Red meat industry hails new migrant visa rules as win for jobs and exports
New Zealand's red meat processing and exporting sector has welcomed the government's announcement of new work visas.
The Meat Industry Association has appointed Sirma Karapeeva as its new chief executive.
Karapeeva, who is currently the Meat Industry Association's (MIA) trade and economic manager, has been with the trade association since 2015. She replaces Tim Ritchie who is retiring after 12 years in the role.
Karapeeva, who takes over in April, held a variety of trade, policy and regulatory roles in Government before joining MIA.
She has a Bachelor of Business Studies, First Class Honours, from Massey University, Palmerston North.
MIA chairman John Loughlin says it is pleased to be able to appoint someone of Karapeeva’s calibre.
“She has built up important relationships across government and the industry and this will be vital as we collaborate with others to advance the interests of the red meat sector and New Zealand’s wider primary sector.
“Sirma has a strong understanding of the red meat sector’s priorities and challenges, practical experience and understanding of the international trade environment, negotiations and agreements and expertise in policy development.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Tim Ritchie for his service to the meat processing and exporting industry. He has made an outstanding contribution and we wish him well in his retirement.”
Karapeeva says the red meat sector is operating in an increasingly complex environment and faces a number of challenges both domestically and internationally.
“I am looking forward to supporting the sector to capture opportunities and position the industry as an innovative and progressive producer and exporter of safe, high quality food. Meat processing is the country’s largest manufacturing industry and makes a significant contribution to New Zealand.”
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.
OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.
DairyNZ says its plantain programme continues to deliver promising results, with new data confirming that modest levels of plantain in pastures reduce nitrogen leaching, offering farmers a practical, science-backed tool to meet environmental goals.
'Common sense' cuts to government red tape will make it easier for New Zealand to deliver safe food to more markets.