Editorial: Outstanding Performance

Our primary exports hit a new high of $64.3 billion, a risee of 6% - and that was on top of 13% increase in 2025. Not bad for a sector that has been challenged on the home front by a series of adverse weather events and rising costs.

Not to mention a multiplicity of global events ranging from wars to tariffs which have been imposed out of the blue by countries that should know better.

The MPI report also sends a message to those individuals and organisations in NZ who demonised the dairy industry. The fact is that this sector generated 45% of the total export revenue generated by the primary sector - well ahead of meat and wool 22% and horticulture 15%.

Aside from the dairy industry is the rise and rise of our kiwifruit as an export earner - this year bringing in $4.7 billion and well on its way to making this $5.3 billion in 2030.

The report highlights a resilient high performing food and fibre sector driving healthy demand and prices for NZ's world class products.

This is a strong result in a challenging global environment shaped by the Middle East conflict and trade policies in key markets that have disrupted supply chains and raised inflation and input prices.

There is no doubt that the primary sector collectively - from farm and orchard to plate have performed outstandingly. Great products, clever science, good marketing, better access to markets and strong political support to do better.

But there is a but in all of this. While NZ is doing everything in its power to do better, the world is now a complex maize of threats that make it increasingly challenging for us to maintain the momentum we have enjoyed - at least in  the past year. The signing of more FTAs such as the recent one with India, developing new markets with affluent consumers that spread risk and reduce dependence on just a few big markets will be the order of the day.

So, while we can celebrate the success of 2026, we must be prepared and be agile and resilient to cope with what 2027 deals to us.