New CEO for meat board
Nick Beeby has been appointed as the new chief executive of the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).
David Walker has been confirmed as the new Government Appointee to the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).
From 2017 to 2021, Walker was the New Zealand Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
He was the first New Zealander to chair the WTO General Council and has also chaired the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body and Committee on Agriculture in Special Session.
He also holds a PhD in economics.
NZMB chair Andrew Morrison says the board is pleased to welcome Walker to the role.
“David brings a unique skill set to the board. His global experience and knowledge will be a significant asset as the New Zealand Meat Board navigates the opportunities and the challenges that lie ahead for the sector,” he says.
Morrison also thanked outgoing appointee Renée Hogg, who served on the board since May 2020.
“We have greatly valued Renée’s contribution as we have worked through one of the most difficult periods in the industry’s history.”
The NZMB is currently marking its 100th year as a critical player in the New Zealand red meat sector.
As a statutory body, governed by the Meat Board Act 2004, it is responsible for managing quotas in export markets that earn over $2 billion annually. It also manages over $80 million in reserves on behalf of livestock farmers as a fighting fund available for contingency events. The interest from these reserves is reinvested into projects on behalf of the industry.
The 2025 game bird season is underway with Hawke’s Bay and Southland reporting the ideal weather conditions for hunters – rain and wind.
A group of meat processing companies, directors and managers have been fined a total of $1.6 million for deliberately and illegally altering exported tallow for profit.
New Zealand’s top cheeses for 2025 have been announced and family-owned, Oamaru-based Whitestone Cheese is the big winner.
Waikato farmer, and Owl Farm demonstration manager, Jo Sheridan is the 2025 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
New Zealand’s special agricultural trade envoy Hamish Marr believes the outlook for the dairy sector remains strong.
Everyone from experienced veterinarians and young professionals to the Wormwise programme and outstanding clinics have been recognised in this year’s New Zealand Veterinary Association Te Pae Kīrehe (NZVA) awards.