Nathan Guy is the new special agricultural trade envoy
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Former Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy has been appointed the new chairman of the Meat Industry Association (MIA) following the retirement of current chairman John Loughlin from the role.
Loughlin will finish his six-year term after the annual Red Meat Sector Conference in Christchurch on 31 July – 1 August 2022.
“It has been a privilege to serve as MIA chair for the last six years,” says Loughlin.
“This was a time of challenge and opportunity and it has been great to be part of the red meat sector working cohesively and contributing to the wider primary sector.”
Loughlin says Guy has a strong primary sector background and understands the challenges and opportunities that primary industries face.
“As a former Crown Minister, including as the Minister for Primary Industries, Nathan brings his experience, understanding, networking and relationship skills to the role,” he says.
Guy says he is looking forward to taking a lead in the sector and working with a range of stakeholders to keep driving the red meat industry forward.
“As the incoming Chairman, and on behalf of the Meat Industry Association, I’d like to thank John for his contribution and acknowledge the depth of industry and governance experience that he has brought to the role.
“We have been fortunate to have had his leadership as the sector has negotiated a number of industry challenges, which have included managing the impacts of Covid-19 on the sector and addressing agriculture’s approach to greenhouse gas emissions.”
Last month's Agritechnica event led to a wide group of manufacturers celebrating successes when the 2026 Tractor of the Year Competition winners, selected by a panel of European journalists, were announced in Hanover Germany.
According to the latest Federated Farmers banking survey, farmers are more satisfied with their bank and less under pressure, however, the sector is well short of confidence levels seen last decade.
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.

OPINION: The release of the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill to replace the Resource Management Act is a red-letter day…
OPINION: Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ for ‘The Twelve Pests of Christmas’ to…