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The Government’s roadmap includes legislation ending New Zealand’s nearly 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab.
OPINION: Last year, Federated Farmers wrote to all political parties seeking support for reforming genetically modified technology rules.
Last week, it was evident that many stakeholders are warming to the idea of revisiting the regulations governing genetic technologies in New Zealand, as the science has advanced rapidly in recent years.
The Government’s roadmap includes legislation ending New Zealand’s nearly 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab and setting up a dedicated regulator to oversee applications to use gene technology. Both should be in place by the end of next year. Opposition parties, the Greens and Labour, aren’t ruling out supporting the legislation.
The Government’s roadmap includes legislation ending New Zealand’s nearly 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab and setting up a dedicated regulator to oversee applications to use gene technology. Both should be in place by the end of next year. Opposition parties, the Greens and Labour, aren’t ruling out supporting the legislation.
Farmers are always looking for new technologies to help them improve their production, increase their profit, or reduce their environmental footprint. Also to help them reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve drought resilience, or increase farm production.
They are real possibilities, however, there will always be risks and trade-offs that need to be carefully considered too, like how international consumers would feel about such a change.
Therefore, the Feds rightly point out that any legislation needs to be fit for purpose and adequately address any possible risks.
The potential opportunities here are too great to just leave them sitting on the table without even looking at them. The Government has launched the conversation and that’s a great start.
Federated Farmers says new legislation replacing the Resource Management Act will cut red tape, unlock investment and help grow New Zealand's export-led economy, after the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill passed their third reading in Parliament yesterday.
Leading figures from the major political parties will be questioned on their primary sector policies at the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, on 30 September.
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Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers arable chair, Bevan Lill, said Beef + Lamb NZ data indicated that for the last six years, the average arable return on investment was about 0.8% while inflation ran about 4% - so the average arable farm was going backwards at about 3% a year.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.
For Canterbury dairy farmers Sian Meijer and Rick Wobben, wearable technology has become one of their most valuable on-farm tools - helping manage 1850 cows across an expansive, high-performing dairy operation while improving efficiency, mating outcomes and day-to-day decision making.
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.
The first major update to the Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare in more than a decade has been released, marking what DairyNZ describes as an important step in ensuring animal welfare standards continue to evolve alongside scientific evidence and on-farm realities.
Ravensdown shareholders have elected Jane Montgomery and Kate Acland to the Ravensdown Board for three-year terms, following a closely contested director election.
Federated Farmers says new legislation replacing the Resource Management Act will cut red tape, unlock investment and help grow New Zealand's export-led economy, after the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill passed their third reading in Parliament yesterday.
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