30,287 copies distributed monthly – to every rural mailbox in Canterbury and the West Coast
January 2019 Edition
INSIDE Wool’s up THIS EDITION Cool cows
p7
Surfer Pacha Light uses a Woolight surfboard designed and made in new Zealand using a new wool composite technology which replaces fibreglass in the board’s manufacture. The new technology, which is being backed by Landcorp and developed by uS firm Firewire which is co-owned by legendary surfing pro Kelly Slater, has the potential to be used in other manufacturing industries including boats, aircraft and furniture and its manufacturer says it could revive new Zealand’s wool industry.
For the full story go to Page 5.
Farm machinery
p14 Man’s best friend
Westland Milk to benefit from Government PGF loan The Government says it is helping future-proof a critical West Coast industry with a loan of $9.9 million from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) to enable a milk segregation project at Westland Milk Products.
p20 Wooly outlook
p33
❚ by Kent Caddick A purpose-designed plant for processing multiple segregated products will be a first for the New Zealand dairy industry, and a boost for the West Coast region, including creating jobs. The announcement was made by the Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones. “The West Coast community has highlighted dairy as a key industry for their region,’ Jones said. “With suppliers from Karamea to the glaciers and 430 employees in Hokitika, an investment in New Zealand-owned Westland
Milk Products is an investment in the economy of the whole West Coast.” The interest-bearing, repayable loan from the PGF will support the development of segregation facilities at the co-operative’s Hokitika site, which will enable Westland Milk Products to collect and process different types of milk products and milk, such as A2 milk and colostrum. “The objective is to encourage farmers to produce milk that can be turned into much higher value products, delivering higher returns without requiring an increase in herd numbers,” Jones said. “This level of segregation would pave the way for Westland Milk to grow its business
by processing to higher value products. This is a great example how technology can help drive growth that is both meaningful and sustainable. “Westland Milk Products has indicated it may explore using the facility to produce nonbovine milk, such as sheep and goat milk or plant-based protein. “This hi-tech investment will deliver a number of benefits such as upskilling some of the company’s manufacturing staff and attracting new talent to the region. The West Coast-based dairy co-operative welcomed the investment.
TO PAGE 2