Esther Guy-Meakin Appointed Chief Executive of the NZ Meat Board
Esther Guy-Meakin has been announced as the new chief executive of the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).
Quota markets - the European Union, the United Kingdom and the US - take $4.2 billion of red meat exports, overseen by the New Zealand Meat Board.
The NZMB board meeting, held earlier this month, heard that results, based on free on board (FOB) returns to the year ended 30 September 2025, represent a 35.5% increase for export values and a 59.2% increase in tariff savings compared to the same period in 2024.
The board now manages 10 country-specific tariff rate quotas. These include New Zealand's longstanding World Trade Organization (WTO) quotas, the United States and the more recently negotiated free trade agreement quotas covering beef, sheepmeat and goatmeat products to the European Union and the United Kingdom.
"As we look back on the last year, it's clear that the board continues to provide stability and confidence for the red meat sector in what remains a highly unpredictable global environment," said NZMB chair Kate Acland.
"Market volatility, shifting demand patterns and strong pricing in key export markets have again highlighted the importance of New Zealand's high-quality market access and the robust systems that sit behind it.
"Exports of red meat to quota markets managed by the board represent a 46% share of New Zealand's total red meat exports by value in the seasonal year to 30 September, up 40% from 2024."
In a year when market conditions in China have been weaker than previous years, this diversified access continues to underpin the resilience of the sector.
Acland says stronger use of lamb quotas and higher demand in New Zealand's traditional markets largely offset the reduced demand in China.
She adds that demand for New Zealand beef in the US again reinforced the value of this longstanding quota market, along with strong interest developing in the UK and the EU markets for New Zealand beef.
NZMB chief executive Nick Beeby said that throughout the year the board had also focused on strengthening systems and governance, including a detailed review of processes and system administration.
"Work is underway on a rebuild of the Board's legacy quota management system. This will future proof the quota management function, replacing aging infrastructure with a more secure and modern digital platform," says Beeby.
Quota utilisation had increased in the 2025 year to 31 December and has started strongly in 2026.
"This increasing utilisation shows the importance of New Zealand maintaining our current market access conditions in times of global trade volatility and the benefit of markets provides to our sector," says Bobby.
Farmer Reserves
The NZMB also administer significant farmer reserves. As of 30 September 2025, its managed investment portfolio carried a market value of $98.6 million.
This includes a contingency fund of $69.8 million to help New Zealand re-enter export markets in the event of a biosecurity incursion or disruption in quota markets.
Interest from this fund is used, in consultation with sheep and beef farmers, for industry-good projects.
During 2025, the Board provided $1.4 million for the Eliminating Facial Eczedma Impacts (EFEI) programme.
This funding is helping EFEI drive major productivity gains behind the farm gate for thousands of sheep, beef and dairy farmers across the country.
