Editorial: Optimism all around
OPINION: Two reports out last week confirm that the worst may be over for pastoral farmers.
OPINION: The dairy industry will be a major beneficiary of a new free trade deal between NZ and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).
The council, comprising some of the world's wealthiest countries - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE - already buy $1.8 billion worth of NZ dairy products. This makes the GCC region our second-largest dairy market after China. New Zealand and GCC trade is worth over $3 billion annually, with New Zealand exporting $2.6 billion in the year to June 2024.
The New Zealand Government - in particular Trade Minister Todd McClay - deserves a pat on the back for this achievement. Previous NZ governments must also be acknowledged for laying the foundation for the trade deal. It delivers on an 18 year-long ambition for New Zealand to bag this high-quality trade deal in the Middle East.
This is the highest quality deal the GCC has done to date and its first with a major agricultural exporter. It delivers duty-free access for 99% of New Zealand's exports over 10 years and when combined with our recently concluded NZ-UAE CEPA, 51% of our exports to the region will be tariff-free from day one.
Dairy processors welcome this deal along with the other recent deal between NZ and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Locking in elimination of the already low tariffs on key dairy products into this highly valuable market provides important commercial certainty for dairy exporters, according to the Dairy Companies Association of NZ (DCANZ).
It wants the Government to maintain momentum and ambition to bring down barriers with other negotiating partners, including upgrading existing trade agreements that have not yet secured dairy tariff elimination. This will ensure continuing high quality and high value markets for our world-class dairy products.
On the eve of his departure from Federated Farmers board, Richard McIntyre is thanking farmers for their support and words of encouragement during his stint as a farmer advocate.
A project reducing strains and sprains on farm has won the Innovation category in the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards 2025.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and other sector organisations, has launched a national survey to understand better the impact of facial eczema (FE) on farmers.
One of New Zealand's latest and largest agrivoltaics farm Te Herenga o Te Rā is delivering clean renewable energy while preserving the land's agricultural value for sheep grazing under the modules.
Global food company Nestle’s chair Paul Bulcke will step down at its next annual meeting in April 2026.
Brendan Attrill of Caiseal Trust in Taranaki has been announced as the 2025 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing and recipient of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the National Sustainability Showcase at in Wellington this evening.
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