Future Post sets "benchmark"
A company transforming waste plastics into valuable vineyard posts took top prize at the 2025 Port Marlborough – Marlborough Environment Awards.
A company that makes fence posts from 100% recycled plastics has won an innovation award at the NZ National Fieldays.
Future Post says its product boasts a stronger build with more durability than traditional fence post designs.
Judges at Fieldays innovation awards said this product provides a way for farmers to participate in addressing what is a massive environmental problem for New Zealand.
“This is a positive and potential game changing step towards dealing with New Zealand’s plastic recycling challenge,” they said. The company won the Fieldays Launch NZ Award.
Future Post was founded in the time-honoured kiwi way of trying to find an ingenious solution for a challenging problem. While attempting to build a fence on an old rubbish dump site, Jerome Wenzlick found his wooden fence posts were breaking as he tried ramming them through all the waste plastic in the ground.
With a passion for the environment, Jerome had the revelation that if he could build a stronger fence post from waste plastic, he’d also help solve a bigger environmental problem. Soon after, a chance meeting with Bindi Ground, a farmer with previous experience in recycling and repurposing products, led to a business partnership and a commitment to produce premium fencing products that perform better and lasts for longer.
Future Post works closely with Fonterra; getting recycled Anchor milk bottles to make their product.
Chinese textile company Saibosi has partnered with Wools of New Zealand to put the 'farm to floor' story of New Zealand wool rugs on screen for its customers.
Showcasing the huge range of new technologies and science that is now available was one of the highlights at last week's National Fieldays.
Coby Warmington, 29, a farm manager at Waima Topu Beef near Hokianga was named at the winner of the 2025 Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer Award for sheep and beef.
Northlanders scooped the pool at this year's prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy Awards - winning both the main competition and the young Maori farmer award.
Red meat farmers are urging the Government to act on the growing number of whole sheep and beef farm sales for conversion to forestry, particularly carbon farming.
The days of rising on-farm inflation and subdued farmgate prices are coming to an end for farmers, helping lift confidence.