverse portfolio of borrowers. This mitigates the risk of failure of a single borrower. In addition, banks are required to hold a percentage of each new loan as a capital reserve for losses. The Reserve Bank (RBNZ) monitors New Zealand banks. Its 2019 decision has set a very conservative risk framework compared to Australian and other international banks: raising the minimum capital required from 10.5% to 18% to cover a 1-in-200 year risk. The framework, in simple terms, provided: ■ Loss absorption: Capital acts as a financial cushion to absorb losses. The more capital a bank has, the more money it can lose before going out of business. ■ Creditor protection: Capital is lost before the funds borrowed from depositors. This helps protect the money of creditors in the event of a bank failure. ■ Incentivises very careful management: Financial system stability and confidence and reduces the systemic risk banks pose. So why and how do banks fail? Banks fail due to mismanagement of their balance sheets, excessive risk-taking or a sudden loss of public confidence that can trigger a bank run. Historically, failures often result from a combination of bad judgment, poor economic conditions and fraud, but regulatory safeguards have been developed over time to mitigate these risks. Insolvency A bank is insolvent when its liabilities (deposits) exceed its assets (loans and investments). If a large number of borrowers default on their loans, or a bank is forced to write down its assets, it may become insolvent. This happened to Lehman Brothers in 2008 due to the sub-prime mortgage crisis, but is unlikely to happen in New Zealand as banks aren’t allowed to trade in instruments such as credit default swaps. Liquidity crisis and bank runs When a large number of depositors

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is proposing a review of banks’ capital requirements, writes business adviser Gordon Stuart. BRUCE MACKAY/THE POST

simultaneously withdraw their money due to fears about the bank’s ﬁnancial health, it can trigger a run. In a panic, the bank may not have enough cash on hand to meet demand and is forced to sell long-term assets at a loss to raise funds, accelerating its collapse – as happened with Silicon Valley Bank (2023). The bank had invested heavily in long-term bonds, whose value (mark-to-market) fell as interest rates rose. When customers grew concerned, the bank had to sell its bonds at a loss, creating an inability to cover the rush of withdrawals. New Zealand banks generally lend money and loan assets are not marked to market. But they are vulnerable to liquidity risk as they take in short-term deposits, and most of their lending out is on

long-term residential mortgages. Having a 20% capital ratio doesn’t necessarily save you if all your lending is to illiquid assets and you can’t access illiquid funding markets, such as banks experienced during the global financial crisis (GFC). So how is this risk managed? The foundation of treasury risk management is matching asset and liability profiles. To help ensure good practice, the Reserve Bank places requirements on New Zealand banks: ■ Minimum ratio requirements calculated from banks’ financial data – the core funding ratio; ■ Rules and guidance on the risk

What are the downsides of gold-plated regulation? Requiring banks to hold more capital has incentivised lower-risk residential mortgages over more productive business and farm lending. This has accelerated a large progressive shift over time towards home lending, which has risen from 50% to more than 63% of total lending in the past 25 years. At ANZ, our largest bank, it is now more than 72%. Banks prefer real estate security to support business lending. We at Chaperon believe that is one key factor stifling productivity growth. Actual portfolio credit losses have been near zero from business and agriculture since the GFC, suggesting models are too conservative. Divisional cost-to-income ratios show business and farming cost-to-income ratios are nearly half those of personal lending. Further business/agri margins are up, and staff numbers and service down. Profits from business and agri are nearly 50% of total income. Negative net promoter scores for business banking for the big four banks have shown customer dissatisfaction with constantly changing managers. Comparisons with parents and international peers show the big four are making excess returns or, more simply, over-pricing for the risk they are taking. If New Zealand banks’ capital requirements were lower, their reported returns on equity would be even higher. Banking stability matters, but overly burdensome regulation has resulted in excessive risk aversion. Bank profits are high, but the volatility of earnings low. They are pricing for risk but not taking much. We do not get wealthier selling more expensive houses to each other, but that is the model we incentivise with the current framework. Details of the RBNZ proposal can be found at: consultations.rbnz.govt.nz/ prudential-policy/review-of-key-capitalsettings

‘What’s going on?’ wonders farm forestry stalwart

m I missing something? We have a Government that is going on about more jobs, growth and value-add. The reality for the timber industry is that we have seen a paper mill, sawmills and now a plywood mill

close, with the loss of many jobs. There is a knock-on effect for all those associated with the processing too – more unemployment. So are we going to import timber products? Are they from sustainable forests, and what is the carbon

footprint and quality of said imports? The sad thing is that the Government is pleading with farmers to plant more trees that now in, many cases, will have little or no value to harvest. Ho, you say carbon credits? These were created with the stroke

of a government pen and could just as easily disappear with another stroke of a pen wielded by someone in central government. Mike Davies, Central Canterbury Farm Forestry Association

November 2025

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14-night cruise onboard Le Boréal

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11 ports of call visiting Portugal, Spain, Sardinia, Sicily & Malta.

16 ports of call visiting Greece, Italy, Malta, Tunisia, Algeria & Spain.

17 ports of call visiting Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, France, Spain & Portugal.

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0800 767 018 | au.ponant.com | or contact your travel agent Terms & Conditions: ‘From the Northern Seas to Iberian Shores: A Smithsonian Cultural Voyage’ itinerary is a combination of two itineraries back to back including EC260826 & EC050926; ;Mediterranean Island Jewels & Iberian Treasures’ itinerary is a combination of two itineraries back to back including BO101026 & BO171026; ‘From Athens to Malaga: Ancient Shores & Timeless Cities’ itinerary is a combination of two itineraries back to back including EU221026 & EU291026. All pricing and savings amounts are in Australian Dollars (AUD). Information and price are correct as of 3 October 2025 but may fluctuate due to changes in surcharges, taxes or currency. Offer price is based on Deluxe stateroom Deck 3 or Prestige Stateroom Deck 4 category as identified on advertising. Price is subject to change without notice at any time; First cruise is inclusive of any applicable Ponant Bonus discount rate at time of publication and is subject to change; Second cruise attracts back-to-back 10% discount excluding port charges and taxes; Standard payment and cancellation conditions apply; Offers are available for travellers departing from Australia and New Zealand. To redeem your credit, quote code COMBO10, when speaking to your preferred travel agent or PONANT Consultant. Not redeemable for cash. A strictly limited number of offers are available on selected itineraries and departure dates in selected suites/staterooms/cabins/room categories; Offer is combinable with PONANT’s free solo supplement offer, PONANT bonus savings, PONANT Join the club offer, PONANT yacht club benefits. Not combinable with any other offer. More terms and conditions may apply. Your booking contract is with Compagnie Du Ponant Pty Ltd (Ponant) and incorporates all the terms and conditions shown on au.ponant.com.au unless specified in these conditions; Ponant recommends that you read and understand your contract and ask Ponant or your travel agent if you require any clarification. Visit au.ponant.com for full terms and conditions. Photograph: © Adobestock.

NZ Farmer

November 2025

News 10 NZ Farmer

Shareholders Alliance shareholders have voted in favour of a 65% takeover by Irish meat processor Dawn Meats.

Alliance

Rachael Kelly

lliance Group farmershareholders have voted in favour of a proposed $270 million joint venture investment by Irish red meat processor Dawn Meats. But a group of Northern Southland farmers who urged shareholders to vote “no” so the co-operative would remain New Zealand-owned say they are disappointed by the outcome. Dawn Meats, one of Europe’s leading red meat processors, will acquire a 65% shareholding in Alliance Group, with farmer-shareholders retaining a 35% stake. A total of 2675 shareholders voted, representing almost 92.5 million shares or more than 88% of all shares on issue. Of these, more than 87% voted in favour of the proposal, meeting the threshold required under the Takeovers Code. Alliance Group chairperson Mark Wynne said the result demonstrated strong farmer conﬁdence in the company’s future direction. “Our farmer-shareholders have given a clear mandate for Alliance to move forward in partnership with Dawn Meats. This is a vote of trust in our people, our operations and our vision.

“We’re really excited about the potential for this partnership and what the future holds for Alliance and Dawn,’’ he said. The essential investment would strengthen Alliance’s financial position, enhance its operational capability and enable it to capture more value in market for farmers and the country, he said. Alliance Group reported an aftertax loss of $95.8m on a turnover of $1.8 billion for the 12 months ended September 30, 2024, and closed its Smithfield plant at Timaru in October, with the loss of about 600 jobs. The co-operative has plants at Invercargill, Oamaru, Mataura, Pukeuri, and Nelson in the South Island, and Levin and Dannevirke in the North Island, and employs about 4000 people. Wynne said the positive outcome followed a comprehensive two-year process to reset and re-capitalise the business. “The board explored every option to secure Alliance’s future. The Dawn Meats proposal stood out as the best strategic and financial path forward, a view confirmed by independent adviser Northington Partners. “By combining Alliance’s lamb expertise and global reach with Dawn Meats’ strength in beef and market access across Europe and the UK, we unlock significant commercial and

Get your gumboots on and pitch in Fundraising

Sonita Chandar

his month, all over Aotearoa, big-hearted Kiwis will roll up their sleeves, pull on their gumboots, and do something special to make a difference to young Kiwis needing mental health support. Gumboot Friday, which has become an iconic movement that’s become a symbol of hope for young New Zealanders, has spent more than $20 million on free counselling for Kiwi kids and young people aged 25 and under since 2019. It has become one of New Zealand’s most recognisable awareness and fundraising events and is a nationwide moment of unity, community and action. Each year, schools, workplaces and communities across Gumboot Friday is back this month and, all over the country, Kiwis will be doing the country don their fun and special things to raise funds for youth mental health. gumboots, donate a AIMAN AMERUL MUNER/TIMARU HERALD gold coin, and raise funds so young people aged 5-25 can generosity of everyday “People can say whatever they want access free, immediate New Zealanders. about us,” King says. counselling. “I am dedicated to driving “The truth is, the numbers speak For many of those a positive change in societal for themselves – $20 million, 137,000 young people, that single attitudes towards mental sessions, and countless young lives given counselling session can be health and ensuring a better hope. That’s what matters. We’ll keep life-changing. Behind every future for our young people.” showing up, we’ll keep delivering, and Mike King is the founder dollar donated is a story of King says on the website. we’ll keep ﬁghting for our kids until the of I Am Hope and someone choosing to walk While the charity began system catches up.” Gumboot Friday. through the mud with our receiving government funding In the past 10 years, advocates for I kids, not past them. only last year, Gumboot Friday am Hope have spoken and listened to Founded by mental health advocate and continues to rely heavily on donations more than 400,000 young people in I Am Hope founder Mike King, Gumboot from the public to keep its service schools from the top to the bottom of New Friday has helped deliver more than running. Every dollar raised helps ensure Zealand. 137,000 therapy sessions to rangatahi no young person is ever turned away, and “We have created learning material and tamariki across Aotearoa – every that they can access help when they need for our youngest kids, trained struggling single one made possible through the youth with barbering and barista courses, it most – not months down the track.

and enabled free counselling for over 40,000 young people,” King says. “By supporting Gumboot Friday, you’re making a real difference, helping us keep up with the rising demand and ensuring every young Kiwi gets the mental health support they deserve.” The Gumboot Friday counselling funding service is designed to take the pressure off current services and give young people facing long wait times an alternative pathway. It is not a longterm solution designed to take over from government services; rather, it should be seen as a bridge between current services and immediate need. Everyone is encouraged to seek government-funded help while utilising the service. How you can help For people struggling with depression, it can feel like walking through mud every day, hence the name Gumboot Friday, which this year will be held on November 7. New Zealanders are once again being asked to “gumboot up” – to stand together, donate, and remind our rangatahi that they’re never alone in the ﬁght for better mental health. ■ Wear your gumboots on Gumboot Friday and show your support for those suffering from depression. ■ Make a gold coin donation. ■ Involve your workplace, school or organisation, and join the Gumboot Army. ■ Purchase branded T-shirts or merchandise. When you wear it, remember to be open to having vulnerable conversations and talking to friends and family. For more information or to donate, visit gumbootfriday.org.nz

November 2025

News 11 NZ Farmer

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vote for deal operational synergies,” Wynne said. “On behalf of the Alliance Board, I want to thank shareholders for their trust and conﬁdence, and the Alliance team for achieving a remarkable turnaround. “The future looks much brighter than it did 12 months ago. We’re looking forward to getting down to work.” Dawn Meats chief executive Niall Browne said: “We are pleased and excited by the outcome of the vote by Alliance’s farmer-shareholders and we now look forward to maximising the potential of the new opportunities this strategic partnership will unlock in the future for both Dawn Meats and Alliance. “Following an extensive engagement and due diligence process, Dawn Meats put forward a strong strategic partnership proposal involving a signiﬁcant investment in a worldclass company that shares our values, ambition and commitment. “I would like to thank Alliance’s farmer-shareholders for carefully considering our offer over the last two months and supporting it to such an extent.” David Pinckney, one of the ‘Farmers Own Alliance’ who urged farmers to vote against the deal, said the group was disappointed with losing 100% farmer ownership. “We are encouraged at the high voter turnout, which gives a clear mandate

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from shareholders for the Dawn Meats proposal. Operationally, this joint venture has every chance to be a success,” he said. The group thanked the board and executive for work they have put into developing this proposal. Federated Farmers meat and wool chairperson Richard Dawkins said the organisation had stayed out of the process because it was “purely commercial”. About $200m of the investment proceeds will be used to reduce Alliance’s short-term working capital facility, with the balance directed toward accelerating the board’s strategic capital expenditure programme. Farmer-shareholders will also beneﬁt from distributions of up to $20m in both the current (FY26) and next ﬁnancial year (FY27). In FY26, 45% will be paid as a dividend and 55% as a supply-based rebate. In FY27, 75% will be paid as a rebate and 25% retained as earnings. Rebate payments will be calculated on a three-year rolling average of supply and capped at the current shareholding. In addition, up to $25m will be distributed as a dividend from the joint venture to the proposed Alliance Investment Co-operative following a stronger than forecast year-end result for Alliance.

Dawn Meats chief executive Niall Browne is ‘pleased and excited’ by the outcome of the vote.

NZ Farmer

November 2025

12 Regional NZ FarmerRound-up

Making a royal impression Stratford A&P

Catherine Groenestein

aul Vanner never knows who he’ll meet when he heads out to check on his newly planted maize crop or the work being done on a farm race. Vanner, who is president of the Stratford A&P Association, spends a lot of his time working on the association’s 100-hectare farm on the northern boundary of Stratford. It’s an interesting task, running a proﬁtable enterprise around the annual Stratford show – Taranaki’s biggest town and country event – and a bunch of community activities. The property, which includes the Stratford Speedway, is regularly used

Stratford A&P Association president Paul Vanner, left, volunteer Sandy Barr and event manager Stephen Vince take a short break from recladding a wall of the sheep shed at the showgrounds. CATHERINE GROENESTEIN/TARANAKI DAILY NEWS

New Waikato ‘methane barn’ to give farmers emission options Environment

Benn Bathgate

aikato farmers will get additional tools to reduce their emissions with the opening of a new $3.2m “methane barn”, hailed by Agriculture Minister Todd McClay as a confidence booster for the sector. McClay opened the new stateof-the-art methane research facility in Ohaupo last month and said Livestock Improvement Corporation’s “methane barn” would enable large scale monitoring and measurement of methane produced by lactating dairy cows. “The research will enable farmers to select lower-emitting genetics and will be a valuable tool to help reduce biogenic methane without harming productivity,” he said. “This research further bolsters confidence in the pipeline of new mitigation tools – giving farmers the choice in how they get emissions down.” The Government and industry have committed more than $400 million to speed up the development of methanecutting tools with as many as 11 to be commercially available by 2030. “We are committed to meeting our climate obligations without closing down farms and sending jobs and production overseas. Investments like the Methane Barn will offer farmers the tools they need to reduce on-farm emissions without reducing production,” McClay said. The opening comes in the wake of major changes to New Zealand’s climate policy, moves that have been welcomed by Federated Farmers. “Kiwi farmers have been bogged down in completely unscientific, unaffordable and unrealistic climate policy for far too long,” said Federated Farmers President Wayne Langford. “At times it’s felt like absolute madness that we’d even be talking about policies that would shut down farms, send production offshore, and completely undermine New Zealand’s economy. “Unfortunately, that’s exactly where we found ourselves as a country, losing sight of the fact our farmers are the most climate-friendly producers of milk and meat in the world. “The impact on farmer confidence

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has opened a new methane barn in Waikato. KELLY HODEL/WAIKATO TIMES

can’t be overstated. Farming families have been under huge pressure for a long time now – but it looks like that’s finally coming to an end.” The Government has announced the current 2050 methane target of 24-47% will be significantly reduced to a much more realistic target of 14-24%. Langford says the target of 24-47% has lacked any credible science to underpin it and left farmers scratching their heads wondering where those numbers came from. “It was an entirely political and ideologically driven decision that placed an unfair burden on farmers and rural communities, while pulling the handbrake on the economy at the same time. “This new target brings New Zealand’s climate policy in line with what the research tells us is actually required to stop Kiwi farmers contributing to further warming.” Federated Farmers made reviewing New Zealand’s methane reduction targets one of its 12 top policy priorities to help restore farmer confidence before the 2023 general election. “Today the Government has also categorically ruled out unfairly putting a price on agricultural emissions like methane,” Langford said. “This is a major step forward and will be a huge relief for farming families who have

had the threat of a massive tax hanging over our heads threatening the viability of our businesses. “A methane tax would have achieved the opposite of its intent – forcing the closure of Kiwi farms, driving production to less efficient countries, and increasing global emissions.” Federated Farmers is also welcoming news that New Zealand’s climate laws will be rewritten to align with the wording of the Paris Agreement and ensure food production is protected. “The world’s growing population is desperate for healthy, nutritious and affordable food. New Zealand can play a signiﬁcant role in meeting that need,” Langford says. “It makes absolutely no sense to add unnecessary costs to food production, or unfairly punish farmers, when that was never the intention of the Paris Agreement.” As part of its policy reset on methane the Government has also committed to investigate setting a split-gas target for all future international climate change commitments. “New Zealand has recognised the shortlived nature and different warming impact of methane in our domestic targets since 2019,” Langford says. “It’s only logical that we would take the same approach with our international targets. Why would we take one approach here at home and then another on the world stage? “Federated Farmers has long campaigned for the Government to take this approach to international targets, so we’ll keep pushing hard to make sure this happens.” The changes have not been met with universal welcome, however. “The Government’s announcement on methane emissions reductions represents a major step backwards in ambition and in climate action,” said Professor James Renwick, of Victoria University, Wellington. “The methane reductions mandated under the Zero Carbon act called for 24-47% reductions by 2050, in line with the science of the IPCC report on 1.5C of warming. “The revised emissions reductions are 14-24% by 2050, so the top of the new range is below the bottom of the old range.”

For the love of farm and community Family

Steve Macmillan

Northland family forging ahead with their farming career are doing so with a keen eye on giving back to the community. Arapohue farmers Pete Bond and Kelly Hackett believe they have an obligation not just to run a proﬁtable farm but to ensure the community remains strong so their children can one day come home and pursue farming if they choose. So, they have been developing a farming model that allows them to get off farm, have some time out but also support the communities they are involved in through farming, school and sports. Pete coaches rugby in Ruawai and tennis in nearby Dargaville. Kelly is on the school board at Ruawai Primary and coaches netball. Both are actively involved and participating in community fundraising initiatives. In between times, they are busy on their 870-hectare beef and sheep unit situated between Tokatoka and Waiotira in the Kaipara District of Northland. Pete is hands-on in management and operations while Kelly takes care of the business aspects as well as running around after their children William and Pippa. It’s a balance they have worked hard to land in the past decade. Pete found himself constantly swamped in farm work as he moved from one job to the next, while only seeing more work ahead after they purchased 240ha. Having Hayden Noyer on board managing 370ha of the family property has certainly helped get the management model right. He oversees the bulk of the sheep and a sizeable number of the bulls.

November 2025

NZ Farmer

Regional Round-up NZ Farmer 13

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needs big collective effort

Association secretary Vicki Jagersma is also a shepherdess, caring for the farm’s sheep with help from volunteers.

for equestrian events, camper rallies, calf sales, cattle and calf days, as well as lawnmower racing. It’s also popular with horse riders enjoying the 2.5-kilometre bridle trail, and dog walkers. Vanner heads a crew of volunteers – many retired or semi-retired farmers like himself – who run the farm and maintain the showgrounds. At present, they are extra busy sprucing up the facilities as the association prepares for this year’s Royal Show on November 29 and 30. “A group of us are very passionate about what we do, and we work quite hard together on what we can get out of the property. It’s good; it keeps us out of trouble,” Vanner said. The association bought two blocks of land adjacent to its existing property as part of its ambitious $75 million Stratford

Park project that includes the A&P Association, motorsport and equestrian. It was assisted with a loan from Stratford District Council, but the downturn in the economy has since slowed progress and fundraising. The income from the farm helps cover the costs of the loan, and the land is secure for the future, Vanner said. “It’s a challenge, like any farm is. We need to make the farm work well because we have that mortgage, we have to be very clever with what we do, but it seems to be working well.” Over winter, they graze a herd of 100 cows for a local farmer. “They leave here on the ﬁrst of August and we turn round and take on any empties he might have, use them to tidy up the bits and pieces.” A small ﬂock of sheep, managed by show secretary Vicki Jagersma, keep the

grass tidy around the grounds, while they fatten up for sale. Come summer, some paddocks are put into maize and others are cut several times for silage. It’s a routine that works well, with major management decisions made as a group. “It’s a joint effort, we all have different views. Ian Beneﬁeld oversees the farm and the carryovers, I take care of the maize side of it,” Vanner said. “We sit around the table discussing what we are doing with the guys at the time – all aspects – to get the best out of our farm.” He is happy for people to use the property provided they respect the farming activities, leave gates as they found them and don’t disturb the stock or new crops. “We are there for the community; that’s what we are about – the A&P – everyone will beneﬁt from it.”

Kelly Hackett and Pete Bond own a 870-hectare beef and sheep unit at Arapohue in Northland.

With Calf Club over for 2025, Pippa and William, who enjoy being out on the farm, turn their attention to their pet lambs.

A farm picnic with homemade pizza on the menu is the perfect outing for William and Pippa and their parents Kelly Hackett and Pete Bond. PHOTOS: STEVE MACMILLAN

They also have part-time worker Gary Snooks who helps with general farmwork two days a week. Just as important is the effort of Pete’s parents Patsy and Bruce who are five minutes down the road and still actively working 250ha. The various blocks combine to carry a mix of bulls, heifers and sheep. One thousand Romney breeding ewes and 250 hoggets – all of which are lambed – combine to produce a lambing percentage of 145-150%. The lambs are finished at about 18kg carcass weight, making their way to Wilson Hellaby between December and March after grazing on crops of pasja and raphno. In total, there are 1800 cattle carried annually. “Our split is 80% cattle to 20% sheep and of the cattle the mix is 50% R1s and 50% R2s. We source dairy beef from Waikato north. We aim to finish our bulls at 340kg carcass weight between 26 and 30 months so 900 are finished annually,” Bond says. “We had 40 dairy-cross breeding cows which we put to a Charolais bull but as we did more subdivision, we didn’t need them so we replaced them by lifting our sheep numbers.” Some of that subdivision has been done in partnership with Kaipara Moana Remediation, with around 25km of fencing completed to fence off waterways, areas of native bush and to retire marginal land. This year, a further 4600 natives were planted within those areas. They believe working with KMR has offered a great opportunity to enhance the farm environment and improve day to day operational efficiency, with the added feel-good factor of being part of a much larger initiative in improving the health of the Kaipara. The origins of the farm go back decades through the hard work

of Bruce and his brother Ian, who gradually added more blocks to the farm portfolio. What started as a 40ha dairy unit grew to a 600ha sheep and beef unit when Ian moved to Waikato. Bond says they never shirked on lime and fertiliser applications which is why the property is so productive and the pasture looks so healthy and lush, even coming out of a typically wet Northland winter. “There are certainly challenges in Northland farming, especially with clay soils. It is winter-wet and you have a small window for optimal grass growth. It can be labour intensive, which is why we need to keep an eye on new technology and that could lead to us looking at virtual fencing,” Hackett says. “We are at the point in life where we are deciding what we want and it’s not all driven by money. “We made the decision for me to be hands-off the majority of day-today operations to focus on William and Pippa and get involved in the community. We believe that if we grow the business at the expense of that, the kids won’t have a community they want to come home to and so it’s very important to us that we take an active role there, to ensure healthy opportunity if that’s the path they choose.” The risk to a disappearing community is certainly not helped by the thousands of hectares of farmland surrounding them which has been sold to forestry operations in recent years. “It’s easy in farming to get ﬁxated in the business and its certainly become an issue in the past. We think there’s real value, when you’re living and breathing farm, to make a conscious effort to switch off and enjoy other things. It really is about ﬁnding the balance,” they say.

NZ Farmer

November 2025

Research 14 NZ Farmer and Science

Top agriculture students show Massey’s best scholars honoured at Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Science Awards.

he future of New Zealand’s primary industries is looking bright with the high calibre of agricultural students coming through Massey University. The 32nd annual Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Science Awards are organised each year by Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University’s School of Agriculture and Environment to recognise the top-achieving students across the sector, with 27 awards presented this year. Students traded their gumboots and textbooks for heels and ties as agriculture, agribusiness, earth and environmental science, and horticulture students gathered to celebrate the end of the academic year. They were joined by industry leaders, educators and a record 30 sponsors whose support helped make the evening a success. Minister for Rural Communities and Associate Minister of Agriculture Mark

Bachelor of Agribusiness student Toby Collis won the top honour taking home the William Gerrish Memorial Award. He is pictured here with Professor Nicola Shadbolt.

Patterson, praised the calibre of Massey’s future graduates and the strength of New Zealand’s primary sector talent pipeline. “It was a fantastic night, with a breadth of winners showing how much talent is coming through. You could feel the energy and passion in the room, so it’s a really positive environment to be in. I can relax now, old sheep farmers like me can step aside and let the new generation come through.” Bachelor of agribusiness student Toby Collis won the top honour, the William Gerrish Memorial Award. Presenting the award, Professor Nicola Shadbolt commended Collis’ positive vision of the future of agriculture, underpinned by his understanding of the local and global challenges facing farmers and agribusiness. Shadbolt says she was conﬁdent Collis would make a signiﬁcant contribution to the sector. The award is made possible by the Gerrish family, in memory of Bill Gerrish, a distinguished alumnus who is remembered for his passion for helping those less fortunate in society and improving

The Massey University Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Science Awards recognise the top-achieving students across the sector, with 27 awards presented this year.

November 2025

NZ Farmer

Research and Science NZ Farmer 15

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sector’s future is in good hands agricultural capabilities in underdeveloped nations. Collis, who comes from a multigeneration farm, says farming has been his passion for as long as he can remember. He came to Massey to broaden his thinking and strengthen his problem-solving skills. “I remember my high school calculus teacher saying it’s important to challenge your mind, to sit and brew on a hard problem until your head hurts, and that’s what I brought to university. “I wanted to keep challenging myself for the thing I love. I want to keep growing in my social conscience, lifting others up, even in small ways, whether in the ag world or everyday life. “I’m feeling quite overwhelmed but really thankful to the William Gerrish family for what they’ve set up. I’m looking forward to entering the ag sector in a way that keeps stretching me – taking on new challenges and never staying stagnant.” As a Palmerston North local, he says he was lucky to be able to study so close to his family farm. “My family farm is so important to me, and I see that being part of my life down the track. Palmy is special, the people, the community, the university. I’ve really valued the lecturers here too; they’ve got so much knowledge and give you a good kick up the pants to get out there and give it a go.” Katja Newberger won two awards: the Excellence in Agriculture and Horticulture Award (Second Year) and the New Zealand Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science Leading Student Award. “I grew up feral in the backwoods of Alaska and have always been big on the environment, so protecting the planet and making sure everybody has something to eat is a goal we can all strive for. Horticulture is that cross-connection, and I’m hoping to continue with a masters in plant breeding,” she says. Having travelled to New Zealand for the first time to study at Massey, Newberger says it was a culture change of the best kind. “Palmerston North is lovely, it’s calm and welcoming. Massey is a fantastic university with amazing pastoral care. They’ve made it a really safe and supportive place to study. During my first ever class here, everyone was too shy to talk, but the lecture was so well-structured, wellpresented and interesting that by the end, we were all talking to each other about what we’d learned as if we’d known each other forever. That’s the bonding knowledge gives you, it’s beautiful.” Another double award winner, Olivia Webber, took out both the Agricultural and Horticultural Practicum Award 1 and the Excellence in Agriculture and Horticulture (Second Year) award. She says she was pleased to be recognised for her practicum report, which she wrote analysing the farm she was herd manager on. “The farm means so much to me, it’s my in-laws’ farm and my husband is the manager there, and it’s what sparked my love of agriculture. I wanted to stay in the Wairarapa, and Massey’s distance study programme gave me exactly what I needed. I’m hoping to move into consultancy poststudy, helping farmers with environmental challenges and building great workplaces.” The Young Farmers Club Sally Hobson Award, recognising outstanding service to the club, went to chairperson Patrick Coogan, a third-year agribusiness student. Patrick says his involvement with Young Farmers has been a highlight of his time at Massey, giving him the chance to build strong connections. “I’m very proud to get this award. It’s a reflection of the whole club and the work of the committee this year. It’s been a great year; we’ve had some awesome events. The ball was a big highlight as there was a huge turnout and an awesome band. We had heaps of momentum this year and will bring it through into the next.”

Head of School of Agriculture and Environment Professor Paul Kenyon said the winners represent the depth of talent coming through Massey.

Also recognised was bachelor of agricultural science student Jock Bourke, runner-up in this year’s FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Finale. Following his standout performance in the competition’s practical farming challenges, Bourke received the Young Farmers Cutting Edge Award, recognising his strength across a range of skills including docking, haybaling and fencing. “It’s my first time at the Ag Awards and I’ve really enjoyed it. The last three years went by so fast. I’ve already got a job lined up next year, an internship for a sheep processing company I worked for one summer. I’ll definitely be having another crack at Young Farmers in the future, too.” The Excellence in Horticulture (Third Year) award went to Andor Laszlo, who says the award came as a surprise after a few challenging years but has renewed his confidence that he’s on the right path. “I still need to find my specialisation, what I really want to branch out into, but I’m thrilled to be recognised, especially with an award sponsored by Zespri, as I’ve got some upcoming work with their bees,” Laszlo says. “The biggest highlight over the past three years has been the field field trips and the lecturers, who are so motivated to share their knowledge and offer offer support. My advice for anyone thinking about university is to be brave enough to have a dream and follow it.” Other third-year awardees included Nicola Walsh, who received the Excellence in Animal Science award; Merle Taendler, who received the Excellence in Earth and Environmental Science award; and Oliver Cayley, recipient of the Excellence in Agriculture award. Bachelor of agribusiness student Levi Jennings received the Student Leadership and Service Award, acknowledging his authentic leadership, integrity and care for others. Head of School of Agriculture and Environment Professor Paul Kenyon says it’s always a highlight to bring industry partners together and celebrate the outstanding talent soon to join their ranks. “The awards are a chance to come together as a community and recognise not just academic excellence, but the passion, hard work and potential that our students bring to the primary industries. “They represent the depth of talent coming through Massey and the strong connection we share with the sectors our graduates will soon help lead.”

The annual awards event is organised each year by Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University’s School of Agriculture and Environment and was held at the Palmerston North’s Convention Centre last month. Below: Katja Newberger accepting the Excellence in Agriculture and Horticulture Award (Second Year) from Fonterra’s Luke McKee. She also won the New Zealand Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science Leading Student Award.

NZ Farmer

November 2025

Research 16 NZ Farmer and Science

Postharvest horticulture research gets big boost A professor and a philanthropist are focused on growing the future of horticulture through a new role in postharvest horticulture.

ew Zealand’s growing horticultural sector is set to reap the rewards from the appointment of the inaugural MSA chairperson in Horticultural Production and Postharvest Management, Professor Andrew East. During more than 15 years of leadership in postharvest horticulture at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University Dr East has gained international recognition for his expertise in postharvest horticulture: the science and technology systems that enable the successful global trade of fresh produce. East is particularly well known for his relationship with the kiwifruit industry, through Zespri, and assisting the sector with processes and technology when new cultivars are commercialised. Each release of a new cultivar creates new technical challenges with the potential to impact fruit quality and brand reputation. Technical specialists like him work behind the scenes within the industry to solve these problems and provide industry with best-practice guidelines. Over the past 15 years, East has supervised, or co-supervised, more than 20 PhD doctoral researchers in postharvest horticulture. The new chairperson’s position will enable him to focus on intensifying his own kiwifruit research efforts, as well as research for other sectors

Above, tonnes of kiwifruit have been delivered to the Massey University postharvest lab for researchers. Left, Andrew East has been appointed MSA chairperson in Horticultural Production and Postharvest Management.

such as avocado, blueberries, vegetables and feijoas. The chairperson’s goals also include enabling up to 10 PhD candidates and six masters students to graduate while conducting horticultural projects over the next 10 years. From February until August, East and a team of researchers and students in Massey’s postharvest lab in Palmerston North received tonnes of kiwifruit for research and analysis. In the lab they are conducting research projects that assist industry with all sorts of industry practices and decision-making including maturity criteria, packing design, storage condition advice and even conditions used during export logistics. Their mission is to assist the industry in ensuring quality fruit is delivered to market consistently and avoid the postharvest costs that sneak into any fruit season and can creep up. In seasons

when there are quality issues, these can multiply costs quickly. In 2022-23 Zespri estimated storage issues cost the industry $534 million. East will use some of the new research funding to expand his research to continue to support the kiwifruit sector but also reach out and assist other sectors such as feijoa and avocado in preparation for export. The chairperson’s budget includes funding for travel, conferences, and collaboration with key industry and academic partners. New Zealand’s horticulture sector has approximately tripled in value over the past 15 years and there are big goals to double its export value again by 2035. “This role is about more than research,” East says. “It’s about building more networks and capability in the horticultural sector. Not unlike other

industries, horticulture faces challenges with ageing expertise and squeezed research funding budgets. We need to collectively work together to continue to deliver impactful research, while also developing talent in order to underpin a resilient, innovative horticulture sector.” The MSA chairperson in Horticultural Production and Postharvest Management has been made possible through a donation of $1.6 million which will be gifted over the next five years by Massey alumnus and longtime philanthropist Matthew Abel. Abel has gifted two chairperson roles to the Massey Business School through the Massey University Foundation, but this is his first gift towards primary sector education and research. “I would describe my motivation as 50% about helping the New Zealand economy and 50% supporting Massey University. I have seen firsthand how these roles encourage PhD and masters students to pursue research, which supports their academic and professional development. “I’m hopeful my support reduces the ‘push factors’ which might lead researchers to leave New Zealand, that it gives them reasons to stay. And I’m also optimistic that with more employment options in horticultural industry management and research, more young people will consider choosing the sector as a career.” Professor Paul Kenyon, head of the School of Agriculture and Environment, says Abel’s generosity will make a tangible difference. “It will propel Andrew and his team to not only ensure our country’s export produce reaches its destination in a highquality state, ensuring great returns for our growers, it will also help develop New Zealand’s next generation of researchers.” Abel’s gift is administered by the Massey University Foundation.

Virtual fencing study shows gains Technology

n independent evaluation of the ROI of Halter’s virtual fencing technology has confirmed measurable productivity, financial, environmental and lifestyle improvements on New Zealand dairy farms. The study, conducted by leading farm management consultants AgFirst and Transform Agri, analysed 10 high-performing farms across the North and South Islands. Results show that, when combined with strong farm management, Halter enables significant gains in pasture utilisation, labour efficiency, animal performance, and environmental outcomes. On average these gains resulted in an increase in farm profit before tax of more than 13%. Farms harvested 8.9% more pasture and produced 9.5% more milk solids per hectare. Reproductive performance improved with the six-week in-calf rates rising 4.7%, while empty rates reduced by 2.1%. Farmers reported earlier detection of health issues and smoother calving management. Reduced stress on animals contributed to better recovery post-calving. Staff across all farms also highlighted

Research shows dairy farmers using Halter technology are more profitable and have fewer animal health issues.

improved work-life balance, with more predictable rosters and less repetitive manual work. Several farms reduced staffing needs or hours worked freeing-up time to allow teams to focus on monitoring, planning, and animal care. From a recruitment perspective,

several farms noted that Halter has made farming roles more attractive to new, tech-savvy employees. Ag First chief executive James Allen said the impact of Halter was largely dependent on the ability of a farm to utilise the information and technology

into decision-making and management. “What these farms show is that Halter can enable significant gains to be made by effectively optimising the farm’s resources. Halter helps build more sustainable, resilient, and productive dairy businesses.’’ Halter’s head of corporate accounts and partnerships Steve Crowhurst said the results of the study aligned with the feedback Halter received anecdotally from farmers. “The findings reflect what farmers tell us: when paired with good management and a willingness to change how they farm, Halter increases profitability. Our technology helps farmers be more efficient with their pasture, make more informed decisions, and create more balanced, sustainable rosters.’’ Crowhurst said he was pleased to see the higher returns even on farms that were already performing above regional averages. “We chose these farms because they’re high-performing, and we wanted to capture this new level of farm performance that could be achieved with Halter and share those learnings with the industry. “We’re keen to extend these studies and get an even longer-term view of the positive impacts Halter can have on dairy and beef systems.’’

November 2025

NZ Farmer

Technology NZ Farmer 17

Updated all day at

Design success for Massey graduate Education

Massey Industrial Design graduate student has been named runner-up in the James Dyson Design Award New Zealand for her fruit-measuring device, Foresight. Dr Zené Krige developed Foresight as part of her creative practice-based PhD at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University. Foresight is a treemounted, camera-based device that uses stereoscopic vision to measure fruit size in real time. Foresight enables growers to correlate growth data with weather forecasts, chemical applications and regenerative practices to support more informed, sustainable decisionmaking. It includes a visually tangible dashboard to allow comparison between previous days, weeks Dr Zené Krige developed a fruit-measuring device, called Foresight, for her PhD – it recently saw her named as a runner-up in the and seasons. James Dyson Design Award New Zealand. “Currently, growers around it and calculate its size. Data is then with growers and researchers. seasonal workers, and a are still using callipers to “Foresight is the result of countless sent wirelessly to a central dashboard, modular strap system that manually measure apples iterations, prototypes and sketches, giving orchard managers a clear, real-time allows for easy attachment by hand. That’s repetitive, The tree-mounted, which were shown to local industry to view of growth trends. and self-repair. time-consuming and often camera-based device uses gain validation and guidance on the Krige says Foresight will operate in At the heart of the device inaccurate, especially for stereoscopic vision to most effective tool to help them solve a orchards with hail netting, which usually is a Zed2i stereoscopic large-scale operations,” measure fruit size in real time. problem that is repetitive and prone to disrupts large data collection via satellite, camera, which captures Krige says. inaccuracies.” making it an ideal tool for modern a single image each night The device is powered by Krige is now a senior tutor within orchards adapting to climate change. using a calibrated ﬂash. Consistent solar energy or battery and made from Massey’s Industrial Design programme, She says the design process for lighting eliminates the variability caused recycled HDPE plastic, chosen for its where she emphasises to students the Foresight was deeply iterative. Over by daylight and weather. The images chemical and weather-resistant durability. power of insight-driven design to bridge three years, she developed and tested are processed using machine learning It features large, tactile buttons for ease technologies and human need. more than 100 prototypes in collaboration to identify a fruit, draw a precise circle of use in outdoor conditions by gloved

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November 2025

Dairy 18 NZ Farmer Witt agriculture tutor Adrian Edser says students can help with birthing a calf, as well as managing advanced on-farm technology.

Students milking hands-on option “were They Training

Federico Magrin

rom South Asia to Taranaki, two international students have turned dairy farming into a career. Tataraimaka farmer Hayden Goble hired Sunil Sah and Ajay Jakar while they were still students at the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (Witt) two years ago. “They were really motivated to give dairy farming a really good crack.” He said it was hard to find New Zealanders keen to work on a farm postCovid, and then Witt offered a pathway to fill the positions. Sah and Jakar were agriculture students in 2023 on a one-year programme, which let them work 25 hours a week while studying. Goble said getting a visa for international workers was a challenge, but Witt students already had a visa and could apply for a post-study work visa afterwards. “They had to get enough experience to get their accredited employer work visa.” When the pair started, they were new to dairy farming, so they were eased into milking the 565 cows and built up skills on tractors and motorbikes for the first six months. They started on a minimum wage while studying, and made their way to being paid $30 an hour. “They are fully capable of doing everything on the farm now ... they are the core of my staffing team,” the award-winning farmer said. Witt primary industries tutor Carl Freeman said the international students gained both practical and managerial skills through the course, which prepared them to be self-directed workers. “They can become long-time contributors to Taranaki farming culture.” He said the school had a partnership with another farm in North Taranaki,

really motivated to give dairy farming a really good crack.” Hayden Goble Tataraimaka farmer

where students got hands-on experience. In 2023, the tertiary education provider had three international students in the level 4 agriculture programme and they were all still working on the farms where they had job placements. “It was a great success. So now we know the programme works, we’re going to look to expand it slightly. “Because that’s what we’ve heard from Taranaki farmers ... they are struggling with getting trained staff and dependable staff to stick around,” Freeman said. Witt agriculture tutor Adrian Edser said students would help with birthing a calf, as well as managing advanced technology. “Students learn the fundamentals of farming, so their ﬁrst job is not so daunting, and it shows farmers that students can stick with something, tackle challenges and build resilience. “Our farm is one of only 20 or so in the region with fencing you can move from your phone, plus an app ... [to] check on the location of your favourite cow all from the comfort of your armchair.”

Wild weather is testing farm economy Agriculture

Blayne Slabbert

anterbury’s dairy boom is running hot, but researchers say wild weather, water stress and rising costs could soon put the region’s farm economy to

the test. A five-year study by North Canterbury research firm Kōmanawa Solutions, funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries, found unpredictable weather is now driving bigger swings in pasture growth and farm profits, even on irrigated farms once seen as bulletproof. The modelling showed farm income could fluctuate by as much as 30% from one year to the next, sharply increasing the risk of missed loan payments and debt stress. Lead researcher Zeb Etheridge said climate variability and financial volatility were starting to collide, creating “a new normal” of boom-and-bust conditions. “We’ve had good years lately, but the pattern is changing. The good years are better, the bad years are worse, and they’re coming closer together,” he said. Federated Farmers Mid-Canterbury president David Acland said there were

Extreme weather events are increasingly affecting farms. PETER MEECHAM/THE PRESS

always ups and downs, and climate was just part of that mix. “There have always been swings. That is farming. Maybe they are happening a bit quicker now, but most farmers would say they have noticed it. A lot of it is global, things like the GFC, Covid, interest rates and geopolitics. It all ﬂows through to costs and returns,” he said. Acland said current global shocks had made farmers more cautious. “People are strengthening their books before we take our next steps in spending. Whether it’s a global shock or a climatic shock, a drought or winter storms, then you’ve got the strength in your balance sheet to be able to cope.”

He said that was why many farmers were paying down debt rather than spending heavily, even during record milk payouts. The Kōmanawa research found that climate volatility affects farms unevenly. Properties just 20km apart could face very different levels of ﬁnancial risk depending on how reliable their irrigation water is. Etheridge said Canterbury’s irrigation systems had shielded farms from the worst effects of climate change so far, but that protection might not last. “As river ﬂows and aquifer recharge become more variable, that protection could erode,” he said. Acland said water was central to the region’s success. “Water is fundamental to the Canterbury economy. So without water, I don’t think you’d have Christchurch. And you wouldn’t have the strength of the Canterbury economy.” He said investment in storage would be key to resilience. “Storage is the key. It is like a battery. The same way solar needs storage, our water systems need capacity to ride out the dry patches.” Etheridge warned more frequent water restrictions, higher interest rates and volatile input costs could combine into “a perfect storm” for irrigated dairy farms.

Acland said most farmers had tools to manage dry years, but their ability to act depended on ﬁnancial strength. “Farmers have plenty of levers. You can cut herd size, buy feed or go once-a-day. The trick is having the balance sheet to make those calls.” He said Canterbury’s major irrigation schemes, fed from alpine rivers, were generally reliable. Canterbury’s irrigation networks had proved highly reliable, with few truly dry years in recent memory, Acland said. While some seasons had been patchy, most farmers still received enough water to get through. Etheridge said the ﬁndings should prompt councils and lenders to plan for more variability. “Most of the variability so far has been at the positive end. But as our climate becomes more volatile, we expect the bad years to become worse and more frequent.” Both agreed the message is about preparation, not panic. Acland said Canterbury farmers were realistic about risk and focused on staying ready. “Farmers would build more resilience if they saw more regular dry periods. But, you know, farming’s always been about managing swings.”

November 2025

NZ Farmer

Dairy 19 NZ Farmer

Updated all day at

Fonterra invests $75m in butter Business

Rachael Comer

airy giant Fonterra will invest $75 million to expand butter production at its Clandeboye site in South Canterbury – its third major investment in the South Island this year. The announcement by Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd is part of the next phase of strategic investments by the co-operative signalled in its 2025 ﬁnancial year annual results, and will create 16 new jobs. And the positive news continues, with chief executive Miles Hurrell saying the co-op plans to invest up to $1 billion over the next three to four years in projects that will generate further value for farmers and drive operational cost efficiencies. “We’ve said that through focused execution of strategy, we are targeting our earnings to be back at FY25 levels by FY28 if the Mainland Group business is divested,” Hurrell said. “This investment supports that goal by increasing our production of a highvalue product, and improving our product mix by adding value to milkfat.” The expansion will enable construction of a new butter line at Clandeboye, boosting the site’s butter production capacity by up to 50,000 tonnes per annum. It will also expand the co-op’s capacity to produce a range of butter formats, tailored for both global ingredients customers and professional kitchens. The expanded Clandeboye plant

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completed early next year. It has also invested $150m in a new UHT cream plant at Edendale, with construction expected to be completed in the middle of next year. Fonterra has also recently invested $64m at Clandeboye for the conversion of two coal boilers to wood pellets. This was completed in August. Traditional churned lactic butter is a European-style product made using a high-speed version of traditional hand churning. Known for its rich, tangy flavour and dense, creamery texture, lactic butter is ideal for premium applications. Popular in Middle Eastern cuisine as well as Western and local bakery products, Fonterra Fonterra will invest $75 million to expand butter production at its Clandeboye sells lactic butter direct site in South Canterbury – its third major investment in the South Island this year. to customers under its TOM LEE/WAIKATO TIMES ingredients brand NZMP. map supporting long-term The unsalted would be capable of producing products growth in high-value dairy butter produced at that meet diverse market requirements, Work on the $64 million categories,” she said. the Clandeboye site will be including halal and kosher certifications, renewable energy “The expansion will create 16 used for both ingredients supporting growth in key international conversion at Fonterra new jobs at the site, supporting and foodservice markets, Hurrell said. Clandeboye has been the local economy.” customers. Global demand for butter continues completed. Construction will start in Unsalted butter is a popular to grow, and the investment positions December, with commissioning choice in products such as Fonterra to better serve customers scheduled for early 2027, and the first croissants, Danishes, bread, cakes and worldwide, he said. product expected off the line in April that cookies, and is increasingly used in Fonterra chief operating officer year. traditional Chinese pastries. Anna Palairet said the expansion of the In the past year, Fonterra has also Fonterra sells unsalted butter direct to Clandeboye site strengthened its network invested $75m in an advanced protein hub customers under its ingredients brand in the South Island. at Studholme, near Waimate. NZMP and its foodservice brand Anchor “This investment is part of Construction is expected to be Food Professionals. Fonterra’s broader strategic asset road

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New wool alliance a close-knit group

new cross-sector body aims to deliver better longterm outcomes for the New Zealand strong wool industry, generating greater demand, lifting value and avoiding costly duplication. The Wool Alliance – a formal agreement between Campaign for Wool NZ, Wool Impact, the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand (WRONZ), and Beef and Lamb NZ – is a ﬁrst-of-its-kind industry model to enable wool’s economic stability and growth, and safeguard lasting capability for the sector. They have been working together since early 2024. The Wool Alliance agreement was signed by all four parties in September. The alliance steering group comprises nine members: the chairperson and one executive from each organisation, alongside the newly appointed independent chairperson. Former Fonterra chairperson John Monaghan has been appointed as the independent chairperson of the Wool Alliance, charged with leading the Wool Alliance roll-out. With a proven track record in facilitating sector transformation, Monaghan’s tenure began in July, following an externally-led search and selection process. Monaghan says he’s realistic about what is required to lead the wool sector at such a critical time. “I see real opportunity for strong wool to lift its value and visibility globally. But it’s not a straightforward pathway,” he says. “Currently, we have a number of individual bodies competing for funding. Consolidation is the obvious solution, and it’s what growers want. The Wool Alliance needs to show up differently, co-operate and collaborate to create a lean and sustainable structure.” The four organisations that sit under the Wool Alliance umbrella have formalised their commitment to working together by signing an agreement. The Wool Alliance now enters an establishment phase, focusing on market enablement, pre-competitive support, and delivering a strong, united voice for New Zealand wool. “Wool is a cornerstone of our New

The Wool Alliance is a formal agreement between four sector bodies and is a first-of-its-kind industry model to enable wool’s economic stability and growth, and safeguard lasting capability for the sector. From left, Ross McIsaac (Wool Impact sector manager), John Monaghan (Wool Alliance chairperson), Andrew Morrison (WRONZ chairperson) and Kara Biggs (Campaign for Wool NZ general manager).

Zealand identity, and it’s important it remains so,” Monaghan says. Members of Parliament including Ministers Nicola Willis, Todd McClay and Mark Patterson, along with representatives from the Ministry for Primary Industries, Federated Farmers and New Zealand Farm Assurance Incorporated (NZFAI), have already had a chance to meet with the Wool Alliance team. Now the focus turns to further sector and public engagement, with the establishment of a Wool Alliance website, and grower meetings scheduled to take place, both online and throughout the country, from early this month. “We are now in a position to share more information about how members of the Wool Alliance plan to work together, championing wool-based products and applications and supporting innovation, education and research, while reducing duplication. Our steering group comprises stakeholders from each Alliance member, and we’ll be ﬁrmly focused on collaboration and transparency, working

together towards outcomes that benefit the entire value chain.” Implementation of an enduring model for New Zealand strong wool is expected in 2026, following extensive consultation with industry partners, testing and refinement. The Wool Alliance says beneficiaries of this work will not just be wool growers, with advantages felt far beyond the farm gate. Early-stage funding will come from existing resources, although other funding sources will need to be considered as the model evolves. “There’s a big job ahead of us to build the industry up again and establish an enduring model for wool that really works,” Monaghan says. “It’s a great challenge and one I’m pleased to bring my experience and enthusiasm to.” Further information about the Alliance, the model, and upcoming grower meetings can be found at woolalliance.co.nz

Collaborating for better future Logistics

wo of New Zealand’s leading wool companies – Wools of New Zealand and PGG Wrightson (PGW) – are exploring ways to consolidate aspects of their wool logistics operations. Entering into discussions to consider sharing logistics where appropriate is in response to the over-capacity across New Zealand’s wool logistics infrastructure, following a long-term decline in production volumes that has driven up operating costs. By exploring ways of working together, Wools of New Zealand and PGW aim to reduce costs, improve asset utilisation and help secure a stronger future for wool growers and the sector. Both companies will continue to independently operate and compete for wool, ensuring farmers retain full choice over who they choose to transact their wool with.

PGG Wrightson Wool’s Rachel Shearer and Wools of New Zealand’s John McWhirter look forward to a collaborative logistics approach.

Wools of New Zealand chief executive John McWhirter said the discussions are about two companies taking the lead to look to deliver the structural change the industry needs. “As a 100% farmer-owned company,

our growers expect us to be proactive in leading change that supports a strong future for New Zealand wool. “Coming together to seek solutions is an important step towards a more sustainable and competitive future for New Zealand’s wool sector, a key contributor to the country’s economy.” PGG Wrightson Wool general manager Rachel Shearer said the discussions make sense at a time when the wool supply chain is under pressure, illustrating their continued faith in the ﬁbre and its future. “Farmers are facing rising costs and, like them, we must control our costs too. Continuing to support a large, underutilised infrastructure is simply not sustainable. It doesn’t serve our farmers or shareholders well. “This joint approach represents a practical example of industry leadership to discuss how to reduce duplication, improve efficiency and ensure the infrastructure that remains is ﬁt for the future.”

Entries are now open for the 2026 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards. The winners will be announced at a gala dinner in March.

Entries now open for annual awards Celebration

Sonita Chandar

he calibre of finalists in the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards is always high and judges have their work cut out for them finding a winner in each of the award categories. But previous winners show the future of the industry is in good hands – and now the search is on to find more talented farmers. Entries are now open for the 2026 awards, and those working in the red meat sector are encouraged to either enter or nominate someone in one of the eight award categories. The annual awards celebrate the people, the innovation, the technologies, and farming systems that make New Zealand’s red meat industry world-leading. They serve as a platform from which the sector can tell its story to a wider audience and help shine a light on the farmers, scientists, innovators, advocate and community leaders who contribute so much to the industry. B+LNZ chief executive Alan Thomson says everyone knows someone, or something, making our sector worldleading. “Think about your farm staff, fellow farmers, sector leaders, teachers, innovators, mentors, scientists, technologies, rural champions, and marketers, and nominate them for an award.” He says previous B+LNZ Award category finalists and winners have been overwhelmingly positive about the experience and profile they gained through being associated with the awards. “Finalists and winners tell us the awards have given them a huge confidence boost and, in some cases, the awards have helped take their business or career to a new level.” There are eight category awards, four of which are people-focused, while four are industry-focused. Entries will close in December, with judging taking place throughout January and February. Finalists will be named in March 2026 and the winners announced at a showcase dinner that will be one of the highlights of B+LNZ’s Out the Gate conference, being held at Te Pae in Christchurch on May 20 and 21.

November 2025

NZ Farmer

Sheep and Beef 21 Sharemarket NZ Farmer

Updated all day at

Harnessing the power of the sun Opinion

Beef + Lamb New Zealand chairperson Kate Acland says installing solar panels on the roof of her farm’s dairy shed was a sound ﬁnancial decision.

hen we recently installed avoid, it’s an unavoidable by-product of a 175kW solar array on the food production. Any intervention risks roof of our dairy shed, I undermining our productive capacity, our didn’t expect it to be quite economic viability as farmers and the New this seamless. From ﬁrst Zealand economy. contact with the supplier to panels on the We should continue to invest in ways roof, it took just eight weeks. to address methane emissions – but also Better still, the whole thing is ﬁnanced recognise it’s difficult and not without risk. by a low-interest “green” loan. But there’s a simple truth: energyThis isn’t a vanity project; it’s a sound related emissions are far more readily investment. Based on our modelling, addressed with proven technology, the payback period is under and that’s where we should aim seven years, with an effective much of our national effort. return on capital of roughly Energy emissions are the 15% – better than nearly any low-hanging fruit. other investment option on According to the Energy farm, even the dairy shed Efficiency and Conservation itself. Authority (EECA), about I’m a huge supporter of 40% of New Zealand’s total solar on farms so long as greenhouse gas emissions it doesn’t cannibalise our derive from our energy use – best productive land. In some principally fossil fuels. climates, particularly dry low The technology exists today rainfall areas, ground-mounted Beef + Lamb NZ to address these emissions solar can help with pasture and rooftop solar, along with chairperson, growth underneath. Where we better electrical efficiency and Kate Acland farm, though, that isn’t the case. intelligent grid assets are key to Mounting it on existing infrastructure this. But to unlock the full potential, we’ll made sense. need regulatory changes and smarter We often hear that agriculture is the infrastructure. main contributor to New Zealand’s One of the frustrations we’ve greenhouse gas emissions – particularly experienced already with our system methane. But it’s important to understand is the large surplus created during the the difference between emissions middle of the day – often far more than and warming. Methane behaves very our own use. While we can export the differently in the atmosphere than longexcess to the grid, the price is typically lived gases like carbon dioxide – it breaks only about a third of what we pay for down over about 12 years. That means electricity ourselves. That is far from ideal. stable methane emissions don’t continue Batteries would help us capture and to add to warming in the same way that time-shift more of our energy internally, CO₂ does. but right now they remain economically But we know methane is hard to prohibitive. The capital cost and

Solar panels installed on farms and homes will eventually pay for themselves and excess energy can be sold back to the national grid.

depreciation risk are too steep given the current incentives and market settings. I was inspired to invest in on-farm solar after hearing Mike Casey (the Electric Cherries guy), from Electrify Aotearoa, speak. His message that farmers can become a significant part of New Zealand’s energy and climate solution resonates strongly with me. The idea is simple but brilliant: during the day, on-farm solar fills demand locally, and when demand is low or solar is inactive, hydro dams and other stored resources act like the nation’s battery. But that vision won’t materialise on its own. There are significant challenges in regulation and market rules around export tariffs as well as issues around grid capacity and flexibility. These problems will take investment and intervention to resolve.

If the rules are ﬁxed, the infrastructure strengthened, and incentives aligned, the ambition is credible – and farmers could play a major role without jeopardising the viability or productivity of their farms. Installing our 175kW solar system wasn’t just a feel-good exercise – it’s a ﬁnancially smart step. It gives us a buffer against future energy price increases, a respectable return, and a way to contribute climate action without undermining our core business. But for this to be more than a niche move, we need better export pricing, storage solutions, and smarter grid rules. New Zealand already has the renewable base – now we must unlock it through policy and investment. Let farmers be part of the solution, not stuck on the sidelines watching regulation lag behind innovation.

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NZ Farmer

November 2025

24 Forestry NZ Farmer

Why overseas investors are betting on NZ forestry – and what our landowners can learn Scott Downs GM Sales and Operations, PF Olsen

hile many New Zealand farmers remain cautious about forestry, overseas investors are buying land and planting trees. They’re not doing it for nostalgia or politics – they’re doing it because the long-term numbers make sense. The question is, what do they see in our hillsides that local landowners might be overlooking? Globally, the demand for carbon credits and sustainable wood products is rising fast. Large companies in Europe and Asia are under pressure to cut emissions and prove their supply chains are climatepositive. There will also be an increasing role for forestry in the decarbonisation of transport fuels. Forest biomass can be used in gasiﬁcation, fermentation, or hydrogenation processes to produce biofuels that replace fossil fuels. This is driving investors to look for credible, long-term ways to balance proﬁt with sustainability – and New Zealand stands out. Our trees grow quickly, our land ownership laws are stable, and our Emissions Trading Scheme is one of the few fully functioning carbon markets in the world. For these investors, it’s not speculation – it’s strategy. They see forestry as a cornerstone of a low-carbon global economy. A forest is not just a collection of trees; it’s a long-term store of carbon, a renewable resource, and an appreciating

Overseas investors are buying land and planting trees in New Zealand because the long-term numbers make sense. They see forestry as a cornerstone of a low-carbon global economy.

asset in a world that values sustainability more each year. They think in decades, not seasons. They build portfolios that mix carbon and timber returns. They engage professional

managers to optimise everything from species choice to harvest scheduling. And they’re not relying solely on radiata pine; some are experimenting with redwoods, cypress, and eucalypts to spread risk and

future-proof their forests against changing markets and climates. For many overseas groups, forestry is simply part of a diversified investment strategy – much like property or infrastructure. The returns are steady, the biological growth is predictable, and the environmental credentials are strong. In short, it fits the kind of long-term, lowvolatility profile global capital craves. So what can Kiwi landowners learn from this? First, take a longer-term view. Forestry is not an exit from farming – it’s a complement to it. Many farms have marginal or erosion-prone areas that could generate better returns under trees than under stock. Planting those areas can create a reliable income from carbon, improve soil stability, and enhance biodiversity – all while keeping the core of the farm productive. Second, professional management matters. Whether through a forest management company or cooperative, expertise helps avoid costly mistakes with long-term consequences – in species selection, mapping, and compliance. Third, think intergenerationally. The forest you plant today can support your children’s or grandchildren’s farm, providing a harvest income or long-term carbon revenue when they need it most. New Zealand’s forests will keep growing – either under local or foreign ownership. The opportunity for Kiwi farmers is to see forestry for what it really is: not a replacement for pastoral farming, but a strategic, sustainable asset that can help future-proof their business and their land.

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NZ Farmer

November 2025

26 Arable NZ Farmer

Seeds of change taking root “

Horticulture

Deena Coster

business opportunity that grew out of a biosecurity crisis in Wairarapa is finding increasing favour with home bakers and pasta makers across the country. When the pea weevil was discovered in the region in 2016, a ban on growing crops as a way to wipe out the pest could have spelt disaster for arable farmers like Mick Williams. But instead, it opened the door to a new venture – growing the high-protein, gluten-rich durum wheat. The wheat is milled into flour, which is then made into foodstuffs like pasta, bread and pizza bases, making the Wairarapa Grains Collective the only direct to market supplier of the product in New Zealand. The collective, which was formed in 2019, is made up of four arable farming families – Williams and his wife Karen, brother Nathan Williams and wife Kate, brothers Henry and Pascoe Reynolds, and Ross and Dani Johnson. The seed of the idea was planted in the wake of the pea weevil emergency, when the government was lobbied to make funding available to research the viability of alternative arable crops. Mick Williams said durum wheat was one of the options floated, which led the collective to do some homework on its potential uses. They spotted a gap in the market, and test plantings found durum wheat thrived in Wairarapa’s long, dry summers.

We’ve all got a very sustainable view on things.” Mick Williams Collective farmer

Four different families make up the membership of the Wairarapa Grains Collective.

Now about three hectares of the wheat is grown on each of the four families’ farms, which are located in different parts of Wairarapa. Williams said the group had a similar approach to farming, using a no-till, soil-ﬁrst method, which helped look after the environment. “We’ve all got a very sustainable view on things.” The wheat is sown in October and harvested in late February, but one of the

beneﬁts of having four separate crops is that if one farm has a poor growing season, the entire supply is not put at risk. Once harvested, the wheat is transported to Christchurch to be milled, which is the closest facility that can meet the group’s speciﬁcations, Williams said. Each run at the mill involves about 25 tonnes of wheat. As the collective was breaking new ground when it entered the market, word of mouth was initially how people found

out about their flour. But it has got to the stage now where demand is growing – something Williams credits his sister-inlaw Kate for managing, as she has taken on the lion’s share of the administration and customer service work. While the focus is to grow the business and the durum market, Williams said the collective wants to explore the possibility of making other flours in the future. He said the bulk of the flour milled in New Zealand is made with imported grain. “We’d really like to change that.” Williams said one of the things he enjoys about the business is the feedback they get from customers, as the last that farmers often see of their product is when it leaves the property on the back of a truck. This connection has only added to how positive he feels about the plant-based enterprise. “It’s a very small part of our overall business,” Williams said, “but it’s one of the most enjoyable.”

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November 2025

Updated all day at

NZ Arable Farmer 27

So your daughter’s fallen in love. Arable farmers will now have answers to their questions at their fingertips with the development of a new Foundation for Arable Research app.

New app is a game-changer

AT LEAST YOUR SPRING SEED IS UNDER CONTROL

A new FAR app that uses AI to answer questions on crop nutrition and disease management is another tool for arable farmers. By Heather Chalmers.

he Foundation for Arable for a specific crop and problem. Research (FAR) has expanded “Ask FAR AI – both the online version its range of informationand the new app – solves that problem. delivery tools to include a Simply ask a question and the tool reviews phone app that searches FAR all publications on the FAR website before research results to answer questions on delivering a succinct summary, with links everything from crop nutrition to cereal to the original documents, in a matter of disease management. seconds. It’s a game-changer.” FAR communications manager Anna Heslop says that rather than creating Heslop says the new app is a the newly released app from scratch, further development of the the Ask FAR AI development website search tool Ask team at Custom-D found a FAR AI, which was quicker and cheaper solution released last August. – building it on WhatsApp. “Ask FAR AI is an “It’s a neat trick taking artificial intelligence advantage of a tool assistant developed that many growers are to improve grower already using every day. access to information Users simply add the Ask on the FAR website. FAR AI phone number When you Ask FAR (+64 27 277 2536) to their AI a question, you’ll phone contacts, and from get a summary of all there, to their WhatsApp information on that subject contacts ... typing their from the FAR website (and questions into WhatsApp, just as only the FAR website), along they would any other message with a list of links to the or text.” Foundation of relevant FAR information Heslop says FAR is constantly Arable Research sheets and booklets. seeking the most efficient ways communications “The FAR website has to get information to arable manager Anna Heslop always been a goldmine of says the new app is part farmers and that the new app information, but until the is part of an updated digital of an updated digital introduction of Ask FAR extension strategy which also extension strategy AI, the sheer quantity of includes videos, webinars and to efficiently deliver publications made finding virtual events. information to farmers. answers to specific questions “But don’t worry”, she says. very time-consuming. “We’re still flat out organising “No matter how we tweaked field days and writing research updates search functions or tags, website and other publications as well. We just searches were still bringing up lists of want to be sure that when it comes to 50 or more relevant documents rather delivering information, we’re using every than seasonally relevant information method available to us.”

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NZ Farmer

November 2025

28 Horticulture NZ Farmer

Avocados thriving at Brixton Diversiﬁcation

Catherine Groenestein

he developer of a large avocado orchard in Brixton is planning to build his own packhouse, which would also help smaller growers in the region. Matt Hareb, who owns an earthmoving company but was looking to diversify his income, began planting his orchard in 2021. He was familiar with the fruit, having family in the Bay of Plenty with an orchard. Initially, he planted 6000 trees on his 30-hectare property, which had formerly been used for dairy farming. With the success of those ﬁrst trees, he’s now looking to plant even more. “We’ve learned a lot since 2021, but we’re seeing good growth and we already have plans to plant another 6000 trees,” Hareb said. “We have the right growing conditions, there’s good domestic demand, and it’s been great to see other locals starting to explore what’s possible.” Taranaki has other avocado growers, but most are on a smaller scale. Hareb said he was currently in conversations with packhouses out of the region, but he also had plans to develop his own facility. Having a packhouse and doing initial processing in-region would save on transportation costs, and other producers could also use the facility, he explained. “This would allow smaller orchardists to ﬁlter fruit through as they scale. That way, others can start with 100 trees or so, and grow from there.” More than 50 landowners, growers and rural professionals gathered on October 16 for an Avocado Open Day at Hareb’s

orchard, co-hosted by Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki. The event was part of the Branching Out Project’s ongoing work to de-risk land use diversification and help build more resilient food and fibre systems for the region. Project lead Michelle Bauer said having a packhouse in Taranaki would be significant for other fruit producers, as well as avocado growers. “Having post-harvest equipment and facilities based in Taranaki can create economies of scale by servicing multiple growers locally,” she said. “While further investigation is needed to understand the specific requirements for different crops, there’s potential for some of the equipment to be used across a range of fruit types.”

he open day gave attendees a behind-the-scenes look at a commercial-scale horticulture operation already under way in the region. They saw ﬁrst-hand how avocados can be grown at scale and learned about the practical considerations of establishing an orchard – including site selection, soil health and long-term market opportunity. Bauer said interest in the open day reﬂected a broader appetite among local landowners to look beyond traditional systems. “The strong interest in this event shows that growers and landowners are actively exploring what’s possible here and recognising the scale that can be achieved when working together.” Crops such as kiwifruit, avocados and citrus fruit could grow well in the right locations with the right preparation in Taranaki, she added. “They may provide opportunities to meet market demand and diversify.”

Matt Hareb has planted 6000 avocado trees on his former dairy farm property, and now plans to plant another 6000. JONATHAN ABPLANALP/TARANAKI DAILY NEWS

About 50 people attended the open day at Hareb’s orchard on October 16.

Chinese court awards Zespri NZ$1.3m in gold kiwifruit plant variety rights ruling

“

Intellectual property

Alka Prasad

he Wuhan People’s Court has ruled in favour of Zespri to the tune of $1.3 million, as the kiwifruit giant cracks down on its intellectual property being used for unauthorised plantings in China. The court found one person guilty of infringing Zespri’s plant variety rights (PVR) by illegally planting and selling Gold3 kiwifruit across 200 hectares in Hubei Province. The fruit was later sold online, breaching China’s 2022 Seed Law. The court charged one individual and ordered the removal of 260 hectares of infringing vines. Zespri was awarded compensation of 5.25 million Chinese yuan or NZ$1.28m, including damages and costs. A second defendant was found to have sold fruit sourced from the same operation, but didn’t face any further penalties. Zespri chief executive Jason Te Brake said the ruling was a “signiﬁcant win” for New Zealand growers and a step forward for plant IP enforcement. “This case demonstrates the increased protection for plant variety rights made possible by changes to China’s Seed Law in 2022 and the strong support of local authorities in safeguarding intellectual

This positive outcome will support ongoing investment. Zespri’s Jason Te Brake The Wuhan People’s Court found one person guilty of running a cultivation and sale operation for unauthorised Gold3 kiwifruit plantings. CRAIG ROBERTSON

property rights,” Te Brake said. He said the decision underscored the importance of IP protection in horticulture, which ensures both innovation and food safety. “China is an important market for Zespri, and this positive outcome will support ongoing investment to deliver high-value varieties for consumers around the world,” he said. Zespri has long battled the spread of

unauthorised Gold3 plantings in China. Unauthorised cuttings have been cultivated in China since 2016. Last year, the company won a case against three individuals in China for online sales of locally grown fruit with counterfeit Zespri labels to the value of more than NZ$700,000. The trio each received a sentence of three years and nine months in jail, and

were also ordered to pay a ﬁne of 550,000 yuan (NZ$125,000). In 2023, Zespri estimated there were close to 8000ha of Gold3 fruit growing illegally in China, but said expansion seemed to have slowed. The company said it would continue working with New Zealand and Chinese industries and authorities to ﬁnd “constructive solutions” to the ongoing issue of unauthorised cultivation.

November 2025

Horticulture NZ Farmer 29

Updated all day at

HortNZ chief executive Kate Scott says water is needed by communities and is also the foundation for resilience and productivity in the horticulture sector.

NZ Farmer

Water - the foundation of resilience and livelihood Opinion

The chief executive of Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ), Kate Scott, Scott says well-designed water storage can deliver social, environmental and economic beneﬁts beneﬁts all at once.

ater remains one of the deﬁning issues for horticulture in New Zealand. When I chat with growers, growers, the message from them is clear and consistent: reliable access to water is essential if our industry is to stay productive and resilient in the face of climate change. With hotter, drier conditions across much of the country, the need for long-term, strategic solutions has never been greater. That’s why HortNZ is watching progress on projects like the Heretaunga Plains water storage initiative with real interest. We

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know these kinds of investments are critical for the future, not only to sustain horticulture but to support regional communities and the wider economy. It’s encouraging to see the Government acknowledging this challenge, with commitments to reduce the barriers to developing water storage and managed aquifer recharge. These are the sorts of forward-looking policies that will help New Zealand build climate resilience, safeguard freshwater systems and enable more productive land use. In Northland, the recently completed Te Waihekeora Reservoir near Dargaville shows what can be achieved when communities, iwi and investors work together to solve water challenges. The reservoir stores millions of cubic metres of water captured through flow harvesting when river flows are high, making it available through the dry months to irrigate crops, which provides many opportunities to support new horticultural development. It’s a practical and positive example of how regional water infrastructure can change what’s possible for local economies. In a part of the country that frequently faces drought and water restrictions, Te Waihekeora is opening the door to new crops, more secure jobs and a stronger regional future. It shows how well-designed water storage can deliver social, environmental, and economic benefits all at once. This kind of co-investment approach sits

squarely within the outcomes sought by the Aotearoa Horticulture Action Plan (AHAP). One of the plan’s key priorities is to ensure strategic, evidence-based investment in regional water storage as part of our adaptation to a changing climate, while also enabling growers to optimise the value of their crops. Reliable water supply isn’t simply about surviving droughts – it’s about giving growers the conﬁdence to invest, plan and produce food consistently and sustainably. Horticulture is among the most efficient users of water in New Zealand, but our crops depend on reliability. We all know the quality of fruit and vegetables relies on steady growing conditions – something only reliable water can provide, including water for frost ﬁghting during the early spring periods in some locations. We cannot grow without access to our most productive land, and we cannot grow without water. Yet current policy settings still make it difficult to expand or invest with certainty. That’s why HortNZ continues to advocate for policy and regulatory frameworks that enable water storage, streamline consenting and provide the long-term reliability growers need – while still protecting freshwater health. Reliable water isn’t a luxury for horticulture – it’s the foundation of our resilience, our livelihoods and our contribution to New Zealand’s future as a world-class food producer.

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NZ Farmer

November 2025

News 30 Employment NZ Farmer

Why you might be shedding staff The team at Peninsula says retaining workers who have the right skills has become a challenge in the dairy sector and there are steps employers can take to keep them on.

he New Zealand dairy sector is facing a critical challenge: retaining skilled and passionate employees. According to Federated Farmers and Rabobank, nearly half of farm assistants leave their roles within a year of starting. With that, the cost for farm owners – both financial and human – is unsustainable. A research paper from the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme highlights a compelling insight: retention is influenced less by the tasks employees perform and more by how those tasks are structured, supported and understood. In other words, the farm system – its infrastructure, routines, technologies and communication practices – plays a pivotal role in whether employees stay or go. Understanding the ‘why’ One of the most consistent findings from the report is the importance of explaining the “why” behind farm policies. When staff understand the purpose of their work, they feel more engaged and valued. This simple

Research shows that when employees are placed in roles that align with their strengths and interests, retention is greater.

shift in communication can signiﬁcantly improve job satisfaction and retention. Matching roles to passions Retention improves when employees are placed in roles that align with their strengths and interests. Whether someone thrives in animal care, machinery operation or team leadership, tailoring responsibilities to individual passions fosters a sense of purpose and belonging. This approach requires thoughtful recruitment and early-stage conversations, but the payoff will be a more motivated and stable workforce. Smart systems, better outcomes Farm systems that reduce complexity and improve task efficiency are more likely to

retain staff. For example, technologies like automatic drafting gates, oestrus detection tools and pasture management apps not only save time but also reduce physical strain and decision fatigue. One farmer interviewed in the Kellogg report noted that installing a Batt-Latch gate-release timer was “an easy and simple invention they wish they had earlier” – a small change with a big impact on morale. Infrastructure matters The quality of infrastructure such as milking sheds, and calf-rearing facilities, directly affects employee satisfaction. Modern, well-designed sheds reduce physical strain and improve workﬂow. In contrast, outdated or inefficient setups can lead to frustration and burnout. Investing in

infrastructure isn’t just about productivity; it’s about creating a workplace where people want to stay. Flexible rosters and role diversity Rigid rosters and repetitive tasks are retention killers. Employees value flexibility, adequate time off and variety in their roles. Farms that offer diverse responsibilities and adaptable schedules are more likely to retain staff, especially during peak periods like calving. A sector-wide opportunity While individual farms can make meaningful changes, sector-wide collaboration is essential. Showcasing top-performing farms as case studies, developing decision-support tools to evaluate technology investments and conducting further research into the economic impact of retention-focused system changes are important strategies for farm owners to refer back to. Retention in the dairy and farming sectors is a multifaceted challenge that demands more than just better pay or improved HR practices. The design and operation of the farm system itself – how tasks are structured, how technology is used, and how employees are engaged – can significantly influence whether workers stay or leave. By focusing on task efficiency, aligning roles with individual strengths and fostering a culture of purpose and appreciation, farms can build workplaces that not only attract talent but keep them. The path to better retention lies in understanding the people behind the work and designing systems that support them.

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November 2025

NZ Farmer

Health and Safety 31 NZ Farmer

Updated all day at

Saved by the bars

Since Ashburton farmer David Clark was saved by home-made rollbars on his quad bike, he’s had crush-protection devices fitted to his new bikes.

Farmers using quad bikes on their properties can keep themselves and their staff safe from being crushed by installing crush-protection devices on their machines.

rable farmer David Clark I saw the Safer Rides offer that was an already recognised the safety incentive to try the Quadbar. benefits of having crush“I have rolled a quad bike before and protection devices (CPDs) on it was the roll bars on it that stopped the quad bikes, but it was quad coming down on top of me, the Safer Rides initiative that so I do think they are very prompted him to get one important.” fitted. Choosing the right Clark, who farms vehicle for the job is a 464 hectares at strong focus on the Valetta on the Valetta farm. southern side of They primarily the Ashburton use utes for River, opted for a everyday work Quadbar Original and have side-bythrough the sides for spraying programme led fence-lines, slug by Safer Farms. It bait application and offered vouchers some stock work. covering $400 off The quad bikes are the cost of a range of mainly used for going CPDs, with participating out to their irrigators. retailers offering additional “I think CPDs are really discounts. important and we find they He’s so pleased with the do not impact at all on the Quad bike fatalities Quadbar that now he’s getting serviceability of the bikes,” says and injuries can be one fitted to his second Suzuki Clark. “I’m very grateful to the prevented quad bike at full cost. sponsors and Safer Farms for by installing “We’d made our own roll bars helping to set up the initiative. crush-protection and fitted them to our previous “It was a great idea that devices on bikes. Suzuki quad bikes,” he says. encouraged farmers to get “But when we switched to new proactive about buying them. Suzuki models with fully suspended rear “I’d definitely recommend them to axles, those bars didn’t work for them. other farms and I’d like to see a further “So we did have a period without roll promotion to encourage more to take bars, but we like having them so when advantage of it.”

• Tractors

• LUV’s

• 4WD (on and off-road)

• Quad Bikes

• Motorbikes

• Chainsaws

Safer Farms is a membership organisation that recognises the whole sector beneﬁts from improved health and safety. It brings together farmers and senior leaders from agribusiness, agricultural industry groups and government. This article is part of its Safety Alert series – lessons from real-life incidents that have happened on-farm. It’s part of Safer Farms’ Farm Without Harm strategy and action plan, which has been developed by the agriculture

sector for the agriculture sector. Safety alerts are a great way to learn from incidents that have happened on other farms. Ask yourself: ■ Could this happen on my farm? ■ What do I have in place to prevent this from happening? ■ How can I implement these lessons? New safety alerts are added regularly. To see others or subscribe to have safety alerts emailed to you, visit: farmwithoutharm.org.nz/safety-alerts

NZ Farmer

November 2025

OnFarmer the Farm 32 NZ

Left: Kali Rangiwahia and partner Will Hinton, juggle raising their family and sharemilking 1400 cows once-a-day in Fairlie. The couple won the Share Farmer of the Year title last year. Kali and Will with their children Rylan, Billy and Blake. PHOTOS: MICHELLE PORTER/SHEPHERDESS

Where they want to be A young Canterbury couple have got their farm and family working together so well they won the Share Farmer of the Year title last year. By Anna Brankin.

ali Rangiawha (Tainui) is not afraid of hard work. From contract milking on her own – with a baby in tow – to juggling farming and parenting with her partner, Will Hinton, her goal now is one of balance, and building the best possible life for her whānau. When Kali, 30, and Will, 31, made the move from the Manawatū to Fairlie in June, they were chasing more than just scale. The shift from contract milking 350 cows to sharemilking a 1400-cow once-aday operation was big – but the real goal was a better way of life for their children, Rylan, 7, Billy, 4, and Blake, 2. The decision to relocate came after years of juggling parenting and farming, with not enough time in the day for either. “All three of my kids have been born into farming – they don’t know anything different, and I love that fact,” Kali says. “But I was working such long days and feeling like I couldn’t keep up with everything. We wanted a setup that let us spend more time as a family, and still achieve our farming goals.” Leaving agriculture was out of the question – she started farming when she was 16 and has never looked back. “I moved to Australia with the intention of going to university and becoming a paramedic, but I picked up a relief milking job and very quickly ended up quitting my studies to go full-time, because that’s how much I loved it,” she says. A couple of years later, back in New Zealand, she landed a job as a farm

Kali and her children out and about on their previous farm in the Manawatū. She says they have always wanted to move down south, but because their families are in the North Island it was hard to make the jump.

assistant in Tokoroa, working for Tim and Melissa Parsons. “That job is where I learned everything,” Kali says. “Tim was very willing to teach, and I was equally willing to learn, and to progress in the dairy industry. It laid the foundation for how Will and I still farm today.” Kali was still in Tokoroa when she met Will, a sheep shearer from the United

Kingdom. “He had two weeks left on his visa and basically said, ‘Come back with me.’ And I did,” Kali says. They spent six months there, with Kali picking up some relief milking and casual farm work. By the time they returned to New Zealand, she was pregnant with Rylan, their ﬁrst child. She kept her hand in with calf-rearing and relief milking, but after 18 months she was ready to go back

to work full-time. She had the experience to step up into a second-in-charge role – what she didn’t have was a job offer. “No-one wanted to take a chance on a young mum with a baby,” she says. “I knew I could run a farm, but people worry about things like sick days and daycare with young kids. It was hard.” That’s when Will suggested contract milking. “I said, ‘Absolutely not. I knew I could run the farm, but I also knew I could not do the books. But Will was born with that sort of brain, so he said he’d do that side of things, if I ran the day-to-day. And that’s how we started.” She landed a small contract milking job on the outskirts of Te Awamutu. “It was only about 160 cows, well within my comfort zone at the time. The farm owner didn’t have any issues with me being a young mum. He gave us a shot – and we smashed their milk production record in the first season.” Most importantly, the role gave her the freedom to figure out how to do things her way, with Rylan in tow. Her mum jigged up a platform bed in the back of the RAV4, with space underneath for Kali to store her farming gear. “I’d wake up at five o’clock in the morning, put Rylan into the RAV4 bed with the heater on and go get the cows in, and he’d usually stay asleep till after milking. It just became normal for him. “And once he was awake, you know, give him snacks. Snacks fix everything. And that’s just how I got around.”

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Being out and about on the farm is always fun especially when there is tractor work involved.

Top, the children love being out on the farm with mum and although sometimes things can be slow-going with children in tow, Kali always gets the jobs done. Above, Kali loves the farming lifestyle especially as it allows her to take the children out on the farm where they enjoy helping out.

It wasn’t always easy, and she says that she was always second-guessing whether she was doing the right thing. “You want to be doing everything right for your kids, and it’s always a juggle between what’s best for them right now, versus the future you’re trying to build for your family. But overall I don’t think it’s been a bad thing for our kids to grow up the way that they have.” Once she knew she could do it, the couple scaled up to a 700-cow farm in the Waikato. It was there that Billy, their second child, was born. “I worked right up until I was in labour, and was in and out of hospital in two hours. Two days later, I was back on the farm, with Billy living his best life in the RAV4 with Rylan.” After that, Will did a short stint working in banking while Kali and the kids worked on a small farm in Ōtorohanga, until she fell pregnant with Blake. “It was already getting too much with just the two kids. We tried daycare and it just wasn’t a good fit. They were leaving home before dark, getting home after dark, and battling all the daycare sicknesses,” she reflects. “So I had them back on the farm with me, did the whole calving season and, even after it finished up, I was still so tired. I took a pregnancy test, and lo and behold.” That was a turning point for the couple, who made the decision to commit to farming together. Will quit his job and joined Kali on farm full-time. After two seasons on a farm just outside Feilding in the Manawatū, they made the leap south. “We’re on a once-a-day farm now, and the lifestyle down here is amazing. There’s a ski field 12 minutes from our house, there’s unlimited hunting and fishing, and places to go horse trekking.” Now, with a team in place, they’re settling into the rhythm of their new life – chasing their big-picture goals and carving out slivers of

balance in the midst of a busy life. These days, the kids are more involved than ever. “Rylan does heaps of jobs – he can put up fences, take them down,” Kali says. “Billy’s just turned 4, and he’s a pretty decent gate-opener. “Blake’s still in observation mode, but it won’t be long. “They really don’t know that their life is any different from other kids, or how lucky they are. They can just go outside and catch an eel in the river or climb a tree. And that’s a beautiful thing – that they take it for granted and embrace it.” Winning the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards Share Farmer of the Year award last year was a huge moment for the couple – and a lot of work. “It was next-level stressful. But we entered because we wanted to see where we placed in the industry. We knew we wanted to scale up and we had a 10-year goal of farm ownership. Winning the award helped conﬁrm we were on the right track – and opened a few doors for us. “Those doors brought offers and opportunities, although not all of them were right for Kali and Will. “It was a bit of work to sort through it all and ﬁnd the right one, and we’re so glad we took the time. Looking back at my life, I wouldn’t change a thing. We’ve built a life that we really love, and we’re exactly where we want to be.” The images contained in this story were taken on the couple’s previous farm in Manawatu. This story appears in the Kōanga Spring Edition 2025 of Shepherdess magazine, out now. Find the edition in supermarkets, dairies, and specialty book and design stores across the motu. Subscribe and order your copy online at shepherdess.co.nz.

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t h e s h e p h e r d e s s m u st e r

NZ Farmer

November 2025

the Farm 34 On NZ Farmer

Pineapple W pioneers Growing pineapples is what a South African couple knew how to do, so when the opportunity arose, they established the only commercial pineapple plantation in Northland. By Steve Macmillan.

ith a lifetime of pineapple growing in their blood, it was only a matter of time before a South African couple who made New Zealand home in 2008 would delve into the profession they know best. Owen and Linda Schaﬂi have been growing pineapples commercially at Geneva Pineapple Estate – their 7-hectare Parua Bay lifestyle block near Whangārei Heads – for 12 years. In 2011, they stumbled upon a rough block of land in Parua Bay covered in scrub and gorse, complete with a rundown house with no power. As Owen knocked the house into shape, he also took to tidying up the land. He embraced the challenge wholeheartedly, and together with his family, has sweated his way to success and a homely, productive environment. It really was a foregone conclusion that they would end up doing what they know best. That after decades of growing bananas and pineapples, alongside 100 beef cattle (one beast per 2ha being the safe stocking rate) on 200ha in East London, halfway between Durban and Cape Town.

Above: Linda and Owen Schafli with son Colin and their working dog Bella. Left: After decades growing bananas and pineapples, alongside beef cattle in South Africa, Owen Schafli and his family established Geneva Pineapple Estate in Northland. PHOTOS: STEVE MACMILLAN

They started by putting 400 plants in the ground, but have long been a staple at the Whangārei Growers’ Market, where they have at times sold up to 800 pineapples in four hours. Due to their ethics and wanting to ensure people have access to enjoying a unique and quality product, they have held their pineapple prices the same since 2019 – $5 for a small, $8 for mediums (or two for $15), and $10 for the largest specimens. The weights range from 750 grams to 1.6 kilograms and they are experienced enough to grade by ‘eye-ometer’ before loading up their truck to head to the market. The main harvesting months – or pineapple season – are from March to July, which is when Northlanders get to stock up on a fruit that can sit around for weeks or months without going off. They say locals love their spray-free product, especially because the entire fruit is edible – the core and all – and the Queen variety is also the ultimate specimen for sweetness. The Schaflis much prefer the Queen over the mainstream commercial Cayenne varietal. “We chose Queen to give New Zealanders the option of a super-sweet, locally grown pineapple that we grow spray-free, and which can have an extended growing season because of Northland’s warm and humid climate.” The family is so hooked on their pineapples that there is barely a day goes by when they aren’t devouring the delight. They say the region has the perfect temperature for commercial pineapple orchards, and Owen says now is the time for others to get on board and make Northland the pineapple region of New Zealand. He is currently hatching a plan with a colleague around a business model that will make that prospect achievable very soon. The aim is to develop a co-operative, whereby people who join the pineapple-growing fraternity will be required to strictly follow their growing model to ensure ongoing success. The couple warn that growing pineapples requires plenty of hard graft and discipline to build up to a commercial operation at their level and keep it evolving. “Pineapples don’t like wet feet, so you must plant them on mounds. I have dug all the mounds here by hand through rotavating the soil, and the mounds need to be of a decent height.” Through months of hand-digging over the years, Owen has created dozens of sizeable mounds on the hillside in front of the family home they share with sons Colin, who is part of the pineapple enterprise, and computer programmer James. To turbo-charge the operation this year, Owen is currently on a re-planting mission to eventually double their per-hectare rate from the current 25,000 plants. He is doing so by consistently putting mature and larger suckers plucked from adult plants into the ground. The family should be harvesting pineapples from new plants within 18 months of planting those new suckers, which are broken off mature plants and can be left lying on the ground for months before planting and flourishing. Suckers, they say, are only produced after a plant bears fruit for the first

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The Queen pineapple is the future of commercial pineapple growing in Northland, according to the Schaflis.

Queen pineapples are part of the daily diet for Owen Schafli and his family.

time, so patience is required in the process. “In Australia, pineapple growers are producing between 60 and 120 tonnes of pineapples per hectare from an average of 50,000 plants to the hectare. We should be able to achieve that here in Northland. “I would like to continue pushing the volume up on our land and I believe that will happen as I am now putting in a minimum of 40,000 pineapple plants per hectare on my way to a higher ratio,”

he says. “That’s why we are becoming intensive, rather than searching for more ground to plant on. The more ground cover, the less weeds you have, and pineapple plants don’t like weeds so we do a fair bit of work with the push hoe. “You have to be hands-on with pineapples if you want to do it properly, keep the operation efficient and to its full production potential. “Luckily, in Northland, the frosts and

colder winter weather only knock the plants a little bit and because we are only putting in the better plants, as they are hardy and resistant. Having planted on a slope means the excess water drains off.” So far, there seems to be enough moisture around in summer so there is no need to irrigate. The Schaﬂis say the ideal soil pH for pineapple plants is 4 to 5.5 and they are very similar to the blueberry in that they like acidic soils but respond well to phosphate, potassium and magnesium. It’s hard to believe the couple started from scratch in New Zealand with just 400 plants and now have tens of thousands crammed on to their carefully nurtured orchard, with the plants having been in the ground for up to eight years.

Owen says the orchard needs to be constantly replenished with new stock after five years of growth, and he and Colin aim to continue fine-tuning and intensifying the operation on the 1ha orchard. Interestingly, pineapples are from the bromeliad family and are the only bromeliad that produces edible fruit, explains Owen as he wanders the property working away in bare feet as always. As the couple look back on life before venturing north, the family members were living in Hamilton and wondering just where their Kiwi life would take them. They are pleased with their choice. Despite focusing on boosting their own production, they are enthusiastic about more Northlanders joining their pineapple journey and creating multiple commercial operations. They clearly have the knowledge to help others, and now that Linda can no longer continue her teaching career due to bouts of cancer, she is devoting even more time into a niche industry they want the North to own. “The beauty of pineapples is they are a dryland crop. From the amount of mature pineapple plants we have, I would say I have enough suckers for others to plant 10ha. “Right now, we need new commercial growers to purchase 40,000 plants (1ha). If interested they can contact us on our Facebook page, Geneva Fruits,” Owen says with a satisfied grin as he slices into another freshly picked, spring produced pineapple for an afternoon snack.

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‘You can just feel the bad juju leaving your body’ It’s a new season and a new farm for Hayes Garland, who shares what he does to stay Farmstrong when life gets busy. Tell us about your operation I farm on the Hauraki Plains in the Waikato contract milking 330 cows on 145 ha. How’s the season going? She’s been pretty wet. I’ve just moved up from Taranaki this season so there’s been quite a lot of adjusting, learning the land and different systems. We’ve definitely had our ups and downs. What do you like about the job? I love the freedom of farming and working outdoors. The wind in your hair, the air around you. I’m also just grateful I live in one of the best countries in the world and do one of the best jobs in the world. Farming can be a tough gig at times, what are your main pressures? I’ve found that anything to do with the cows is usually not a problem – it’s all the things on top of that can be challenging. It’s never just one thing in farming either, it’s everything involved along the way. Those little pressures can really build up. What do you do to manage them? It’s all about preparation for me. Preparing yourself mentally to deal with setbacks. That way if the worst does happen, it doesn’t feel out of your control because you’re prepared for it. What do you do on days when things aren’t going according to plan? I’ll have a bit of a whinge and whine to myself, then I’ll go, ‘right I accept that’. I’ve learnt the faster I accept setbacks, the better the outcome will be. When you endlessly ponder things that have already happened, you’re just prolonging the misery. As soon as you accept it, you can move on. I used to be a chronic overthinker and suffered from anxiety, so I’ve learnt to kill those negative thoughts as fast as I can so they don’t bring me down like a ton of bricks. How do you do that? I use a technique called ‘catch it, check it, change it’. If my head is flooding with negative thoughts such as: ‘Why is this happening to me’ or ‘Jeez, I’m useless at this’, I’ll stop, pause the negative thinking and replace it with something more positive. I’ll reflect on the good things I’ve achieved and accomplished so far. I’ll tell myself ‘I am good at this, I do this job well and I love what I do.’ When you’re working on a farm, you’ve got to motivate yourself like that so you can soldier on. Any other tips for when you’re feeling ‘under the pump’ like that? Yes, if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed when you’re milking, it’s usually not the cows at all, it’s what’s going on in your head. If I can’t shut off the worries in my head, I just go out of the platform for a minute or so and take some big breaths. That deep breathing really works. You can just feel the bad juju leaving your body. Admiring your surroundings and doing some deep breathing is definitely right up there for me in terms of relaxing the mind.

Hauraki dairy farmer Hayes Garland has changed his attitude to one of – ‘I run the farm, the farm doesn’t run me.’

It snaps you out of your shit so you can move on. What about rest and recovery time? Do you have any hobbies or interests? One of the reasons I moved to Hauraki was to tick the last box in my dairy career and enjoy a better work-life balance. I’ve done the hard grind, now it’s time to invest some time in myself. You’re off to a flying start. I saw you in the farmers’ and growers’ tent at the rugby the other day mate. [laughs] Yes, it was a good excuse to get off the farm. It was the first time I’ve been off the farm this season and it was awesome mate. It was a good vibe with some really good chat. For me being Farmstrong is about ‘walking my talk’. Sometimes you just need to accept that you need that break and go. I just told myself, ‘right, I run the farm, the farm doesn’t run me.’ What else turns your crank? One of the other reasons why I’m farming near the Coromandel is that I love fishing and I haven’t been able to go fishing in a long, long time. Once I get the line in there, I just relax and don’t have a worry in the world. That’s my CCC place.

What’s that? Cool, calm and collected. Somewhere I can just chill. You need that time in farming. I see you’ve also joined the Farmstrong champions network. Why did you do that? I love Farmstrong because the advice is coming from the horse’s mouth. When you hear other farmers who are actually involved in the business that really lands with me. That’s what I love about it. You see all these people who are going through the same thing as you, knee-deep in challenges and they’re still ﬁnding a way through. That’s inspiring. It gives you light at the end of the tunnel. How do you stay Farmstrong? I remember reading that Farmstrong tip about celebrating the little wins. That’s so bloody true. If you’re always waiting for the big win in farming, it’s a long time for your body and mind to go through the gauntlet. If you can focus on the little wins that keep you happy each day that’s when you’re really winning. You’ve obviously found the right job. I was in my early 30s when I started farming. I wasn’t happy with my prior

life, got a taste of dairy farming and never looked back. Fifteen years on, I’m still doing it, and although we have our ups and downs every year, I still love it. It’s given me satisfaction. It’s given me a home and security. In a lot of ways, mate, it’s saved my life. Looking back on your career what have you learned? You get your turn at everything in farming. Many of the challenges are out of your control, but how you choose to experience them is deﬁnitely up to you. I’ve become a real advocate for rural mental health and one of the best tools we can use is reaching out to friends, family, colleagues in the industry, organisations like rural support and even farming friends on social media. Our farming community is very caring. We are all available for a yarn if needed. I’m always there for anyone who’s struggling and needs to chat. Farmstrong is a nationwide, rural wellbeing programme that helps farmers and growers manage the ups and downs of farming. Last year more than 15,000 farmers attributed an increase in their wellbeing to the programme. farmstrong.co.nz.

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Deadline looming for century farms Farming families who have worked the land for 100 years or more, can apply now to be recognised for their commitment and dedication to the land. By Sonita Chandar.

Farming families that have farmed their land for a 100 years or more can be awarded a Century Farm award.

ith tough times hitting the agricultural sector at various times and mum and dad farms increasingly being sold to corporates, it is great to see there are still farms out there that have been in the same family for 100 years or more. Families with a long heritage of farming their land can enter New Zealand Century Farms and Station awards to gain recognition and join the elite circle of centenarians and sesqui-centenarians. To date, more than 650 families from throughout New Zealand have joined this elite group. The awards committee say that keeping any farm or station in a family from generation to generation through challenging times is an impressive achievement and deserves to be recognised. “Farming, whether agricultural, viticultural or horticultural, has been the backbone and prosperity of our country and continues to be so today. From breaking in the land by hand and then horse to modern day equipment.

Left: Award recipients will be honoured at the New Zealand Century Farm and Station Awards event next year. Right: Century Farms logo features in a plaque recived by farming famiies in recognition of their commitment to the land.

Through wars, depressions, pandemics, droughts and ﬂoods, ﬁnancial crisis and government policies these families have survived and built an amazing legacy. They have stories worth telling, not just from a farming perspective but a cultural and social perspective as well. The face of rural New Zealand and its resilience, ingenuity, community and an abiding love for the land they call home.” NZCFSA chairperson, Edward Fitzgerald says judging by the number of applications

already in, it’s gearing up to be another good year. He said this year’s event held in May in Lawrence was another huge hit with visiting families, and the committee continues to receive accolades from those who attended. “The award recipients ﬁnd the whole process a very rewarding and emotional experience – from the gathering of their farming history through to the coming together of extended family at the awards ceremony.”

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Fitzgerald says it is a chance for all generations to reflect on the challenges and achievements over 100+ years and share those memories. “It really is a special evening.” The programme began in 2005 in Lawrence with an aim to capture and preserve these histories of pioneering families and their descendants. Eligible families submit narratives of their history, together with copies of related photographs and supporting documents which are then archived at the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington, ensuring all records are kept in perpetuity. A formal dinner in Lawrence each May honours the awardees and their significant achievement of 100 or more years in farming. It is a chance for recipients to meet each other and formally receive their distinctive bronze plaque and certificate to display on their property. There is also an informal evening gathering on the Friday, with an optional tour on Saturday morning. Families who have farmed their land since 1925 or earlier are eligible to apply for this special acknowledgment of their hard work and perseverance. The programme has a “first in, first served” policy (capped at 40 families per year) for each awards event and the committee will use discretion on whether they carry applications over into a following year. The deadline for the 2025 application round is November 30, 2025 Further information including application form can be found on www.centuryfarms. co.nz emailing info@centuryfarms.co.nz phoning Anne Barnett on 027 788 8135, or Karen Roughan on 027 491 8528.

NZ Farmer

November 2025

38 Travel NZ Farmer

Heritage and luxury: a taste of First a relaxing journey, then a peaceful hotel. Maxine Jacobs gets a chance to catch her breath.

Taking in the ocean view as the Great Journeys New Zealand Coastal Pacific train, from Christchurch to Picton, approaches Kaikōura.

ike most South Islanders, I have travelled between Picton and Christchurch on State Highway 1 more times than I can count – but never like this. Pictures of Christchurch ﬂash past us. They are all places we recognise, but the view is different from behind the large glass windows of the Scenic Plus carriage of the Great Journeys New Zealand’s Coastal Paciﬁc line. Without the distraction of the road, we get the freedom to take in the suburbs, then push through into the rugged rural North Canterbury landscape as we make our way up the coast. As we pass by, it is almost like we are looking into the lives of these communities that cannot be seen from the well-travelled highway, but our eyes are drawn back into the carriage as the meals begin. One after another we are presented with cakes and gourmet eggs benedict to start with our coffee, tea, or perhaps a Hunter’s MiruMiru bubbles to toast to the voyage as we set out towards Blenheim’s luxury stay, The Marlborough Boutique Hotel & Vineyard. The meals use elements of the communities we pass through, from the salt of the Lake Grassmere Saltworks to the lamb grazing the pastures on the rolling hills. Great Journeys, the tourism arm of state-owned KiwiRail, is the perfect relaxing way to travel the South Island’s northern east coast before we reach the charming tranquillity of The Marlborough. The Marlborough was originally built in 1901 for the Sisters of Mercy. It has since changed hands a few times before current owner Angela Dillon took it over and transformed the historic Victorian Convent into a luxury

MAXINE JACOBS/ THE PRESS

The toi Māori ( Māori art) on the ceiling of the carriage represents the journey through the land, with manu (birds) placed along the centre representing the guests.

escape in 2016. Nestled between the mountainous vistas of the Wither Hills and the Richmond Ranges, the hotel is complete with an exclusive vineyard, the award-winning restaurant Harvest, and curated garden escapes; behind every tree is a new pathway with wonders to discover. Dillon has carefully preserved the building to retain its timeless elegance, while adding touches of contemporary design, art and the comforts expected for a respite from daily life. The scent of locally made candles is the ﬁrst thing to greet us as we enter, putting us at ease in our home away from home for the next few nights.

BEV’S SPAIN & PORTUGAL TOUR

Slices of complimentary cake and wine from the hotel’s vineyard await us in our room. From the balcony, perfectly manicured grass leads to a ﬁre pit beside the restored chapel, where the evening begins. The chapel, which is deconsecrated, begins to ﬁll with other travellers anticipating cocktails and canapes hour, a tantalising taster from Harvest’s executive chef Wieland Matzig before we settle in for dinner. Fruits, vegetables and garnishes from the garden, cared for lovingly by Santiago Sosa, will form the foundation of our dishes tonight. Everything else, such as the mussels or

From the cities of Barcelona and Madrid, to the picturesque Catalonian countryside and the ﬂamenco dancers in Seville you will be captivated by Spain. Then kick back and relax, taste the wine and indulge in the cuisine on your all inclusive river cruise in Portugal, sailing down the dreamy Douro past terraced vineyards and charming villages. Tour Dates: 30 May - 17 June 2026 from New Plymouth

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November 2025

NZ Farmer

Travel 39 NZ Farmer

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the South Island’s very best

From left, the award-winning Harvest restaurant is connected to The Marlborough Boutique Hotel & Vineyard, a luxury escape on the outskirts of Blenheim.

A pāua-inspired shimmer lights up the ocean as the Seafood Odyssea Marlborough Sounds Cruise carves its path through the sea.

the Lumina lamb, is sourced from nearby businesses. Harvest, one of two ‘hatted’ restaurants in Marlborough (Aotearoa’s version of a Michelin Star), has a ‘farm-tofork’ philosophy. The ﬁrst velvety bite of chef’s lamb main course paired expertly by Neil Kapadia, ranked 56th sommelier in the country, is enough to show us why the restaurant has earnt its hat. We retire to the study for a whisky and port, complimentary of course, before resting for the big day ahead on the Seafood Odyssea Marlborough Sounds Cruise. The skies were blue and the Sounds were calm as we sailed out of Picton to

heaving tourist load and with mild weather warming us on the boat, it is a paradise waiting for locals to snap up before the scorching summer arrives. Back at The Marlborough we are greeted by a special peek into the newest addition to the stay, The Secret Shack. Built on the banks of the Spring Creek with views of the hotel, restaurant and vineyard, Shack is anything but a hack job. Head chef Abhishek Thakur presides over the secluded dining experience that is lit by a brazier and gentle lamp light from above. It is the perfect place to take a breath, and feel at peace, ahead of returning to the

explore the almost untouched crevices of the jewel of Marlborough. Captain Fred Gaudin explains how Marlborough is the only true sounds in Te Waipounamu (the South Island) as they can only be made by the sea encroaching on the land. He takes us past the local school’s mussel farm, which can host tonnes of mussels on a single line. The water is a mirror of the sky and the ngahere (forest) towering over us. Its reﬂection swirls together, creating a pāua-like mirage on the sea’s surface. Marlborough is known as a summer holiday spot, but in the spring, without the

Fact file: ■ The Coastal Pacific travels from Christchurch to Picton, from $259 per person. Scenic Plus cabin from $519. See: greatjourneysnz.com ■ Stay at The Marlborough, from $2150 a night. See: themarlborough.co.nz hotel for our final rest in paradise before boarding the train back home in style. The writer was hosted by Destination Marlborough and Great Journeys.

T O O B M U G Y L N O E TH MADE IN D N A L A E NEW Z TAKE A STEP TO REDUCING YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT Every year, New Zealanders send 2.5 million tonnes of waste to landfill—over a tonne per household—much of it unrecycled and non-biodegradable. To help change this, Bata Industrials has launched the PVC Gumboot Recycling Program, turning old gumboots into raw materials for new ones. Our goal is zero PVC gumboot waste, with easy drop-off recycling bins at our nationwide distributors.

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Tom Walsh, NZ Athlete

NZ Farmer

November 2025

40 Diary NZ Farmer

What’s on ● November 5: Dairy Women’s Network

2025 Precision Dairy Farming Conference, live webinar What it is, why you should attend, and what you will learn! Curious about how automation, sensors, robotics, and data are shaping the future of dairying? Join us for an exclusive webinar introducing the 4th International Precision Dairy Farming Conference – coming to Christchurch on December 3-5. Info at dwn.co.nz/events

● November 5: FMG

Liability Seminar, Hawera A seminar/chat dedicated to identifying liability trends and offering risk-based advice derived from real claims data and expertise. Our aim is to provide information to better protect your staff, your family, and yourself. Info at fmg.co.nz

● November 6: DairyNZ

Research Farm Tour and DairyNZ Annual Meeting, Waikato The DairyNZ Board invites all levy payers to explore our purpose-built Scott and Lye Farms and hear about current research and then to attend the annual meeting at Zenders Cafe. Info at dairyevents.co.nz

● November 11: B+LNZ

Ladies’ Long Lunch – Reﬁll your Cup, Dargaville Join us for an afternoon celebrating the strength, leadership, and genuine connection of rural women. When women come together, incredible things happen. Info at beeﬂambnz.com/events

● November 11: Deer Industry New Zealand

Diversified Farm Field Days, Manawatū-Whanganui/WLG Join us for Farming’s Full House, a field day designed to help you explore the benefits of diversifying with sheep, beef, and deer. Info at deernz.org/home/events

● November 11: Dairy Women’s Network

Johne’s Disease: Practical control for NZ Farmers, live webinar Join LIC for a webinar designed to help you understand and manage Johne’s Disease on your farm. Info at dwn.co.nz/events

● November 11, 12 and 18: B+LNZ

Protecting Your Patch Workshops, Northland and Manawatū-Whanganui/ WLG On farm biosecurity is about so much more than washing your boots. A workshop where you can build a plan to protect your patch. Info at beeﬂambnz.com/events

● November 12: Rural Support Trust Turning of the Tide quiz night, Whakātane Join us at Mata Brewery for three fun evenings of paddock-to-point-break trivia with a twist of land and sea. Info at rural-support.org.nz/events

● November 13: Taranaki Catchment Communities Health Safety and Wellbeing for Safe Farms and Strong Teams Free, informative farm health and safety workshops. Info at dairyevents.co.nz

● November 13: B+LNZ

Quad Safety Management Day, Manawatū-Whanganui/WLG Safety and awareness presentation for safe Quadbike operation. Training provides individuals with understanding of dynamics, riding techniques, loading, and maintenance for the safe operation of quad bikes. Info at beeﬂambnz.com/events

● November 18: Massey University

Shedding breeding trial farm ﬁeld day, Wairarapa Massey University is hosting a Field Day at Riverside farm to showcase the research from the school of agriculture and environment in sheep and beef farming systems. Info at beeﬂambnz.com/events

● November 20: SMASH

Simple and Proﬁtable Systems, Waikato Our hosts, farm owners Mike White and Daphne Missirlis, milk 375 cows in a System 4 on their 112 ha farm. Info at smallerherds.co.nz

● November 25: DairyNZ

Adverse Weather Management, Top of South Is Join us on-farm with hosts Fraser and Christine Macbeth, alongside FarmWise consultant Brent Boyce, for an insightful session focused on practical strategies to manage wet weather, summer-dry conditions, and reﬂections on recent ﬂooding events. Info at dairyevents.co.nz

● November 27: Owl Farm

Owl Farm Focus Day, Waikato Review the season to date and discuss relevant seasonal topics. Info at owlfarm.nz

● Dairy Women’s Network

First Aid for Farmers, various dates and locations Out in the paddock or the orchard, help isn’t always close by. Having the right ﬁrst aid skills can make all the difference in a medical emergency. Join Hato Hone St John for a hands-on course tailored with the agricultural sector in mind. Info at dwn.co.nz/events

● Dairy Hoofcare Institute

Lameness Management Workshop, various dates and locations This workshop is designed to give students an overview of issues relating to lameness management and introduce them to the 5-step trimming process. Info at dairyhoofcareinstitute.ac.nz

● Dairy Training Ltd

Dairy Training Ltd has a range of courses in November across the country. Info at dairyevents.co.nz

● Federated Farmers, FMG and DairyNZ

Farming partnerships that work, various dates and locations Sharemilking and contract milking are business partnerships with huge opportunities for growth – but getting the foundations right is essential. Info at dairyevents.co.nz

Registration is essential for many events. Check the websites for more events.

New NEIT platform strengthens equine biosecurity in NZ New Zealand’s equine sector has taken proactive steps to protect horses from disease outbreaks with the National Equine Identification and Traceability (NEIT) system going live on October 1. Developed by the New Zealand Equine Health Association (NZEHA) utilising the existing NZ Companion Animals Register software, the system captures critical information about horses, their locations, and owner contact details — essential data for managing potential disease outbreaks. NZEHA Executive Advisor Dr Trish Pearce explains the sector faces high risk, with over 1,500 horses imported annually. New Zealand’s horse population remains healthy, with fewer than 1 in 5 international equine diseases present here. However, under the Biosecurity Act 1993 and Government Industry Agreement (GIA), the sector would be expected to cover 50% of outbreak management costs. The NZEHA already manages frequent small outbreaks. Recently, a horse imported from

Europe tested positive for Theileria equi, requiring eight months to trace all contacts and confirm containment. Currently, tracing horse movements is laborious. “We are getting small outbreaks like that all the time. We are forever tracking down horses. It’s a reality, it’s not in the future,” Pearce says. For Pearce, it’s about sector responsibility. “This is our system, it’s for horse owners and their horses, but it’s a group effort. We are doing it not only for our horses, but for our mates’ horses.” “I think the horse sector should stand up and be proud. We are leading the way. We have great, healthy horses, and we want to keep them that way. It’s our responsibility as a sector, and we are trying to get ahead of the game.” Registration costs just $15 for a horse’s lifetime, and all data remains private. For more information, visit www.neit.org.nz

November 2025

NZ Farmer

New Zealand’s End of Year Unreserved Auction 13 November

Volvo EC460CL

2008 Cat 320DL RR

2007 Cat 740

2008 Volvo G990

2001 Cat 345B

2025 40 ft High Cube Multi-Door Storage Container

2025 9 ft Storage Container

2010 Allight Series A 9 m Light Tower

2003 New Holland TG285 4WD

1984 Palﬁnger PK9700A R3X 3660 kg Knuckle Boom on 1986 Isuzu 4x4 Table Top Truck w.Crane

Unused - Suihe Portable Restroom

Unused - 1 of 2 - 2250 mm 20-Drawer Workbench

Buy or sell with Ritchie Bros. and get ahead for 2026! Every item sells to the highest bidder, with no minimums and no reserves. This is your opportunity to expand your ﬂeet or source equipment at true market value. View the full inventory and register to bid at rbauction.co.nz

NZ Farmer

November 2025

FOR SALE ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES • Situated on Spur Road West, Colyton, Manawatu is this 35 ha ex Dairy Farm that is in two titles.

• With flat to gentle contour it has milked up to 80 cows and most recently run as a dairy run-off.

• Features include a three bedroom plus

office brick family home, set in well treed grounds with internal access carport and garage.

• Herringbone cow shed with rectangular

yard (disused), two stand woolshed and piggery with fattening pens. There is a separate hay shed and two good sized machinery sheds.

• With good subdivision, excellent water

and pastures, this property could have many income streams. Now the choice is yours to decide the best use for you.

• Tenders close 26th November 2025,1pm. Call Les to inspect and discuss your options on 0274 420 582

HIGH PRODUCTION DAIRY UNIT

RIVER SILT SOILS MANAWATU

•

Situated on some of the best silt country south of Bulls, is this 311 ha property compromising of 246 ha freehold, and 65 ha Council lease.

•

Currently milking around 350 cows with a production averaging around 155,000 Kg/MS.

With very good soils, along with a coastal climate and excellent irrigation, this property could have many options from dairy through to growing vegetables.

•

If you are looking for a well performing farm in a good spot, then this could be you.

Infrastructure includes plenty of housing, a very good cowshed along with feed pad and plenty of shedding.

•

Priced to sell with takeover to suit.

If you are looking for strong silt soils, coastal climate and all year-round production, then this property could be for you.

•

Situated in the Glen Oroua district of the Manawatu is this well laid out 114 ha dairy farm.

•

With excellent facilities including a lovely four-bedroom family home, 26 aside herringbone cowshed with in bale feeding and centre pivot irrigation.

•

Call Les to inspect and discuss your options on 0274 420582

•

• • •

• •

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Call Les to inspect and discuss your options on 0274 420582

SUPER HANDY LOCATION IN PALMERSTON NORTH

DAIRY FARM WITH IRRIGATION

Situated on a quiet country road south of Bulls, in the Rangitikei is this flat 214 ha irrigated dairy farm. With a mix of strong sandy flats with some lighter country, that is well raced. Very good bore water supplies irrigators and farm for all year grass growth. Currently milking over 600 cows with production averaging 235,000 Kg/MS, this farm is a consistent performer. Good herringbone cowshed, fourbedroom family home, good shedding. If you are looking for an all year-round performing property and enjoy a coastal lifestyle & fresh fish, is this you? Priced to sell. What’s your offer?

Call Les to inspect and discuss your options on 0274 420 582

Sallan Realty

Google ‘Sallan Realty’

Your Farm Sales Specialist

•

17.8 hectares of Te Arakura silt and sandy loam soils on Flygers Line.

•

Currently used for cropping and could have a multitude of other uses including fattening cattle or veggies.

•

Excellent building site with northerly aspect and well sheltered from the south.

•

Just minutes to the CBD with outstanding views through to the ranges.

•

Motivated vendor, looking to sell!

Call Les to inspect and discuss your options on 0274 420582

0800 SALLAN Licensed Agent REAA 2008

November 2025

NZ Farmer

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NZ Farmer

November 2025

s Paradise Jenna, Peak 0 der since 201 Sharehold

Score some

winsthis summer

Having good nutrition at the ready is another run on the board towards a successful season. At Farmlands, we aim to set you up for some wins with expert advice and support, reliable products and timely supply, and a card that gives you all that and more at a better price.

Shop summer offers in store, with your rep, or on FarmlandsPRO.