Damien O’Connor Criticises Budget 2026 as ‘Miserable’ for Rural New Zealand
A miserable budget that didn’t deliver much for anyone.
Onions New Zealand and the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) fund will jointly invest $6 million in a six-year integrated programme called ‘Humble to Hero: Transforming the New Zealand Onion Industry’.
“Consumers around the globe are increasingly looking for values-based products that are light on the environment, and sustainably produced. This programme seeks to differentiate our onions from those produced in the rest of the world,” O’Connor says.
“Last week we announced our FTA with the UK, which from day one will remove the 8% tariff on onions. With developments like that and an investment like this, it’s an exciting time to be working with Onions New Zealand to transform our onion industry.
“We’re aiming to be the champion nation for producing top-quality onions with low inputs.
“This will include showing we have a reliable and traceable product, tackling industry greenhouse gas emissions, exploring smarter options to reduce waste, and embedding sustainable growing systems more widely. Each of these will add layers of value to discerning consumers.”
O’Connor says the ‘Humble to Hero’ programme complements the Fit for a Better World roadmap to increase exports, lower emissions, improve the environment and employ more people in the food and fibre sector.
He says that through the SFF Futures fund, the Government has to date co-invested more than $142 million into 163 industry projects worth almost $313 million in total.
O’Connor says New Zealand has been exporting onions since the 1960s.
“New Zealand’s onion industry punches well above its weight globally, and there is still significant opportunity to expand. It’s time to move out of the commodity market and capture emerging high-value opportunities.
“Last year, onions brought $137 million of export revenue into the country. The industry is targeting a $31 million in export value by 2027. The programme seeks to work with industry, by investing in targeted research and boosting sustainable growing practices,” O’Connor says.
