UNITED States beef prices have hardly flinched since the imposition of a 10% tariff by US President Donald Trump, but a subsequent tumbling in the value of the US dollar has pushed up farmgate prices in New Zealand dollars by nearly 5%.
That is one half of what is an unseasonally positive red meat price story, with lamb farmgate prices also defying the traditional price correction associated with the peak season flow to be still well over $8/kg due to strong export demand, especially out of Europe.
Bull and prime beef are both making over $7/kg, helped in part by the NZ-US exchange rate slipping US2c after Trump imposed a 10% tariff on imports from NZ.
In recent weeks the exchange rate sat around US57c-US58c and last Tuesday it was at US56c. Meat companies said uncertainty over the impact of the tariffs has prompted some large US grinding beef customers to sit out of the market to assess what may happen.
Some contracts have been signed at pre-tariff levels.
AgriHQ senior analyst Mel Croad said US beef prices were steady in the past week with the imported 95CL bull at US$3.20/lb and
imported 90CL cow at just over US$3/lb.
There is some procurement pressure by NZ meat companies seeking cattle to take advantage of strong beef markets, while for lamb there is some doubt about the accuracy of the forecast 16.9 million lambs for export slaughter.
Croad said while these prices are positive for farmers, the issue is whether they are sustainable.
“Is it sustainable? Are there consumers out there prepared to pay if the market continues to climb?”
She said the rising returns have given the sector breathing space as the implications of the tariffs play out.
Croad said the beef market has strengthened compared to this time last year, with the farmgate price for a 300kg carcase weight bull currently $495 higher and a 300kg carcase weight prime steer $480 higher.
In the South Island the improvement is between $540 and $555/head.
It is a similar story for lamb with prices increasing every week since the start of the year.
“We’re benefiting from really robust demand for lamb from traditional markets other than China.”
The South Island lamb kill has been slower than the North Island’s due to a poor spring, while store lamb prices are being
Continued page 3
Ahuwhenua honours may be in view
Grazing cells by the sea shore is proving a successful formula for the Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust farm in coastal Northland, a finalist in the 2025 Ahuwhenua Trophy for excellence in Māori farming. Pictured is farm manager Matthew Payne.
Photo: Alphapix Photography
SHEEP & BEEF 16-17
Farming groups applaud govt’s call on wool product
A vet with impact from the ground up
Ginny Dodunski, who came to the veterinary industry via a love for agriculture, has been honoured for her work by the NZ Veterinary Association. PEOPLE 8
NZ environmental health snapshot shows mixed results.
9
Ben Anderson knows who to trust in the new trading order.
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ISSN 2463-6002 (Print) ISSN 2463-6010 (Online)
Contents
Focus
1-13
14-15
16-17
Farmers . 18-21
News in brief
Collins appointed
Dargaville farmer Greg Collins is DairyNZ’s new associate director, starting the role on June 1.
Greg and wife Claire milk 140 cows on their Northland farm. He is involved in his local dairy community, with roles on the Fonterra Cooperative Council, Northland Agricultural Research Farm Committee and Northland Dairy Development Trust.
Farmer banned
26-27
28-31
32
FLAWED: Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton says the ETS system is flawed and has supercharged pine trees’ dominance in NZ’s forest landscape. STORY P12
A Woodville farmer has been banned from owning or being in charge of farm animals and placed on six months’ community detention over a lack of food and welfare that led to 55 sheep being euthanised and others suffering. Noel Thomas Cunningham, 64, was sentenced in the Palmerston North District on three charges he pleaded guilty to under the Animal Welfare Act, following a successful prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Molesworth Tb free
Cattle on New Zealand’s largest farm are free of bovine tuberculosis for the first time in nearly 40 years.
Tb has been present in stock on the 180,787 hectare Molesworth Station in Marlborough since the 1960s and the property has had continuous infected status since 1972, the longest of any farm in NZ. OSPRI chief executive Sam McIvor said clearing Molesworth’s stock of Tb was a significant step towards achieving Tb freedom.
Meet the Need chair
Nick Fisher has been appointed chair of Meet the Need, New Zealand’s farmer-led food charity. Fisher, who has a background in the meat industry and rural media, takes over from Julia Jones, a founding board member of Meet the Need. Fisher’s family founded Fishers Meat in 1915.
Leader finalists
Three dairy leaders who have demonstrated inspiration and excellence at the grassroots level of the dairy industry have been selected for the Dairy Women’s Network’s Regional Leader of the Year award for 2025. They are Tania Clark, from Waikato, Shayla McGrory, from Wairarapa, and Aimee Wilson of Waikato.
DairyNZ sets new levy rate
DAIRYNZ has set a new levy rate of 4.5 cents per kilogram of milk solids with the aim of keeping it at no more than this rate for a minimum of three years. It is the first time in 16 years that DairyNZ has changed its levy, and the new rate will begin from June 1.
The decision came after a month-long consultation with farmers across the country including online and in-person meetings. From that, DairyNZ received1588 formal feedback submissions.
DairyNZ put in front of farmers two options – a 4.4c-4.6c/kg MS rate dubbed the “maintain” option and a higher, 4.7c-5c/kg MS levy called the “accelerate” option.
The current levy is set at 3.6 cents per kilogram of milk solids. Of that, 0.8 cents is paid to TBfree
Continued from page 1
elevated by farmers restocking for late winter and early spring market.
Croad said average store lamb prices at Feilding last week were 90% higher than the comparable sale last year, averaging $141 compared to $74.
AFFCO manager Nigel Stevens said he remains wary of potential volatility with many large US grinding beef customers currently sitting out of the market to assess what could happen.
“They will need to buy soon, then we will have a clearer view.”
He said AFFCO has negotiated some contracts at pre-tariff prices but is aware of the potential
NZ (on-paid to OSPRI), leaving 2.8c for DairyNZ to function. Under the new rate, this is lifted to 3.7c.
The 1588 submissions translate to 18% of milksolids and does not include those farmers who gave feedback at the in-person or online meetings.
We
have set it for three years to really provide some certainty.
Tracy Brown DairyNZ
Of those submissions, 64% favoured the 4.4c-4.6c/kg MS rate, 14% wanted the “accelerate” option and 22% had no preference.
Feedback from farmers at the meetings centred on making sure that DairyNZ remained a strong industry-good organisation and this meant delivering independent science and research and providing evidence-based policy and onfarm extension and support for
impact of competitor pricing, supply and demand for red meat, alternative markets for products, and the impact of tariffs on economies and consumer confidence.
James McWilliam, Alliance’s global sales director, said while there is some uncertainty, buyer inquiries remain steady with last month.
“Demand and pricing in the US is strong on the back of record consumption and a shortage of domestic US beef, while there are supply constraints globally.”
Silver Fern Farm’s chief customer officer, Dave Courtney, said it is still early to determine how tariffs may change pricing.
The underlying demand for red
BALANCE DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown says the new milk solid levy strikes a balance between the different views of farmers while providing certainty that the levy rate will remain unchanged for three years.
dairy farmers, DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown said.
The levy adjustment strikes a balance between the different views of farmers while providing certainty that the rate will stay
meat remains strong in both in the US and across their key markets.
ANZCO general manager of sales and marketing Rick Walker said since Trump’s tariffs were announced some customers supplying the US market had been “testing the waters” with NZ exporters. This included suggesting renegotiating previously agreed prices.
Is it sustainable? Are there consumers out there prepared to pay if the market continues to climb?
“Some farmers endorsed our work and want us to do more, especially across science and research, while others wanted a
“They will be going out and seeing if there are any cracks in the armour but the consistent feedback which we hope from the industry is in line with our view is that NZ is not playing ball on this one.”
Walker said NZ beef exporters are in a strong position and are not going to be pushed around by buyers.
“We are short of beef.
“It is not like we are saying we need to get six weeks of contracts done because our freezers are full.
“And so we are not in a position where we are extremely nervous at our end about our inventory positions.
“It changes the dynamics slightly.”
stronger commercial focus to keep costs down, or the levy rate to remain unchanged.
“In making the decision, the board carefully considered the feedback, how best to support farmers and provide certainty into the future, the financial sustainability of DairyNZ, and sector resilience.”
That feedback will see improvements including in farmer engagement, transparency around levy spending and return on their investment, and in the science and research programme to keep the focus sharp on productivity, resilience and sustainability.
“That’s a ‘watch this space’. We will be coming back to communicate with farmers in the near future with around what that might look like,” Brown said.
While the new levy rate will be held at 4.5c for no more than three years, it will continue to be reviewed each year by the DairyNZ board as required under legislation.
The three-year commitment was made because next year DairyNZ will hold its levy vote, which takes place every six years.
“We have set it for three years to really provide some certainty because of the overlap with the levy vote,” Brown said.
This week’s poll question:
Given the volatile global economy, do you think export and farmgate returns for red meat will hold up at their high levels for the rest of this year?
Have your say at farmersweekly.co.nz/poll
Gerald Piddock NEWS Dairy
Catchment chair looks for funding surety
Richard Rennie NEWS Environment
THE inaugural chair of Aotearoa New Zealand Catchment Communities is working to nail down greater funding security for New Zealand’s many and disparate catchment groups as the finance clock ticks for some.
Cheviot farmer and ANZCC chair Ben Ensor has been engaged on a national roadshow to catchment groups, outlining some of the key areas of the umbrella group’s immediate focus.
Formed last year, ANZCC aims to give the many groups greater advocacy strength with local and central government and comes as many start to scramble for new funding sources.
“Funding has been pretty ad hoc over the last few years. At times there has been a lot but it has not always been well spent, and many of those dollars are coming to an end. Getting ongoing funding is top of the list,” he said. His funding mandate includes looking beyond just government sources. Other models include public-private partnership
arrangements, subscription membership to join groups, and payment in kind.
Come late June, several larger catchment groups are facing an end to their funding and the risk to not only group activities but to the roles of the fulltime staff larger ones have employed.
Ensor said he has had some commitment from the government that groups whose funding ends in June will receive interim funding until a formal new model is established in about a year’s time.
Funding has been pretty ad hoc over the last few years.
Ben Ensor ANZCC chair
One of ANZCC’s goals is to ensure funding that does come from central government is directed straight to the catchment groups themselves, removing any intermediaries.
“It has been ineffective in the past when other organisations including consultants and charity organisations are involved.” However, to gain confidence
from funders of any type, the catchment groups needed to have a higher level of governance. At present there were multiple group models operating along the length of the country in the 200-plus groups.
He acknowledged the push among some in Wellington for more scale to groups.
“You must recognise scale has advantages but should not be pushed otherwise you destroy one of the key reasons these groups work so well.”
He said funding security year in, year out will ensure funds are spent more efficiently, rather than the mismatch of allocation that has arisen in the past with irregular amounts flowing through.
A catchment group membership model has been suggested as one funding option.
“This will incentivise groups to contact all landowners, engaging with as many as possible.”
Ensor acknowledged the frustrations some groups had experienced with central and local government but said there is a need to maintain good relations with both.
He was generally heartened by the Ministry for Primary
Industries’ understanding of catchment groups’ value.
Once funding into the future is determined, catchment groups will need to decide how they can prove their value to the rest of the country.
“It could be we develop a set of standards that are not just about trees in the ground but reporting standards on outcomes like water quality to show progress. When seeking support, whether government or private, they all
VERIFIED: ANZCC chair Ben Ensor says reported outcomes and tighter governance of catchment groups will be needed to ensure funders’ expectations are met in future.
want to know the outcomes.”
ANZCC board member Alison Dewes said the catchment group profile across New Zealand is very varied in terms of maturity.
She hopes ANZCC will enable more sharing of information from mature groups to newer ones to minimise the same mistakes being repeated.
Ensor said ANZCC is currently in negotiation with an undisclosed commercial entity about a potential partnership.
Bremworth CEO moving on after four years at helm
Annette Scott PEOPLE Food and fibre
AFTER almost four years at the helm of one of New Zealand’s largest carpet manufacturers, Bremworth chief executive Greg Smith has announced his departure.
During a transformative tenure, Smith led a bold shift to a wool-only strategy, aligning the
brand with the country’s rural economy and launching a number of industry-first initiatives including the introduction of world-first 10-year strong wool contracts.
He spearheaded sustainability initiatives moving production of wool to carpets and rugs, expanded Bremworth’s directto-consumer e-commerce business and successfully negotiated a $100 million insur-
ance settlement following Cyclone Gabrielle.
Smith said he has been privileged to lead the Kiwi brand during a pivotal period in its 60-year history.
“Bremworth’s culture is built on talented craftspeople who are true experts in their fields.
“I’ve been continually inspired by the team’s dedication to creating the best products, which
is the hallmark of this business.
“With a new board focused on sustained growth, I’m confident Bremworth is poised to realise its full potential.
“I’m also looking forward to the next chapter in my career.”
Bremworth’s board has appointed carpet industry expert Craig Woolford as interim chief executive on a 12-month contract while the search for Smith’s successor is underway.
Woolford said Bremworth has a reputation as an innovative and values-led NZ business.
“The business is in a positive position, and I’m committed to ensuring continuity while helping pave the way for its future success.”
Woolford took up the reins on Friday April 11.
Smith will remain with the company until April 30 to assist with an orderly transition.
Industry applauds govt switch to wool
for woollen fibre products in government-owned buildings.
“We’re walking the talk. This move will hopefully inspire private businesses to follow suit.
FARMING groups are applauding the government’s decision to direct its agencies to use wool products when building and refurbishing from July 1.
The announcement was made by NZ First’s Winston Peters and Mark Patterson, and Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis.
The new procurement requirements will see construction of government-owned buildings that cost $9 million or more, and refurbishments of $100,000 or more, using woollen fibre.
“The move delivers on a New Zealand First and National Party coalition agreement to preference the use of woollen fibres in government buildings,” Willis said.
“We’re showing our commitment to woollen fibres by leveraging government spending, to provide more targeted opportunities for wool producers. This will help to increase jobs, employment, and drive economic growth.”
Patterson said the new requirements go beyond procurement’s immediate aim of purchasing goods and services.
“They demonstrate the Government’s support for the wool industry and farmers by encouraging increased demand
“The new requirement will encourage innovation in the building materials industry which will lead to more investment and new markets opening up.
Woollen fibres have a wide range of uses in buildings including carpet, upholstery, insulation, and acoustic panels.”
Federated Farmers applauded the initiative.
“This is a clear vote of confidence in the future of New Zealand wool as a natural and sustainable product,” Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Toby Williams said.
“It’s fantastic to see the government recognising so strongly the value of New Zealand-grown wool and backing the world-leading farmers who produce it.
“Our sheep farmers work incredibly hard to produce a highquality, environmentally friendly and sustainable fibre that is second to none globally.”
Wool Impact chief executive Andy Caughey said the policy would help drive demand and the value for wool, improving the profitability of sheep farming and vibrancy of our rural communities.
“We’ve seen unprecedented
It’s fantastic to see the government recognising so strongly the value of NZgrown wool.
Toby Williams Federated Farmers
product innovation using wool in recent years. This innovation is based on wool’s natural ability to contribute to healthy interior spaces, its technical performance,
Market tweaks don’t dampen wool mood
Annette Scott NEWS Food and fibre
DESPITE some corrections in the wool market over recent weeks, positive trends continue to emerge, particularly in key demand areas.
PGG Wrightson general manager wool Rachel Shearer said the latest developments shaping the wool market are driven by an improvement in wool prices over the past six months with demand for New Zealand wool improving in key sectors.
Danspin, a leading global carpet yarn producer, has reported a surge in demand from the cruise ship industry, a welcome boost for wool carpets.
Securing large-scale domestic contracts, such as the Kāinga Ora initiative, could also provide significant long-term support for NZ’s wool industry.
“These opportunities highlight the importance of continuing to promote wool’s natural benefits to both domestic and international markets,” Shearer said.
“As we navigate market fluctuations and global trade uncertainties, quality preparation and strategic selling remain crucial.”
In the South Island, the Christchurch wool exchange produced strong clearance rates over recent weeks, despite seasonal influences affecting colour and tensile strength.
STRATEGIC SELLING: PGG Wrightson general manager wool Rachel Shearer says quality preparation and strategic selling remain crucial in navigating market fluctuations and global trade uncertainties.
Adult wool remained in demand, with new-season lamb’s wool mostly selling above growers’ expectations.
A larger-than-expected offering of more than 10,000 bales led to some market corrections in late February, particularly for crossbred fleece and lamb’s wool, while fine wool growers saw some encouraging results with a small offering of Merino wool exceeding expectations as the fine wool season ended.
By mid-March, demand had softened, particularly for lamb’s
wool, as global trading hesitancy increased with the final auction for March seeing further softening across most types, with lamb’s wool affected most, especially where faults were present.
Shearer said with the shift towards a buyer’s market, prudent wool preparation is now more critical than ever to maximise grower returns.
In Napier the North Island wool auctions held firm, with values tracking just 1% lower in late February.
While there were some price pressures, especially in lamb’s wool, where increasing colouration and vegetable matter levels impacted demand, buyer interest remained widespread.
In early March, higher-coloured lamb’s wool led to a market indicator drop of around 4%, despite a strong presence of buyers and competitive bidding.
Despite another good volume of wool being offered, the market reacted positively, and the tone in the sale room was extremely strong.
“While we’ve seen an improvement in wool prices, exporters are now encountering resistance in major markets like India and China, and as prices have reached new levels, buyers are beginning to reassess their purchasing decisions.
“As we navigate market fluctuations and global trade uncertainties, quality preparation and strategic selling remain crucial,” Shearer said.
for the government to choose quality woollen products when building and renovating state buildings. They know as well as we do that the benefits of wool are far reaching and long lasting – it’s natural, durable, moisture wicking, flame resistant, hypoallergenic and temperature regulating. And these are attributes that will outlast the people living and working in these buildings today and tomorrow – we know that today’s policy decision will positively impact the next generation and beyond.”
John McWhirter, chief executive of Wools of New Zealand, said it would be a timely boost for wool growers.
it’s biodegradability at end of life, and the important role sheep farming plays in the wellbeing of our rural communities. Initiatives like this at a government level send the right signals for brands to back wool, both here in Aotearoa New Zealand and globally, which in turn improves demand for wool fibre”.
Campaign for Wool NZ (CFWNZ) general manager Kara Biggs said it could really shift the dial for the entire New Zealand wool industry.
“For many years now, our strong wool growers have been pleading
“By promoting the use of wool in government buildings, the government is not only supporting local farmers and rural communities, it is reinforcing New Zealand’s global reputation as a leader in natural, sustainable fibre production.”
Floc business development manager Tom O’Sullivan said it was a really significant day for the strong wool industry.
“We’ve been working hard to highlight the potential of strong wool in modern design. It’s incredibly encouraging to see the government step up with a commitment that supports our rural sector, strengthens our economy, and promotes healthier, more sustainable buildings.”
Tariff tips scales Canada’s way in dairy rivalry
Nigel Stirling MARKETS Dairy
DAIRY exporters watched in disbelief as United States
President Donald Trump verbally slammed protectionist Canadian dairy exporters during his recent tariff announcements – while simultaneously handing them an advantage over New Zealand rivals in the high-value US milk protein market.
NZ dairy exporters had already been anxious about the growing Canadian threat in the US milk protein market, which was worth nearly a billion dollars to them last year.
But Trump’s new 10% tariff on NZ exports to the US threatens to tilt the playing field even further in favour of heavily subsidised Canadian competitors.
NZ milk protein exports to the US already faced a 3.5% tariff compared to zero for Canadian exports under the US-MexicoCanada (USMCA) free trade agreement.
“The reality of what has happened in the past week is we are paying a 10% additional tariff on those protein products and the Canadians are accessing the market completely duty-free under the USMCA,” Fonterra’s director of global stakeholder affairs Simon Tucker said.
“It makes a difficult situation worse.”
Announcing US reciprocal tariffs on April 2, Trump singled out tariffs of 250-300% on US dairy exports to Canada for special mention.
In a January 8 letter, the main dairy export lobbies in the US, NZ and Australia wrote to their respective governments calling on them to “use all available tools” to tackle Canada’s system of tariffs and subsidies. These enable Canadian dairy processors to sell on global markets below their cost of production while protecting them from imported competition at home.
Dairy Companies Association of NZ (DCANZ) executive director Kimberly Crewther said the 10% tariff had left NZ milk protein exports to the US at a further “significant disadvantage” to Canadian competitors.
In their January letter, DCANZ and its fellow US and Australian dairy lobbies said Canada’s milk pricing policies coupled with new investment in processing capacity had the potential to unleash a fresh wave of subsidised dairy production on global markets. Crewther said the upcoming renegotiation of the USMCA looms as the next opportunity for the Trump administration to tackle unfair competition from Canadian dairy exports. She said the administration could also level the playing field by reducing tariffs on NZ exports to the US.
PRODUCTS: NZ First’s Winston Peters and Mark Patterson announced that the government will use wool products when building or refurbishing its buildings from July 1, where it is practical and appropriate.
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Dairy’s fortunes linked to oil, Bagrie tells SIDE
Samantha Tennent NEWS Dairy
OIL and dairy prices are closely linked, says economist Cameron Bagrie.
“You don’t see oil prices drop by 10 bucks a barrel in the space of a couple of days for no reason. Watch this space,” he told a breakfast event during the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE) in Timaru.
He spoke about the tariff situation in the United States, noting that the US dollar is considered the world’s reserve currency mainly because the country runs a significant trade and current account deficit – currently around $1.1 trillion.
“That’s a huge amount of money that needs to flow into the US each year,” Bagrie said.
US President Donald Trump’s push to reduce trade deficits could weaken the US dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency, Bagrie said, as smaller deficits mean less global demand for US dollars.
He also explained the inflation risk, which has
flatlined at 3% in the US.
“If you’re a central bank, the last thing you want right now is a cost shock rippling through the economy.
“If inflation is at your 2% target, you might be able to absorb a one-off hit and hope it stays contained. But if you’re still a way from that target – which is where the US Federal Reserve is –you could very well have an inflation problem on your hands.”
Building on his comments about inflation, Bagrie said the strength of the US dollar is keeping the New Zealand dollar under pressure, with it currently sitting around 55 to 58 cents and possibly heading lower.
“A sub-65 cent dollar is actually pretty good for the New Zealand economy,” he said, as it helps reduce the current account deficit, gives exports a boost and supports commodity prices.
Bagrie said banks need to take more risks and diversify lending to support broader economic development rather than concentrating on lowrisk housing loans.
‘Legal challenge to US tariffs an option’
ANigel Stirling MARKETS
Politics
LOBBYIST representing some of the country’s biggest exporters believes the government should consider a legal challenge to United States President Donald Trump’s 10% tariff on New Zealand imports.
Stephen Jacobi, executive director of the International Business Forum – which represents Fonterra, Silver Fern Farms, ANZCO and Zespri, among other NZ exporting heavyweights – said Trump is flouting commitments made by the US during global trade talks in the 1990s to open its markets for select NZ agricultural products.
Most importantly, the US created a quota of 213,402 tonnes for NZ beef exports with a nominal US4.4cents/ kg in-quota tariff.
“Those were an outcome of the Uruguay round, which was subject to a multilateral process that the US participated in – and NZ offered concessions in that process,” Jacobi said.
In return for the quotas NZ reduced the upper limit for tariffs on US imports into NZ.
Jacobi said the government would
need to weigh up the risk of the Trump administration retaliating with even higher tariffs should NZ decide to take a case to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
It is also likely the US would ignore any ruling.
Nevertheless, Jacobi said, “there is an important point of principle” at stake and the government should consider a case.
“I think there is a strong case for doing so to uphold what we have left of the international trading system.”
ANZCO’s general manager of sales and marketing, Rick Walker,
FLOUTING: Stephen Jacobi says US President Donald
is
commitments made
during
said NZ shouldn’t shy away from taking Trump on although it could be prudent to “let the dust settle” before launching into legal challenges.
“We always have been willing to use the institutions in place to fight our corner and we need to because we have no other ground to stand on being a little island in the middle of nowhere.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said NZ disagrees with the 10% tariff and is “engaging” with the US for it to be removed.
4 bay lean-to shed* with barge flashing. 112m2. 4 open-front bays, 3.0m-3.7m high, 4.0m bays, 7m deep + 900mm extended front. Minimum 4 rows girts for extra wall strength.
Trump
flouting
by the US
global trade talks in the 1990s to open its markets for select NZ agricultural products.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
A vet making an impact from the ground up
ABET on who could get into the Massey vet programme sparked a lifetime career for veterinarian Ginny Dodunski, who has a talent for communicating to farmers how they can marry animal health with animal production at a farm system level.
Dodunski’s involvement in advisory and extension work, as well as her role as programme manager for Wormwise, was recognised by the New Zealand Veterinary Association recently with the Veterinary Impact Award. The award goes to people who have made a considerable positive impact to the veterinary profession.
Based in Turangi in the Central Plateau, Dodunski splits her time between Wormwise, which is a contract role for Beef + Lamb New Zealand, and her SheepGeek business, providing private advisory services to farmers and discussion groups.
Dodunski confesses she loved farming from day dot.
“I came out obsessed,” she said.
“I grew up on a lifestyle block, we had Angora goats, and I always felt cheated not to be born on a commercial sheep and beef farm.”
She knew she wanted to be involved in the agriculture industry and went to Massey to study an Ag Science degree.
Halfway through, a paper on animal health spun her wheels and she contemplated switching to vet.
“I had a bet with a guy in my course about who could get into vet first, but agriculture was always my passion. I didn’t set out to become a vet.”
Dodunski believes the ag science background set a solid foundation
for her career as a vet, giving her an understanding of soils, agronomy and animal production, and how they all interact.
After graduating, her first role was working with Trevor Cook at Manawatū Vets. Cook was fairly pioneering in terms of setting up monitor farms and working with discussion groups, and spotted early on that Dodunski had a strong interest in advisory work.
“They could see that future for me and I was lucky they let me get involved early. Trevor and I worked well as a team. He’d come up with great ideas and I’m a process -focused person, so I would design and run stuff.”
If you are working with sheep, you’re working with parasites.
Like many vets, Dodunski did a stint overseas before working in Taranaki and then going back to Manawatū Vets, which became Totally Vets. When they acquired a clinic in Taumarunui Dodunski headed there, where there was plenty of scope for more traditional large animal work on large-scale sheep and beef properties. But it wasn’t long before she was drawn back to the extension and advisory work.
Having worked in Australia while she was overseas, Dodunski had seen first-hand how bad the worm burden issue was there, and she could see it steaming down the pipeline as a future challenge for New Zealand farmers. When the Wormwise role came up, she jumped at the opportunity.
“If you are working with sheep, you’re working with parasites. That was my area of expertise, so away I went.”
Dodunski’s name has become synonymous with good parasite
WORM WORK: Ginny Dodunski’s name has become synonymous with good parasite management practices on farm and she said drench resistance is a critical issue for farmers.
management practices on farm and she said drench resistance is a critical issue for farmers.
“By international grazing standards, we are fairly intensive, and it’s easy to build up high worm challenges. When I came back to New Zealand from Australia I was already on a mission.”
Dodunski said that, while there is still much work to be done, the Wormwise programme has made positive progress and it’s heartening to see increasing numbers of farmers changing their farm practices.
“It’s pretty cool to think that collectively we have done something to help make changes at a farm system level. It is trickling down.”
Her simple message to farmers? Check if your drenches are working, that’s the starting point. But the key is actually understanding what is creating a worm challenge on your farm, and looking at how you can modify things at a whole farm level.
“Drench efficacy is one thing, but if you are only focused on drench, you are missing the big opportunity to run a farm system where the worm challenge is less of an issue in the first place.”
Dodunski said the Wormwise
programme is all about making it easier for farmers to interpret information and make decisions on farm.
“If we have made that more understandable and better for vets too, that’s great.”
A parasite discussion forum they set up has been a game changer for vets, she said.
“It’s become a community of knowledge sharing and it’s been awesome.”
How information is communicated is fundamental, and she attributes the success of Wormwise to the power of personal connection, and the ability to use social media to talk directly to people.
“Communication is just so key. They call it ‘stranded on Expert Island’. You can have all the technical knowledge, but you still have to be able to translate it into what fits into farm systems. It’s the two things together.”
More broadly, Dodunski emphasises that the whole sector has a role to play in the drench resistance battle, from agronomists to stock agents and fert reps.
“It’s managing it at a farm system level, and everybody in the ecosystem has a part to play.”
AWARD: While being a vet was not Ginny Dodunski’s first career choice, she has become an industry stalwart and recently bagged the NZVA’s Veterinary Impact Award. Photos: Supplied
Rebecca Greaves PEOPLE Animal welfare
Ginny Dodunski Wormwise
Mixed environmental report card for ag
Richard Rennie NEWS Environment
THE latest snapshot of New Zealand’s environmental health holds some mixed results for the pastoral sector’s contributions, with upsides in some areas accompanying worsening outcomes in others.
Our Environment 2025, published by the Ministry for the Environment, is a threeyear assessment of where the country’s environmental parameters stand, and the main drivers behind the outcomes.
E coli contamination and nitrates remain the key agriculture-related contributors to less-than-positive outcomes in the latest report.
Groundwater monitoring sites reported that 46% failed to meet drinking water standards for E coli contamination at least once between 2019 and 2024.
Meantime between 2001 and 2020, 41% of river monitoring sites worsened for E coli, while 37% improved.
Nitrate accumulation was a mixed bag depending upon individual bore sites, with 47% reporting an elevation of nitrogen levels and 43% a decline, with12% failing their safe nitrate levels across the 1170 sites sampled.
The results in water quality came against a backdrop where dairy cattle numbers declined to 5.9 million in 2023 from their peak of 6.7 million in 2014.
This has been accompanied by a steady 30-plus year slide in sheep numbers, to 25 million in 2022.
Over a similar period, sales of nitrogen fertiliser increased between 1991 and 2019 almost six-fold, to 452,000 tonnes.
Phosphorus (P) increased from 94,000 tonnes in 1991 to peak at 291,000t in 2005, sliding to 154,000t in 2019, the most recent data year.
Earlier MfE analysis found 63% of soil samples collected between 2001 and 2015 had phosphorus levels above the target range.
While not a key environmental indicator, the report highlights the decline in pasture productivity occurring in New Zealand, despite fertiliser applications. The gains in pasture eaten on dairy farms has been sliding since 2001.
The 1.5%-a-year gain achieved between 1990 and 2001 has been sliced back to barely positive territory at 0.26% gain per year from then to 2020.
New research from AgResearch last week finds with rising carbon levels the level of available P in soils was significantly reduced. Lower results on P tests can then result in farmers applying more P, without getting a pasture response to it.
A report by AgResearch scientists earlier this year also found many farms were also hitting their upper pasture production peaks, while climate change in northern regions is now putting downward pressure on pasture growth and persistence.
Not all the news relating to agriculture’s impact was grim in the snapshot.
The report found methane emissions have increased only 2% between 1990 and 2022, and carbon dioxide emissions were beginning to decline in 2019.
Net emissions were expected to decrease in the future, with estimates of a 20% decline by decade’s end.
Agriculture’s emissions have been declining slowly since their 2014 peak, dropping 1.4% between 2021 and 2022, mainly attributable to long term declines in cattle and sheep numbers and lower fertiliser use.
In commenting on the report, Dr Troy
Baisden, the co-president of NZ Association of Scientists, noted some of the data is worryingly dated, including the fertiliser trends data.
He said MfE did a good job with the flawed Environmental Reporting Act, which has had several changes recommended for it.
“With the cuts to research funding, the strategy of harvesting data that is available, rather than investing in the data we need to understand the trends in our environment, looks set to go backward before the long-awaited improvements needed to Environmental Reporting are implemented.”
STEADY The Our Environment 2025 report found nitrate and E coli levels in water supplies are increasing and declining in almost equal amounts.
Singapore and NZ made for each other
Neal Wallace MARKETS Trade
IT IS a match made in heaven, says a group of New Zealand agribusiness leaders: capital rich and land poor Singapore and land rich and comparatively capital poor NZ.
Agribusiness leaders visited Singapore last month to look at how the island state tackles major challenges, and to familiarise themselves with trends that could impact NZ.
Alan Renwick, the head of Department for Global Value Chains and Trade at Lincoln University, said NZ needs capital, which Singapore has.
Should NZ access it, it would fit into two investment streams.
The first is into agribusiness to fund scale, such as conversion to high value crops, technology and enhanced competitiveness.
The second is for environmental and social goals.
Renwick said that could be an investment that has long term benefits, such as sustainability, but requires large upfront costs, for example electrification.
The government’s recently released quarterly action plan includes establishing Invest NZ, an entity designed to attract foreign direct investment.
It also plans to amend the Overseas Investment Act to make it easier and quicker for foreign investors to invest in NZ businesses.
NZ has some of the most restrictive foreign ownership rules among OECD countries and Renwick believes we need to make it clear NZ is “open for business but not for sale”.
“By that I think the aim should be to attract investment through partnership with existing businesses.”
Renwick, who was part of the week-long insights tour of Singapore, said Singapore capital could also help fund projects such biodiversity restoration of wetlands, native forest or our marine environment.
“It was clear in Singapore that there is capital available to help deliver these wider goods, whether it is carbon reduction or biodiversity enhancement.
“But we need to be careful who our partners are and that we don’t
just become a ‘sink’ for polluting activities elsewhere in the world.”
Renwick said such capital tends to look for large investments and he said iwi-owned land could be ideal.
“Iwi-owned land has the potential to deliver at scale.
“Elsewhere there may be the need for collaborative efforts, either at catchment or some other scale.
“This does require a different way of thinking.”
He still sees a role for the government to consider our wider social and environmental goals.
James Allen, the chief executive of AgFirst consultants, was also part of the NZ cohort and said while NZ has done relatively well with access to limited capital, it has struggled to fund major infrastructure and transformational projects.
His idea of investment projects are more downstream from the farm gate, such as infrastructure, ports, energy, water storage, irrigation, and innovation, such as investment into high value new crops which require substantial capital.
City-state visit fires up industry enthusiasm
Neal Wallace MARKETS Food and fibre
AIDEN Gent is more enthused about the future of New Zealand food and fibre than he was a few weeks ago.
The ASB’s rural banking manager always believed the sector had a bright future, but said his enthusiasm was heightened after a recent visit to Singapore where, despite significant investment going into alternative proteins, the message was they still want NZ food and fibre.
The challenge is to sell it better.
“The future of the food and fibre we produce is incredibly bright.
“Globally customers want more of what we do, but we need
greater aspiration for ourselves to unlock our potential land and food systems.”
A country without natural resources, Singapore invests heavily in research and development, with the government, private sector and researchers collaborating to address challenges such as food and energy security.
Singapore has a population of 6 million and a GDP 60% higher than NZ’s.
It operates two sovereign wealth funds, one with NZ$1.5 trillion of assets under management, and the other with NZ$540 billion.
For the primary sector to tap into that capital, Gent said, it would require identifying suitable projects but also a difference in
STRUGGLED: James Allen, the chief executive of AgFirst consultants, says while NZ has done relatively well with access to limited capital, it has struggled to fund major infrastructure and transformational projects.
Building dams and recharging aquifers is expensive but offers production and environmental benefits.
• Wallace’s trip to Singapore was made possible by the support of ASB, AGMARDT, FoodHQ and KPMG.
thinking in two areas.
The first is how an injection of capital would enable the sector to operate differently and innovatively and the second is determining which parts of the food and fibre value chain can be leveraged to improve prosperity.
Gent said despite not having natural resources, Singapore has transformed into a global economic and logistical powerhouse, largely due to partnerships and collaboration.
This could be an approach for NZ to attract capital, especially if an investment involves sensitive NZ assets.
For example, investing in a new horticultural venture will also require investment in new packhouses and logistical infrastructure.
“We’re talking collaboration that makes commercial sense.”
Paul Gestro, a director of ASB Access who also went to Singapore, said the island state has successfully narrowed the gap between research, development and commercialisation of new products that are focused on an agreed long term plan.
It has been a successful strategy.
“They know what they know and then target it at what they do as a country.”
The bank’s head of food and fibre, Kristen Ashby, also visited Singapore. She said the country is open to new ways of thinking and operating.
She asked if that approach could be adopted in NZ, something she acknowledges could require a difficult conversation.
It was clear in Singapore that there is capital available to help deliver these wider goods.
Alan Renwick Lincoln University
MFAT puts NZ beef case as China clamps down
Nigel Stirling MARKETS Sheep and beef
NEW Zealand has asked to be excluded from China’s investigation into alleged harm to its domestic beef industry from surging imports.
In December China’s Ministry of Commerce said it was looking into a possible link between the doubling in the amount of beef the country imported between 2019 and 2024 and a fall in profit margins for its farmers from 20% to -12%.
The ministry singled out imports from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, the United States, Australia and NZ for further investigation.
It said it would consider restricting imports if it found imports from these countries have or were likely to have caused “serious injury” to Chinese producers.
Last month China banned imports from some plants in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Mongolia, even though its investigation is still ongoing.
In its March 6 submission to the Chinese government, New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade claimed imports of NZ beef do not cause, or contribute to any serious injury to China’s beef farmers.
MFAT’s submission said NZ beef accounted for a mere 6% of China’s total beef imports by value in the year to the end of June 2024 and fell during the period being investigated.
“Furthermore, NZ producers
do not have the capacity to significantly increase their beef exports to China in the future,” the submission said.
The submission said beef imports from NZ were part of a “positive and complementary bilateral trade relationship” between the two countries.
“NZ and China have committed to deepening bilateral agricultural ties and supporting the mutual development of agriculture industries in both countries.”
NZ producers do not have the capacity to significantly increase their beef exports to China in the future.
Submission MFAT
Moreover, MFAT said, the 2008 free trade agreement allows China to exclude NZ from global safeguard investigations such as the one currently underway if NZ beef imports are proven to not be causing injury to Chinese farmers.
Exempting NZ beef from any resulting trade restrictions would also be allowed under World Trade Organisation rules, the ministry said.
Statistics NZ data shows beef exports to China, frozen and chilled, slumped from more than $2 billion in 2022, to $1.045bn in 2024, as more NZ beef was diverted to the US, and China’s economy struggled to recover from the pandemic.
INVEST: Singapore invests heavily in research
development, with the government, private sector and researchers collaborating to address challenges such as food and energy security. Photo: Pexels
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Put the brakes on ETS plantings: Upton
Richard Rennie NEWS Climate change
THE Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment is calling for a wholesale overhaul of the Emissions Trading Scheme amid predictions that a major glut of carbon credits looms in the 2030s.
ETS reform is one of several initiatives Simon Upton is seeking in the commission’s report on forestry’s future, “Alt-F Reset –Examining the drivers of forestry in New Zealand”, released this week.
Upton said the review was in
part prompted by his concerns about how realistic the Climate Change Commission’s 2021 recommendation that NZ plant 300,000 hectares of natives and 380,000ha of exotics by 2035 was to help deal with emissions offsets.
“I was sceptical about the scale of native forestry proposed. The feasibility and affordability of such a large area seemed very questionable.”
In the report the commissioner has made multiple recommendations to try to decouple NZ from its reliance on pine trees. He said their dominance has been “supercharged” by ETS carbon values.
He emphasised he is not anti pine forestry, but said the report aims to explore options for encouraging both native and other exotic species.
Under the ETS, pine forests have become a cheap, easy way to achieve NZ’s climate goals, when the country needs to achieve real reductions, not “accounting triumphs”.
“These forests will need to remain forever to match the carbon and that cannot be guaranteed, and the social costs of ETS are becoming more evident.”
Beef + Lamb NZ data indicates in the five years to 2021, 164,000ha of pasture land went into forestry. That average rate of 33,000ha a year barely slowed between then and 2023.
Upton said modelling indicates a glut of carbon credits will hit the NZ market in the 2030s from the extensive ETS-prompted plantings, exceeding government’s ability to auction them off.
“We will be left with no further tree planting occurring, and no decline in emissions. We will go from boom to bust and back again.”
The simplest solution is to phase the forestry options out of the ETS in an orderly way, grandfathering existing credits, and not issuing any more.
Upton acknowledged the risks faced by Māori forest owners who
have forests on poorer land that can only be planted for carbon income.
“But I do not believe Māori should have to rely upon a deeply flawed ETS to generate carbon income.”
The social costs of the ETS are becoming more evident.
Simon Upton Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
He said iwi involvement right from the start in any ETS reform would be a better way to meet their income-generating needs rather than hanging on to the entire ETS system as it is.
In exploring options, the commissioner’s report looks at transitional forest models to help establish native species.
They are a relatively new model and lack much data on performance. Carbon modelling indicates they will experience a dip in carbon sequestration over time as pine trees are culled out to let native understory plants take over.
Long term maintenance and funding to see forests thrive is also raised in the report.
Perhaps surprisingly, Upton said he is also skeptical about the “biodiversity credits bandwagon”
as a means of providing income.
“To have a value you need to have a credit offset, and what is it actually being offset against? I cannot see demand and scale for them.
“They have to be designed well to offset the loss of a biodiversity gain now against a future gain. A much surer way of getting dollars to forestry would be to use money from successful ETS auctions.”
Clarity still elusive on Crown tree plans
Richard Rennie NEWS Forestry
FOREST owners, farmers and environmentalists feel no closer to getting a clear picture of where the government intends to plant more trees after recent modelling revealed it wants over 250,000 hectares planted on public land areas.
Earlier this year the government sought interest from private forest owners for partnering up to grow trees on low-value Crown land. The move prompted an outcry when iconic Molesworth Station emerged as one of the targeted areas, along with scenic MacKenzie Country tussock lands.
A recent Official Information Act request by climate policy expert Christina Hood reported by Radio NZ revealed modelling assumes 330,000ha of trees to be planted on Crown land, of which 280,000ha is pine. This would achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
But the validity of that planting area has been disputed by farmers and environmentalists alike.
Gary Taylor of the Environmental Defence Society (EDS) said that figure was the combination of an exaggerated view on how much suitable low-value Crown land is around, and failing to think through the physical constraints much of that land poses to exotic pine plantations.
“It is the proportionality of it. Most of that 280,000ha would end up being permanent. The idea of effectively sterilising land use for ever with exotics with all the risks that go with that over time is just nuts.”
He said work by the EDS indicates the government is by many thousands of hectares overstating just how much suitable land exists for planting.
From the OIA request we know we are going to have to plant a lot more trees, so let’s have a conversation about land use mosaics.
Dr Elizabeth Heeg Forest Owners Association
Work done by the society also indicates much of the land the Crown had in its inventory has been destined for further categorising, some of it as high value conservation land.
Forest Owners Association CEO Elizabeth Heeg said the reveal on land area did not advance the discussion much, and there is a desperate need for a more constructive conversation about how more trees could be planted.
Heeg said NZ has become too binary in the views on forestry versus other land uses, when there are degrees between the two.
She said the Crown land proposal
only furthers that standoff, ringfencing areas that are to have plantings within their boundaries.
“From the OIA request we know we are going to have to plant a lot more trees , so let’s have a conversation about land use mosaics.
“It would be great if we could have more of this conversation on how forestry and other land uses can adapt to one another within different catchment groups. It would be good to be in a space like they are in Australia where land use mosaics have Brahmin cattle grazing in commercial eucalyptus tree plantations.”
Ian Anderson, Federated Farmers high country group chair, said the original map outlining potentially suitable Crown land is almost meaningless, and by no means definitive.
He said there is some hope among high country farmers they may be able to plant trees on their pastoral leases, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
Forestry industry insiders have also expressed doubt about the government’s Crown land planting project, with distance, altitude and even the government’s own recently revised ETS planting rules ruling out forestry in many areas.
Heeg said she had spoken to some forest-owning members who had sought more information, but did not know of any who had progressed further with a formal proposal.
PLANTED: Forest Owners Association CEO Dr Elizabeth Heeg says the conversation about area to be planted in trees needs to refocus on land use mosaics, where trees and other land uses combine.
FLAWED: Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton says the ETS system is flawed and has supercharged pine trees’ dominance in NZ’s forest landscape.
RELIANCE: Simon Upton has made multiple recommendations to try to decouple NZ from its reliance on pine trees.
Our father, Howard, left his home on the farm for the last time on April 2. He was married 71 years and with six children, the family tally, including grand- and great grand-children, has ballooned to 55.
His casket was magnificent. We built it in the workshop beside his house, using timber milled on the farm. Howard always led by example with hard work and an enterprising spirit.
He gave me a new handpiece on leaving school. Fast forward to 1998 and he financed our launch into rural media. Then in 2003 he backed us again with the challenging launch of the Farmers Weekly. Without his support we would have lost that battle, but giving up was not an option for either of us.
Teamwork, and his firm words – “You’ve made your decision, now make it work” – are values embedded in the business today.
Howard loved the paper and was an important part of the Farmers Weekly family, dropping in regularly for help with his typing and photocopying for whatever community service role that was on the go at the time.
He had been president of the Manawatū Rugby Union, president of Manawatū/Rangitīkei Federated Farmers, chairman of our school boards of trustees, president of the Collegiate School Old Boys Association, president of the Manawatū Farm Forestry Association before becoming national president (twice), and there were plenty more.
Howard believed deeply in respectful communication, and in ‘leaning in’ to the work of farming organisations, to help create long-lasting and positive change as a team.
A young farmer messaged us this week after hearing of Howard’s passing:
I have been thinking about Howard a bit this week and what a great run 97 years is, and how he represented the great oldschool New Zealander to me - being tough and hard working, but also a real gentleman, and having time for anyone.
Farmers Weekly is a legacy to our father’s enduring spirit, with team values that are powered by enquiring minds, good communication frameworks and informed conversations.
It’s been said that family is a form of wealth that money can’t buy. Last week, as we built his casket and prepared his funeral, we decided that in his long life, Howard had become the wealthiest man in the world.
From the Editor
The president’s new clothes
Bryan Gibson Managing editor
GLOBAL markets are continuing to stagger as United States President Donald Trump puts his foot down and imposes tariffs on the US’s trading partners.
At the time of writing, the S&P 500 was down almost 19% from its February peak, just short of the 20% that tips it into a bear market – the recognised marker of extreme market pessimism.
Stocks in other countries fared worse than in the US, and with reciprocal tariffs being announced, it’s difficult to see this situation resolving any time soon.
For the most part, New Zealand exporters are breathing through their noses, which is probably the best strategy because things are moving so fast that something said yesterday could wreck things tomorrow.
As for Trump, he’s beginning to face opposition from some of his most staunch followers, in government and in business.
A libertarian group funded by Leonard
This week’s poll question (see page 1):
Given the volatile global economy, do you think export and farmgate returns for red meat will hold up at their high levels for the rest of this year?
Have your say at farmersweekly.co.nz/poll
Leo and Charles Koch, who previously backed Trump’s election campaign, has sued the administration over its tariff regime.
A number of Republican senators have openly questioned the strategy, no doubt wary of the effect tariffs will have on the communities they represent.
One lawmaker asked a Trump trade representative to explain why Australia was hit with a 10% tariff despite the US having a trade surplus with it. He also questioned whether the move would put the strong intelligence relationship, through AUKUS, at risk.
New Zealand is part of AUKUS as well –and is also on the receiving end of Trump’s trade tirade.
A fair number of column inches have been spent trying to figure out what his plan is, because there’s no coherent economic strategy evident in what he’s done so far.
Trump says he wants to bring manufacturing back to the US, but doesn’t appear to understand either the way globalisation has progressed over the past century, or the complexities of supply chains.
For example, he’s put tariffs on Botswana, which exports diamonds to the US, and on most of the major coffee producing nations.
The US doesn’t have the geology or the climate to produce these things itself.
And many people fear that the damage to global businesses like McDonald’s,
LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULT
MOST voters thought freeing up land for houses was a bad idea, with 90% voting against it. “Terrible idea to lose more precious soil to developers. NZ already suffers from vast areas of low-density housing, and making more land available for the few to profit from is just plain wrong,” one voter said. However, another felt that “with land-sharing the future, this opens up opportunities for a win-win – to build a business and home”.
Starbucks and Nike will be more than just the loss of stock value.
They’re already reporting that people in other countries who once saw a job with them as a career goal are now looking locally for their pay cheque.
The reputational damage could be massive and lasting.
Maybe the best explanation for Trump’s tariffs are that they’re not about economics at all, but about power.
The geopolitical and macroeconomic playing field is changing quickly.
Trump expects other countries will bow to him, do his bidding, and then he’ll erase the tariffs.
But as our columnist Alan Emerson points out, trading nations are moving to reshape the global economy and looking for a way to restore rules-based trade.
The BRICS alliance that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran and others is growing its influence. Recently, historical rivals China, Japan and South Korea announced a new alliance to bolster trade partnerships.
The geopolitical and macroeconomic playing field is changing quickly.
The US president will find out soon enough whether he actually has the power he believes he does.
Last week’s question: Do you support the government’s decision to free up some of the previously protected high-value LUC 3 land for urban development? No Yes
Letters of the week
A premium on geography
Garry Reymer Cambridge
WITH regard to “SI Fonterra farms lead the way on emissions” (April 7): I feel this is a move away from the co-op and how we pay our farmers.
If a South Island farmer who farms 400km from the factory gets a payment premium just because they have a low GHG profile, how is that fair to a Waikato farmer who farms a peat soil but fills a tanker and trailer on a single stop and that truck has to travel less than 30km round trip from factory to farm and back?
Fonterra might say that freight is a small component of the manufacturing cost but on a farm basis it is huge. The same argument in reverse works for the GHG payment: for an individual farm it is great but if it was across the entire milk collection, not so much.
If we are not going to socialise the premiums paid by customers for goods, then we also need to remove the socialisation of freight and have a factory gate milk price not a farmgate milk price to truly reflect the carbon footprint of farms.
This payment will really challenge what it is to be co-operative. Geography is affecting milk price but only part of the way or part of the calculation and if our board goes down this road, they must look at other geographical impacts such as cartage. Some might say this is un-cooperative, but not so. A co-op is what you want to make it. For Fonterra it is mainly about our collective strength to go to market and get a premium for our milk. The profit we distribute back on a participation basis. If we don’t behave commercially back on farm, we will be cherry-picked by our competitors and lose milk. You could use our fertiliser co-ops as an example. Those further from a store pay more.
Some of that has already happened over the past 15 years with freight charges. Our competitors know that milk in the Waikato with its collection advantages is more valuable than outlying areas and has used this to cherry-pick farms for supply leaving outlying areas for Fonterra to pick up.
You don’t need to ask why so many of the start-up milk processors enter the Waikato first.
Get bars on those bikes
Ewan McGregor Waipawa
THE editorial of the issue of March 31, “Let’s talk about farm safety, again”, along with the item on side-by-side deaths in Australia, made interesting reading.
For decades roll-over protection has been mandatory on tractors, and long since taken for granted, but not on quad bikes. A quad bike may be much lighter than a tractor, but when on top of you would nevertheless, I imagine, be very heavy –fatally so, as has been tragically proved far too often on New Zealand farms.
The article tells us that rollbars are mandatory on quad bikes across the Tasman. They should be here, too.
The Eating the Elephant guide to: tariff madness
Eating the elephant
lives in central Hawke’s Bay and farms deer, cows and trees.
eating.the.elephant.nz@gmail.com
I’M GUESSING most of us got our first taste of the term “competitive advantage” at primary school. We probably didn’t call it that, but we knew what it was. I got my first formal lesson in it playing bull rush. I learnt quickly that if you were small it was a bit pointless trying to go through the biggest kid on the paddock. A better strategy was trying to outflank them, or ensuring a slower kid was nicely positioned between you and the big hitter.
We had to play to our strengths and apply some grey matter, otherwise it was going to be a very long lunch hour.
The same concept of competitive, or comparative, advantage applies to global trade. It works on the basis that we buy things off other countries that we don’t have access to, such as fertiliser, or we buy finished products due to another country’s production advantages, such as cheaper labour.
This means in theory that people or countries get to specialise in their specific areas of comparative advantage. They can focus what resources they have more efficiently, and they can enjoy a range of products at far cheaper prices than they could produce them themselves.
It’s these principles that have produced your farm’s motorbike and put the leaves in your teabag. They have formed the basis of trade since Adam was a cowboy. These are sound, basic economic principles. Which makes the United States’ rejection of the world trading system and embrace of wholesale protectionism all the more confounding. For all the rhetoric around the rest of the world ripping them off, the reality is that the US has been on an economic roll for the past 30 years – driven in large part by its ability to buy and sell on the global market. The US is easily the richest country in the world, and it’s hellbent on punishing the rest of us for making it so.
It’s probable that US President Donald Trump’s latest round of
massive tariff hikes was partly designed as a tool to try to extract better deals from its trading partners. But this cunning tactic has two key problems. The first is that the rest of the world will start making a Plan B. Sure, we’ll all bow and scrape a bit while we minimise the immediate damage – but we’ll all be quietly heading for the door. No lasting relationship can be founded on threats and coercion, not even economic ones.
We know that these tariffs were also implemented with the intent of driving manufacturing and jobs back to the US, which leads us to the second problem. Most Americans don’t want to work in a factory producing Nike shoes at Vietnamese wages. Nor do Americans want to buy those same shoes at a price so high that Americans would actually want to make them.
Equally, many of the multinational businesses that Trump wants to entice back to the US rely on materials and products that can only be procured from outside the US. Tariffs make these materials more expensive and therefore the end product less competitive.
Trump’s tariff war will almost certainly harm the American people as much as it will its trading partners. Its also very likely that the US will wind back the tariffs when its voters can no longer stomach the pain in their wallets.
It may be the less obvious advantages that benefit New Zealand farmers most.
But the damage will have been done, and the future global trading landscape of tomorrow will look very different from that of today. Countries will have found more reliable trading partners, new trading blocs will have been established, and the balance of economic and geopolitical power will have shifted accordingly. Back home in New Zealand, we will need to think carefully about how we leverage our own comparative advantages going forward. Traditional advantages such as geography, climate and low-cost production systems will remain, to a degree. But in this
increasingly volatile world, it may be the less obvious advantages that benefit New Zealand farmers most.
I recently heard a well-known industry professional say that in his opinion New Zealand’s greatest comparative advantage is the trust that is placed in it by the rest of the world. I tend to agree. Trust can be leveraged, not only in selling products, but also in attracting investment, something that NZ agriculture badly needs to improve the profitability and sustainability of the sector as a whole.
Now is the time to be the adult in the room and benefit from the fact that we are liked and trusted. Both attributes are now more valuable than ever.
NZ can prosper from this tariff shambles
average annual individual loss of US$3880 purchasing power.
California Governor Gavin Newsom described them as “the biggest tax hike of our times”.
Alan Emerson
Semi-retired Wairarapa farmer and businessman: dath.emerson@gmail.com
IT’S been an interesting week with the tariff announcements from United States President Donald Trump and the world’s reaction. I believe that the $900 million blow to our exports will obviously hurt but the outlook isn’t necessarily all bleak.
As well as worldwide condemnation of the ad hoc tariffs, opposition in the US itself has been growing.
The US Budget Lab predicted that the tariffs will mean an
International reaction to the Trump “Liberation Day” tariffs has been swift. Canada is responding with “billions of dollars of tariffs and we will do more”.
On top of the Canadian government response, individual Canadians have responded in kind.
According to a February poll, 63% of Canadians are purchasing local products over those imported from the US. Canadians make up the largest tourism market for the US and bookings are down over 70%.
Travel between Alaska and the US is through Canada and will be taxed. Already the Canadian government has cancelled a US$13 billion aircraft deal with the US and has gone instead to Europe.
So it’s a mess and as British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said, “no one wins in a trade war”. I agree but here we are.
My strong belief is that it will be difficult for Trump to achieve anything. Will an offshore manufacturer up sticks and move to the US under the current administration?
I would have thought that paying a tariff would be preferable.
Will the tariff fiasco see the steady demise of the US as a world superpower? I think that is possible.
Locally I believe the New Zealand reaction has been exactly what was required. Our levy organisations, the Meat Industry Association and the Dairy Companies Association, have all delivered a considered response.
Our Trade Minister, Todd McClay, has urged calm and suggested that the future isn’t all doom and gloom. He used the example of the local wine industry having less of a tariff burden than that of our European competitors.
On the broader front, while we will have a tariff burden of 10%, China will have 34% with the European Union 20% and Japan 24%.
While the rationale for the level of tariffs is bordering on the absurd, the reality is that they are there, for whatever reason.
Internationally, stock markets have reacted badly but that is to be expected. I’m not selling any of my shares.
It’s also easy to forget that we were a country with high tariffs, especially in the motor industry.
In the early 1980s every major car manufacturer had a plant in South Auckland as we were
trying to grow our manufacturing industry.
What happened is that cars were manufactured in Japan, then broken down and exported to NZ, where we put them together again.
It was cheaper to do that than import made-up cars.
Subsequently the tariffs were abolished, the factories closed down and cars became a lot cheaper.
I was involved with a Federated Farmers-led lobby back then aimed at having tariffs eliminated in New Zealand. The reason being that we would put tariffs on imports and the importing countries would put tariffs on our food exports.
The message there is that tariffs achieved nothing other than increasing costs. Maybe someone should tell Trump.
A large part of the aim of Trump’s tariffs has been China but I believe China will ultimately benefit from those tariffs. China will be a far friendlier place to do business.
Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub believes the Trump tariffs “will lead to an alternative trading group”. I agree. He also believes that the US is retreating from the global trade order.
I strongly believe that creates
opportunities for New Zealand.
There is the rapidly expanding BRICS group of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa with 42 countries waiting to join across Africa, the Arab countries and Asia.
Currently the BRICS GDP is over twice that of the US.
We have free trade agreements with the United Kingdom and Europe. We also have the Trans Pacific Partnership, among others.
I strongly believe that a new world order will emerge from the current mess.
I have the firm conviction that New Zealand is in a strong position to be at the forefront of the new order.
Yes, we will have some shortterm pain but I don’t believe it will be severe.
One reassuring fact of our politics is that all of our mainstream political parties are committed to trade and working together on trade issues.
Currently having McClay and his team running the ship is positive. Together I believe we can survive and prosper from this international shambles.
More of your favourite opinion pieces now online farmersweekly.co.nz/opinion
RUSH: Ben Anderson got his first lesson in competitive advantage in the school yard, playing bull rush.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Ben Anderson Ben Anderson
Alternative view
Sector Focus Sheep & Beef
Rapid growth closes on Ahuwhenua honours
FROM zero to $1 million worth of cattle in three years, two years ahead of the development plan.
That has been the impressive achievement of Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust farm in coastal Northland, now a finalist in the 2025 Ahuwhenua Trophy for excellence in Māori farming.
“We have only just begun, having increased stock numbers by 60% last year,” trust co-chair Morris Pita told the packed wharenui on a drought-breaking rainfall day.
“Five years ago we didn’t have a farm, but we had a vision.”
The trust farm runs between 1000 (summer) and 1500 (spring) dairy-beef bulls on a grazing system of 450 cells, 1 hectare to 0.5ha, with a further 40 to come.
The block is 1100ha of coastal hill country south of the Bay of Islands, containing 400ha of effective farmland, 297ha of forestry and 443ha of native forest and wetlands, all now fenced off.
The wetlands are kāinga to
endangered birds including pāteke (brown teal) and matuku (bittern).
The trust began farming the land in 2020 after nearly 70 years of alienation of the people from their whenua.
It received financial help from the Provincial Growth Fund of the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment , the BNZ, AgFirst, Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry for Primary Industries and Northland Regional Council.
The first strategic goal was to reach $1m of cattle value in five years. That was achieved in three.
Some 60ha of mature gorse has been sprayed, burnt and grazed and nearly 60ha of fencing and cell systems erected.
There are now 40km of waterlines from nine header tanks to 480 micro troughs, and new farm roads have been constructed.
The farm’s rapid transformation has created employment opportunities and enabled the trust to support Whangaruru marae, urupā, kura and sports teams, with education grants to the next generation of community leaders.
Land is not used as debt security, instead livestock are collateral
for accelerating development and expansion.
In a practical sense, the transformation has been achieved by farm manager Matthew Payne, farm worker Kieran WetereHepi and trust administrator Tori Norman, reporting to seven trustees and farm adviser James Parsons of AgFirst Northland.
Payne was the trust’s first full time employee, beginning in 2021, after 40 applicants and three rounds of interviews. Wetere-Hepi came on in 2023.
Strong disciplines in budgeting and weighing enable monthly reforecasting for production, and cashflow enables the management team and the governance group to make quick, robust and proactive decisions.
All transactions are entered in Xero, which updates the Figured cashflow forecast.
Payne said the cell grazing livestock pressure has tackled kikuyu and weed dominance without mechanical means and increased productivity to 277kg/ha of meat, improving feed efficiency from 33kg to 21kg of dry matter per kilogram of beef.
He buys in 750 autumn-born bull calves stocked at 1100-1200kg/ha on the better country, to be carried through one winter and then mostly sold as stores at around 300kg LW, after which 240 of the biggest are taken through a second winter on free draining flat to rolling country.
After purchase they come onto holding areas for a few days, are quarantine drenched and vaccinated.
Annual fertiliser applied is 235kg of Surephos, and the Olsen P soil test results have risen from nine to 25 average over the past five years.
Soil pH has gone from 5.6 to 6.4.
Only light applications of nitrogen are used when needed, helping to lower GHG emissions intensity through improving pasture quality and offsetting native planting in fenced riparian areas.
Gross farm revenue in 2025 is forecast to exceed $2000/ha, compared with $1600 in 2022-23.
Among the current farm goals are an economic farm surplus of $600/ha, production of 350kg CW/ ha by FY2027 and annual profit of $200,000 after debt servicing.
The cell grazing has encouraged the re-emergence of ryegrass and clover in the winter and spring and the goal is to grow 8.5t/ha dry matter with utilisation of 85%. In 2023-24 to results were 6.6t/ha DM and 80%.
In 2020 when the farm tenancy was terminated there were 47 paddocks with much derelict fencing, no coastline, waterways or wetlands were fenced off, nor were there any laneways.
Five years ago we didn’t have a farm, but we had a vision.
Morris Pita
Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust
It had two functioning troughs and leaky homes, and cattle waded in streams and wetlands.
New cattle yards and laneway fences were built, the three houses for farm staff renovated and a main implement shed, hay barn and a now-unused woolshed were made weather-tight.
All the main lanes are metalled from the on-farm quarry but the first heavy rain in weeks made the 50 or so 4WD vehicles at the field day slip and slide.
Co-chairs Morris Pita and Hūhana Lyndon said the two rounds of Ahuwhenua judging
were opportunities to listen and learn as the trust is still young and the farm developing.
“The history is one of loss, restoration and resilience, when the Department of Māori Affairs consolidated the whenua after World War 2 and then handed it back to the trust in 1988 with a huge debt.
“In 1993 the block was leased out, but we became increasingly concerned about the way the farm was managed – a dispute settled by the land being returned to the trust in 2020.
“Our focus now is to continue to enhance the farm’s footprint and productivity, diversify the landholdings on Whangaruru peninsula and move into horticulture and eco-tourism.”
The judges said Whangaroa Ngaiotonga has a very strong connection between trust governance and the farm management team.
Hugh Stringleman ON FARM Awards
STOCK: The Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust farm in coastal Northland runs between 1000 (summer) and 1500 (spring) dairy-beef bulls on a grazing system of 450 cells.
Photo: Alphapix photography
LEADERSHIP: Co-chairs for the Whangaroa Nagiotonga Trust are Morris Pita and Hūhana Lyndon. Photo: Hugh Stringleman
TACKLED: Matthew Payne says the cell grazing livestock pressure has tackled kikuyu and weed dominance without mechanical means and increased productivity to 277kg/ha of meat, improving feed efficiency from 33kg to 21kg of dry matter per kilogram of beef.
Photo: Alphapix photography
INTRODUCTION: The Ahuwhenua Trophy field day drew a packed crowd to Ngaiotonga marae, although rain shortened the farm tour.
Photo: Hugh Stringleman
Foot and mouth disease readiness
Sheep and beef farmer vote
Beef + Lamb New Zealand has been negotiating an agreement to ensure we’re as prepared as possible for a potential foot and mouth disease outbreak and how any response costs would be recovered. Now we need your input.
Foot and mouth disease is the number one biosecurity concern for our sector, and this agreement will give sheep and beef farmers a voice in decision-making
Keep an eye on your mailbox for a voting pack containing information about the agreement and how to vote online.
Use your voice to show we have farmer support for the agreement.
Voting closes at 2pm on Friday 16 May.
FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE READINESS
VOTING INFORMATION ENCLOSED
FEDERATED FARMERS
Vol 3 No 14, April 14, 2025
Call to strip Greenpeace of status
Federated Farmers is calling for the Government to immediately strip Greenpeace of their charitable status, following the activist group’s illegal occupation of Port Taranaki last week.
“There is no way Greenpeace should be eligible for charitable status when they’re engaging in illegal activity,” says Federated Farmers spokesperson Richard McIntyre.
“They may call themselves a charity, but in reality they’re nothing short of an extreme activist group who illegally disrupt legitimate businesses and spread dangerous misinformation.”
Charitable status in New Zealand is intended to support organisations that advance public benefit through education, relief of poverty, and other recognised charitable purposes.
Under the Charities Act, organisations must operate for the public good and not primarily serve political or advocacy purposes.
“Greenpeace clearly fails that test and allowing them to maintain their charitable status risks completely undermining the credibility of the entire charitable sector,” McIntyre says.
“Allowing these law-breaking activists to continue masquerading as a charity is a total slap in the face for thousands of legitimate charities who actually provide a valuable service to society.
“To make matters worse, hardworking Kiwi taxpayers are
effectively being forced to subsidise Greenpeace’s illegal activity and political activism through huge tax breaks for their donors.”
On 6 April, Greenpeace activists unlawfully breached Port Taranaki to prevent the unloading of a cargo ship carrying palm kernel expeller (PKE).
Six people entered a restricted commercial facility, attaching themselves to objects and climbing on the roof of a bulk storage warehouse.
“Their actions stopped the unloading of 30,000 tonnes of animal feed destined for use by
drought-stricken farmers,” McIntyre says.
“What a kick in the guts for those farmers, who aren’t growing any grass and desperately needed to get their hands on that feed for their animals’ welfare.”
Police arrested four of the activists for trespass and related offences, while Port Taranaki officials condemned the breach and will launch its own review.
McIntyre says Greenpeace have demonstrated a clear pattern of disruptive behaviour, political activism and illegal conduct.
“This arrogant stunt at Port Tara-
naki is just the latest in a long history of reckless acts from Greenpeace.
“It’s time for Charities Services to stop turning a blind eye to this blatant breach of their rules and remove Greenpeace from the Charities Register,” McIntyre says.
“If an organisation can occupy ports, threaten livelihoods, and deliberately mislead the public – all while claiming charitable status – the system is clearly broken.”
Federated Farmers has lodged a complaint with Charities Services, requesting a formal inquiry into Greenpeace’s conduct and eligibility for charitable status.
A copy of that complaint has been sent to Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Hon Louise Upston and Minister of Internal Affairs Hon Brooke van Velden.
Federated Farmers’ complaint focuses on Greenpeace’s repeated involvement in premeditated unlawful protest activity, most recently at Port Taranaki.
The complaint also highlights other instances of unlawful conduct, including the 2024 protest at Fonterra’s Te Rapa dairy factory where seven individuals were arrested, and prior high-profile incidents involving trespass and disruption of commercial operations.
“We’re asking Charities Services to open a formal inquiry into whether Greenpeace still meets the requirements for registration under the Charities Act 2005,” McIntyre says.
“We also want them to investigate whether the organisation has an
unlawful purpose or promotes unlawful activities, particularly in light of what’s just happened in Taranaki.
“We strongly believe it’s time for Greenpeace to be removed from the Charities Register and we trust Charities Services will give this complaint the serious consideration it warrants.”
McIntyre says Greenpeace’s registration has long been controversial and has been tested through multiple levels of the court system.
“Greenpeace was previously denied charitable status by the Charities Commission, the Charities Registration Board, and upheld at both the High Court and Court of Appeal.
“Their registration was blocked due to concerns about their political purposes and involvement in unlawful protest.”
It wasn’t until 2014 that the Supreme Court changed the legal position, finding political advocacy could be charitable in some cases.
Even then, the Charities Registration Board re-declined Greenpeace’s application, but in 2020 the High Court ruled Greenpeace must be registered, finding that prior illegal activity was too isolated to disqualify them.
“Importantly, the Court left the door open — it said that ongoing or systematic unlawful behaviour could justify deregistration,” McIntyre says.
“That’s why we believe Charities Services must now take another look.”
UNCHARITABLE: Federated Farmers’ complaint focuses on what it calls Greenpeace’s repeated involvement in premeditated unlawful protest activity, most recently at Port Taranaki. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
H&S changes drive focus on key risks
Federated Farmers is applauding the Government’s moves to reduce paperwork, ambiguity, cost and duplication in health and safety regulation.
“We’re very much on board with the Government’s direction of travel with the health and safety re-set announced this month,” the federation’s workplace safety spokesperson David Birkett says.
“It’s been a bone of contention what exactly ‘reasonably practicable’ means for the steps farmers need to take to be compliant with the law.
“The changes announced earlier in April will result in greater clarity for farmers, and other business owners, on what they need to do.”
One significant change is that industries will be able to initiate discussions on new Approved Codes of Practice.
These ACOPs will be specific about what health and safety steps need to be fulfilled by a person in charge of a business, targeting that sector’s particular risks.
“Our farming sector will take that opportunity, I’m sure,” Birkett says.
“Agriculture knows agriculture, so it’s logical that farming organisations are best placed to develop something that’s practical.
“Federated Farmers welcomes greater input of industry to lead best practice and give certainty and confidence on health and safety obligations.
“But we also need assurance this isn’t passing the buck, and that WorkSafe will be tasked and resourced to work with us, and complete these ACOPs.”
Federated Farmers is also welcoming confirmation that landowners will not be liable if someone is injured on their land while doing recreation or adventure activities.
Instead, health and safety responsibility will lie with those running such activities and participating in them.
“Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden is right
If we can land a more streamlined, targeted and efficient set of rules and processes, farmers and other business operators can focus on addressing the truly relevant risks.
David Birkett Federated Farmers workplace safety spokesperson
when she says uncertainty and scope creep has led to some farmers refusing access for such activities out of concern around their legal liability,” Birkett says.
“One big downside of that has been some reluctance to allow farm access to recreational hunters, despite growing numbers of feral pest animals across New Zealand.
“Changing the regulations so that
health and safety is the personal responsibility of hunters, not the owner of the land they’re on, will be a boost to keeping deer, pig, goat and possum numbers down.
“These pests aren’t just chewing into farmers’ bottom lines; they’re also chewing into our native bush and completely undermining conservation efforts.”
Last year’s survey of 700 Federated Farmers members from across the country showed feral animals are costing farmers at least $213 million a year.
That figure includes a direct spend of $5.45 per hectare on pest control ($74 million per year) and $10.22 per hectare in lost production ($139 million per year).
Federated Farmers South Canterbury meat and wool chair Matt Simpson knows the value and effectiveness that skilful recreational hunters add to his own, and the district council’s, pest control efforts.
TARGETED RESPONSIBILITY:
Farmers are welcoming confirmation that hunters and other recreationalists are responsible for their own safety, and liability doesn’t fall on the owner of the land they’re on.
In the last few years, a group of hunters he has learned to trust, have gone out at night on the hill slopes and gullies of his Ranui Station, near Albury, with thermal imaging gear and long-range rifles.
The crew of three have notched wallaby kill tallies of 815 and 980 during 3-4 day shooting trips.
“Skilled recreational hunters like that can help us put huge dents in pest populations,” Simpson says.
“I’m aware that some farmers have shied away from tapping the small army of willing and responsible volunteer hunters out there because of concern a mishap or incident would have Healthy and Safety officials pounding at their door.
“So it’s great to have confirmation that liability is with the hunters, trampers, anglers, horse trekkers and others pursuing their interest in the great outdoors – not us landowners,” Simpson says.
Birkett says it’s also a positive
move to clarify the health and safety responsibilities of company directors and managers.
“That’s going to cut out duplication of effort and add to efficiency, and will be especially welcomed by larger and corporate farms.
“It may give farm owners confidence where they are somewhat removed from the process and rely on farm managers who are better placed to identify and manage risks from day-to-day activities.”
Birkett says none of the changes coming are about letting farmers off the hook in terms of strong health and safety measures.
“The welfare and protection of farm staff and family members is still the paramount concern.
“But if we can land a more streamlined, targeted and efficient set of rules and processes, farmers and other business operators can focus on addressing the truly relevant risks.”
Photo: Red Stag Timber Hunters’ Club
Transformation in contract milking is like ‘night and day’
Opportunities for contract milkers to succeed, and overall standards in the industry, have improved out of sight compared to the “wild west” of a decade ago, Brendan Attrill says.
“I’ll admit things were pretty sloppy when contract milking first emerged in New Zealand 10 years back,” the newly elected Federated Farmers sharefarm owner chair says.
“That’s why we in Federated Farmers made so many changes to knock things into shape.
“We brought in the Guaranteed Milk Return, and we worked with farmers across New Zealand to increase the net reward for our contract milkers.
“We’ve also worked really hard to address problems with the behaviour of some of our farm owners.”
Attrill says the result is a much higher standard now for both parties – farm owners and contract milkers.
“Where we’ve got to these days is absolutely night and day compared to a decade ago.
“We’ve got good rewards for our contract milkers, in general, and we’ve got contract milkers understanding what they’ve signed into.
“When we started out with this, I don’t think we knew exactly who contract milking was best suited to and who should sign up, but now we’ve got a much clearer picture.”
On the other side, farm owners now have a better understanding of what it means to be in business with a contract milker, Attrill says.
“Ten years back, I don’t think many farm owners knew things were meant to work differently with a
contract milker, compared to having an employed farm manager.
“They were almost viewed as an employee who could be directed what to do each day, rather than as a self-employed business owner working to a contract.
“Contract milking was new on the block, so there was a lot of education needed about how we manage our contract milkers and how we keep them positive.
“We’ve done a lot of education in that space and most farm owners now get it.”
Sam Ebbett, Taranaki dairy farmer and Federated Farmers sharemilker chair, agrees the contract milking industry is in a much better place.
Ten years back, I don’t think many farm owners knew things were meant to work differently with a contract milker, compared to having an employed farm manager.
Brendan Attrill Federated Farmers
“It’s definitely improved. The number of bad stories we hear is reducing all the time.
“We’ve made some pretty big headway in our agreements to tighten up some of the loose ends.”
He says there’s now a lot more knowledge and understanding on both sides of the relationship.
“We’ve done so much work educating contract milkers, who are much stronger with financial budgeting than in the past.
“Back in the day you’d have had no
pay during June, July, August, and then a pretty big one in September, and guys would rush out and buy a new ute, but that doesn’t happen much now.”
For their part, farm owners are better at budgeting for having a contract milker on their property, Ebbett says.
“We now have the likes of a split payment by the farm owner, so you have 80% of total production split over 12 months, so it helps those younger contract milkers not get into such a hole.
“That’s much more common in recent years.”
A good indicator that things have improved is the decrease in number of disputes, Attrill says.
“Yes, we still have disputes between parties every season, but nothing like how it was in the beginning when we had disputes everywhere – they were non-stop.”
Attrill agrees a big reason for the lift in standards has been the ongoing reviews of Federated Farmers’ agreements.
“We’ve had a talented group of farmers from both sides going through the Federated Farmers contracts and agreements every year for the past 40 or 50 years.
“That’s been no different with the contract milking agreements since their inception to make sure they’re fair and balanced.
“So much rigour goes into how we review and update those agreements, so farm owners and contract milkers can be confident they have a watertight agreement.”
He says the advent of hybrid contracts over the past two or three years has helped a lot too.
“That means those contract milkers who want security can now
get paid every month rather than being directly connected to the milk processor.
“That’s been a real success story in keeping it positive and helping us retain talent in the industry.”
Both Ebbett and Attrill emphasise there’s still a lot of room to keep raising the bar.
“We’ve come a long, long way in the last 10 years, but that’s not to say we don’t have room to improve,” Ebbett says.
“Now our priority is picking up those laggards who are still holding the industry back.
“But compared to a decade ago, it’s completely different.”
CLUED UP: Federated Farmers has done a lot of work educating contract milkers, who are much stronger with financial budgeting than in the past, Sam Ebbett says.
Farmers conservationists by nature
Greater support for the QEII Trust and catchment groups will do far more for protecting biodiversity on farms than regulation and mapping significant natural areas, Colin Hurst says.
“We want to see repeal of the National Policy Statement Indigenous Biodiversity, including requirements on councils to identify, map and notify SNAs for district plans.
“Too often councils end up in court in a fight with landowners.
“It’s a waste of time, money and goodwill,” the Federated Farmers vice president told the primary production select committee this month when explaining why the QEII Trust deserves more funding.
With him was Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty president Brent Mountfort, who with his wife Antonia won both the Livestock and Biodiversity Awards in the 2025 Ballance Bay of Plenty Farm Environment Awards.
Farming and biodiversity thrive side by side. The QE Trust is a big part of the jigsaw, helping farmers make that happen.
Brent Mountfort Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty president
They’ve fenced off more than 80ha of native bush on their farm near Manawahe, including 29ha protected by QEII covenants.
With the help of the trust and Bay of Plenty Regional Council, they recently fenced another 6ha to keep deer away from rimu and some rare species of rata.
“Farming and biodiversity thrive side by side,” Mountfort said.
“The QE Trust is a big part of the jig-saw, helping farmers make that happen.”
The Government recently
announced $4.5 million extra funding over three years for the trust.
That’s on top of a $4.3 million annual base grant, an amount that hasn’t increased in a decade.
The trust called the three-year topup a lifeline, and Hurst says farmers really appreciate it.
“But it doesn’t go far enough,” he says.
“They’re not going to be able to keep up with demand from farmers like Brent, willing to voluntarily protect areas of bush and wetland under perpetual covenant.”
QE Trust chief executive Dan Coup and chairperson Alan Livingstone, who has covenants on his own farm west of Hamilton, also addressed the committee.
With the end of Jobs for Nature in June this year, they said the trust’s overall funding from the Government would drop by $500,000 a year for the next three years.
“QEII doesn’t advertise. We wait for the phone to ring from people who want to do the right thing, who need a bit of advice,” Coup said.
“At the moment the phone is ringing more than we can answer it, and we’re telling some people ‘sorry, you’re going to have to wait maybe a couple of years’.”
If government funding doubled to about $10 million a year, no-one seeking to covenant part of their property for future generations would be turned away, Coup said.
“And we could do a better job of helping people like Brent with planting and pest control.”
The threat to biodiversity from feral animal pests is well-known, and possum numbers will worsen as farmer-funded OSPRI TB control work winds up.
Coup said new threats that come with climate change are under-estimated.
“There’s a progression of weeds prevalent in the north that are moving south, where previously they couldn’t survive because of frosts.”
German paper wasps will be as far south as Otago within a few years.
More than 5300 QEII covenants on private land cover just under 190,000ha – an area greater than the North Island’s three remaining national parks.
Coup says while New Zealand’s public conservation estate is huge, it’s all quite similar and mostly in the high country.
“The little bits of biodiversity left in low country are very precious.
“If you want a representative sample of all of New Zealand’s ecosystem types, you really need to go to private land.”
NATURAL LEADERS: Judges for the Bay of Plenty
Awards praised Brent and Antonia Mountfort for integrating conservation into their sheep and beef farming practices, continuously improving both.
Protecting such areas is the QEII Trust’s mission.
Coup says governments tend to think in two kinds of ways in this space: the regulatory approach or the market-based approach.
“We’re over to the side waving our hands and saying, ‘we’re neither of those’.
“What we’re doing is providing support to the growing number of people willing to do the right thing.
“We think that’s a policy option people should think about, rather than paying people to do it, or forcing it with regulation.”
Hurst, and Federated Farmers
senior policy advisor Natasha Berkett, told the committee helping farmers to be even better stewards of the land, through support and advice tailored to different catchment’s priorities, “works better than broad-brush regulation”.
Farm Plans, which encompass water quality protection and biodiversity, are a key and biodiversity credits are worth exploring, Hurst says.
“Brent’s a great example of what can be achieved with advice and help.
“Farmers want to do this. It’s in their nature to be conservationists.”
Ballance Farm Environment
Whakatane 11 Kutarere Wharf Road
Receivership Tender - 79.67 ha
An opportunity to purchase 79.67 ha of rolling land on the upper reaches of the Ohiwa harbour. The property is located only 18 km from the ever popular Ohope Beach and 27 km from the Whakatane town centre. The property has operated as a dairy unit for many years. An 18 ASHB cowshed supports an in-shed feed system plus a five-bay implement shed. All are in functional but average condition. There is a solid three-bedroom home with good garaging to complete the picture. The contour of the property is made up of approximately 12 ha of flats, approximately 7 ha of those are boarding the Ohiwa Harbour. The remainder of the land is rolling with a few steeper sidings. Please note that due to the sale process, there are limited farm records available to view Properties of this size and location are few and far between; act now to avoid disappointment.
Central Hawke's Bay 1041 Tikokino Road
246 ha with irrigation consents
In the heart of the Ruataniwha Plains, 10 km west of Waipawa, comprising approximately 140 ha of LUC 1 land, arguably some of the best cropping soils in Hawke’s Bay. The balance of the property comprises stony gravels which provide an excellent balance. Generous irrigation consents from three bores, plus a consent to store water from a permanent artesian stream are in place. Improvements include three homesteads a large 1,750 m2 pack house numerous implement sheds, hay barns and other storage sheds. A central all-weather track gives access to the pack house and working hub of the property. This property has been farmed by the same family for three generations Presently growing beans, peas and sweetcorn Exceptional yields of 25t/ha of beans achieved 2025 Over the years squash, onions, apples, a wide range of small seeds, maize and other cereals have been grown, with excellent yields achieved.
2549 Wakarara Road, Tikokino, Central Hawke’s Bay For Sale by Tender closing Wed 7 May 2025 at 2pm (unless sold prior)
Pebbly Hill - Birchwood Farm, spanning approximately 793ha (with an option to purchase neighbouring Waimaunga Farm for a total of 937ha), offers a prime opportunity to secure economic scale The farm is held in two titles: 528ha and 265ha, with a mix of cropping flats, rolling hill country and strong limestone hills A full complement of infrastructure includes two woolsheds with adjoining sheep yards, two cattle yards and satellite sheep yards The homestead features four bedrooms, two living areas, and expansive decks Water is supplied via gravity-fed spring systems Renowned for its reliable rainfall strong soils and favourable farming conditions, this property offers the new owners the chance to continue the legacy and profit from this opportunity
Hadley Brown 027 442 3539 For Sale
colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67033605
For Sale
2701
For Sale by Tender closing Wed 7 May 2025 at 2pm (unless sold prior)
Comprising approximately 144 hectares Waimaunga Farm is a picturesque grass factory that has so much to offer whether you are looking to start a farm portfolio, invest in dairy support land or add to existing investments Featuring flat to easy rolling contour with native trees and the Ruahine Ranges as a backdrop, the farm is well subdivided for sheep and beef finishing Infrastructure includes a three-stand woolshed, sheep and cattle yards and implement shed The four-bedroom home with office and two living areas set in established grounds offers comfortable living
Recreational activities like duck shooting trout fishing and hiking in the Ruahine Ranges add appeal Waimaunga is available separately or with the neighbouring Pebbly Hill - Birchwood Farm owned by the same family
Wakarara Road, Tikokino, Central Hawke’s Bay
Following two generations of careful custodianship plus the sale of the owners ’ adjoining dairy
& kiwifruit orchard, an outstanding lifestyle property featuring the Mangahana Homestead is now available for sale. Situated on an elevated plateau of “gardeners’ delight” ash soils, north-facing to capture all -day sun, with superb panoramic views encompassing the iconic mountain group of Maungatautari to the north -east, Kakepuku and Pirongia to the west, it is an especially captivating environment.
• 143 Cruickshank Road, Te Mawhai / Tokanui district - 11 kms from Te Awamutu
• 9,688m² title, accessed by tarsealed driveway & enhanced by mature specimen trees.
• delightful executive -style 2 storied homestead with stained cedar cladding, copper spouting & downpipes, coloursteel roof, attached triple garaging.
• featuring 6 brms, spacious open plan kitchen / dining / living areas opening to the sheltered outdoor living areas; a separate lounge provides a quiet, peaceful area.
• quila decking at both the entranceway and the sunny outdoor living areas.
• an inground pool and an excellent all-weather tennis court cater for energetic exercise.
• downstairs contains 5 brms, bathroom, guest toilet, office/family room, laundry & small gym; above is the master brm & ensuite, with a north -facing balcony & a lovely rural outlook.
• separate spacious office suite & large storage area above the triple garage.
• ducted, diesel fuelled central heating plus 3 additional Jet Master open fires.
• self -contained water supply + additional garage / toolshed.
• an excellent district, handy to town with very good options for primary & secondary schooling. Ph Brian Peacocke 021 373 113 TradeMe / Realestate.co.nz / OneRoof search # R1442 Sale by Deadline: Wed, 7 May 2025
REAA2008 MREINZ
Situated in Stage 1 of the waterways, for quick access to the canal entrance and this peaceful, quiet spot!
This fabulous low maintenance 358sqm holiday or retirement home, has an attached granny flat with natural estuary views. Harvest your happiness here. Driveway to boat ramp and double garaging, plus plenty of off-street parking for the boat.
Fly in, fly out (Whitianga airport).
Get your ducks in a row, and sow your seeds for your future now
R2YR Beef & Fries Bulls 400–460kg
40 R2YR Ang Here x Hfrs 400 kgs VIC Angus co ws Du e Aug/Sept
info@dyerlivestock co nz www dyerlivestock co nz Ross Dyer 0274
SALE TALK
The forest animals were concerned that their habitat was being destroyed by logging, so they consulted the oldest wisest tree in the middle of the forest to ask what they could do to save it.
The wise old tree thought about it and said, “Perhaps the bears can scare the loggers away”.
The bears snarled and charged the loggers to scare them. It worked initially, but then the loggers hired hunters and soon there were no bears left to scare anyone.
The logging resumed and the forest animals returned to the wise old tree for advice. This time the wise old tree suggested that the birds swoop down and peck the loggers to disrupt their work day. This too worked for a while until the loggers hired some falconers to hunt the birds. Soon there were not enough birds to halt their progress so the loggers resumed.
At this point the loggers were getting very close to the wise old tree, so the forest animals came back once more to see what the tree had to say.
Wednesday April 30, starting 11.30am a/c AN & CL Taylor. 306 Kaimatarau Road, Rongotea, Palmerston North
Signposted from SH1 (near Oroua Downs) and from Rongotea roundabout
Comprising:
Case 5150 123HP tractor (10,600hrs) with bucket & forks; grader blade; Can-am 1000cc S/S; portable welder on trailer; calf feeders; Big Bear quad; Honda quad; trans-arc welder 330; post-hole borer; meal troughs; calf trailer with crate; Kverneland mower/conditioner; Walco 3.5 fertiliser spreader; CDax 600L x 2; silage grab; leveller; roller/seed box; 6m cultivator; subsoiler; harrows; 400L petrol-900L diesel combination tank; bench with vice; die set; hip lifters; calving jack; hydraulic top link; endless chain; trolley jack; small Wilson tank; alkaline puller; transport tray; reels and standards; alloy platform; pallet forks. Plus usual farm sundries. Terms are strictly cash (EFTPOS), unless an existing purchasing client of NZ Farmers Livestock. For more details and photos go to: website www.mylivestock.co.nz
Further enquiries to NZ Farmers Livestock agents: Emmet McConnell 027 443 7671 Matt
The wise old tree then suggested that all the squirrels and mice chew through the cables of the loggers’ power tools, saws and other equipment so that the tools could no longer cut down the trees. While this did slow the loggers down, they quickly switched to manual saws and axes while their mechanised equipment was repaired and carried on.
The day eventually came where the loggers had reached the wise old tree in the middle of the forest and chopped it down.
Later that night the remaining forest animals sadly visited the dying tree and asked one last time if there was anything they could do to save the rest of the forest.
The tree let out a weak sigh and said, “Sorry guys, I’m stumped”.
Here at Farmers Weekly we get some pretty funny contributions to our Sale Talk joke from you avid readers, and we’re keen to hear more! If you’ve got a joke you want to share with the farming community (it must be something you’d share with your grandmother...) then email us at: saletalk@agrihq.co.nz with Sale Talk in the subject line and we’ll print it and credit it to you.
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Available online April 25th farmersweekly.co.nz/digital-edition Stay up to date with content from across the season with our complimentary Bull Sales eNewsletter Subscribe at farmersweekly.co.nz/bull-sales
Contact Andrea to enquire 027 602 4925 livestock@agrihq.co.nz
Autumn 2025 Bull Sales Preview
Prospects bright for bull selling season
Hugh Stringleman MARKETS Bulls
BEEF cattle industry leaders are very optimistic about the bull selling season to come, expecting higher prices and clearances.
Simmental New Zealand president Tracey Neal, from Potawa Simmentals, Piopio, said her fellow breeders are quite positive about the bull sale season.
Speaking on the herd tour from Auckland to King Country and Rotorua, she said high beef prices and good weaner sale prices should enable commercial beef farmers to buy a new bull or three.
“It is time to freshen up your genetics, as new bulls are always better,” she said.
It remains to be seen whether farmers with drought-affected commercial cow herds will bid keenly for bulls but there is no doubt the Simmental offerings will be presented well.
“Good genetics always reward in all types of seasonal conditions, such as drought followed by compensatory growth,” she said.
Sheep and beef farmers have had tight control over their purse strings the past two or three years but now that inflation has settled down and lambs and beef prices are high, Neal expects bull sales to pick up strongly.
PGG Wrightson national genetics manager Callum Stewart said livestock confidence is high on the back of good lamb and beef returns and that generates favourable signs for bull sales.
“Purse strings have been tight but the conversations between breeders, farmers and their agents are becoming easier.
“The weaner market has been
good and that takes a while to flow on to bull prices, but improvements in genetics have been rewarded.”
Stewart cited risk factors in the market as being the limitations on cow numbers and delayed tree plantings on hill country sold for forestry.
His agents have reported bull catalogue numbers to be like last year and that means keen competition between breeders for the commercial purchasing dollars.
Widespread drought conditions do not dampen bull buying, as cow herds still have to be serviced.
“Buyers want their bulls to look good – [they want] the bulls they pay $5000 or $10,000 for to look like $20,000.”
to the World Angus Forum in Brisbane on May 7 and 8, after being on the organising committee by Zoom call.
Carrfields agent and auctioneer Bruce Orr, Gisborne, said he had never seen prospects for the bull sale season better than this year’s.
“You look at beef prices, cull cows, weaners, lamb prices – they all look positive.”
Orr sees a shadow, nevertheless, in the decline of commercial cow numbers and the land use change to forestry.
“Many bull breeders are trying to sell 10 more and we have a growing number of 100-plus offerings.
“Clearances may be hard to achieve if more bulls are catalogued than the market requires.”
TRAJECTORY: Bull breeders expect their prices and clearances to rise as the sale season gets going, with more sales like the $70,000 paid last year for Taimate T150 by Kaharau and Ratanui.
Tracey Neal Simmental New Zealand
AngusPro NZ president Tim Brittain said the beef price schedule is strong and weaners have sold well, continuing on the strength shown in the yearling bull sales last spring.
“World beef markets are good and the United States is short of beef, although we do not know what tariff barriers may be erected,” he said.
Some more commercial cattle herds are taking over from sheep farming and the conversion rate to forestry has slowed, although it has not stopped.
Breed society members will put up about the same numbers of bulls this year as in past years, he thinks.
Brittain was looking forward
Angus NZ president Mike Smith, Kincardine Stud, Queenstown, said it has been great to see commercial farmers rewarded with higher calf sale prices, especially those who invested in better Angus genetics.
He expects there will be some standout Angus bull prices again this season as breeders seek a great leap in genetics.
Last year it was sons of Albert of Stern that reached $135,000 and $115,000 and averaged $28,000. The year before two Stern bulls made $98.000 and $85,000. The Stern sale will be on June 19 this year.
Most offerings will be similar in size to last year as breeding programmes made it difficult to increase the numbers of two-year-olds.
Having said that, Kincardine will offer about 10 more on June 4, sired by Rainstorme, Renegade and other sires through an ET programme.
NZ Hereford general manager
Posy Moody said the beef market signs are highly positive for this year’s bull sale season and that hybrid vigour will also produce added rewards for commercial farmers with Angus herds.
“Putting tariffs aside, we know that the US is short of beef and our bulls will contribute to eye muscle area and primal cuts.”
Moody said Hereford breeders will sell two-year-old bulls between May 15 and June 17, with confidence about demand and looking for higher clearance rates.
Beef Shorthorn president Anita Erskine said she hopes the phenomenal calf prices down south will flow on to higher bull prices.
“Buying a bull is a three-year investment before you begin to sell his offspring and a 10-year influence over your herd, so it has got to be done carefully,” she said.
The tough spring and early summer in Southland has left farmers short of feed going into winter, now that it has turned cold.
Hazletts stud stock agent Callum Dunnett said calf sales are progressing very well in the south and it bodes very well for bull sales.
Most of his breeders will put up the same numbers of bulls as they did last year.
Charolais Breeders president Sam Holland said autumn weather conditions in North Canterbury are excellent and bulls should be looking their best by sale time.
In his case he will be offering over 70 this year, on June 12 at Culverden, up from 60 last year.
“Demand is strong and pricing should be up a little on last year.
“Lambs and beef prices are good and interest rates have fallen, so that all bodes well,” he said.
Charolais breeding is expanding and crossing over dairy cows is becoming popular.
“People are specialising in that –rearers are making money and so are the finishers.
“It is great to see exotic cattle having a resurgence.”
Markets
Is a doubledigit lamb price even desirable?
The last thing this industry needs is a race to $10 that is not backed by solid market returns.
Mel Croad MARKETS Beef and lamb
THE prospect of reaching $10/kg for lamb in less than four months has sparked widespread optimism with store lamb buyers racing out to secure their needs. Market confidence combined with rain in the forecast saw store lamb prices climb at Feilding on April 4. The average price was 90% higher than 12 months earlier, leaving buyers struggling to find a 30kg lamb for under $150/hd. Those strong results are now filtering through the wider store market.
Current farmgate lamb prices have lifted by 40c/kg since January, buoyed by strong export returns, a favourable currency and tight supplies. This has occurred through a period known more for downside. So how feasible is it for farmgate lamb prices to reach $10/ kg this winter?
This lofty goal of a doubledigit payout is based on Australian analyst Simon Quilty’s expectation that the Australian lamb slaughter will be in freefall and could drop under 20 million head in 2026, commenting that “Australia has such a big influence on NZ lamb prices”.
His forecast lamb price of $10/ kg and pushing higher next year is therefore based on tight Australian supplies and not consumer demand.
With tight supplies comes the risk of prices pushing too high, leading consumers to trade down to cheaper proteins or reduce their willingness to purchase the same volume of lamb. When this happens, export values fall. Even supply forecast data out of Australia is mixed. Meat and Livestock Australia also expects a declining lamb slaughter but forecasts Australian lamb export volumes to grow through to 2027 as exports are favoured over servicing their domestic market.
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New Zealand lamb exports have performed well this season, but largely on the back of strong demand out of Europe and the United Kingdom, two markets that Australia doesn’t rely heavily on.
With tight supplies comes the risk of prices pushing too high.
Average export values in February, which contained a larger-than-normal proportion of chilled lamb, soared to $13.48/ kg. Even based on farmgate lamb prices sitting just over $8/kg, processor margins looked very healthy.
While NZ exporters have been positive in their messaging regarding demand post-Easter, there is a long way until the end of the season. And as we have seen in recent weeks, global volatility
In this podcast Phil Weir on Nuffield’s global perspective, sheep and beef farming, and industry good.
is rearing its head and could challenge the status quo. Lamb is already considered a high-priced protein, and we can’t overlook the role of the consumer in our key markets.
The last time farmgate lamb prices pushed close to $10/kg was in early October 2021 and again in September 2022. Average export values in USD terms (removing any currency influence) were significantly higher than what we are currently seeing – a result of the cash-rich days during the covid recovery.
During those peak lamb price periods, procurement competition was high and processor margins low. Total combined export volumes from NZ and Australia were lower than what we have shipped in subsequent years and China was the largest export market for lamb.
The last attempt for $10/kg wasn’t sustainable and we quickly
saw prices unravel to $7/kg by January 2023.
If prices were to lift by average from here, then $9.30-9.40/kg by August is achievable according to AgriHQ analysis. Last year the export market lifted by $1/ kg between July and September, reflecting the wriggle room created by a low starting price. For that to occur again it’s unlikely to be market driven, but rather procurement based.
The remaining lamb kill to September looks dire based on Beef + Lamb NZ figures, so higher procurement could become a reality, but not before considering a reduction in capacity.
If current margins remain healthy it would enable some fat in the system for later in the year but that must be weighed up against market signals. The last thing this industry needs is a race to $10 that is not backed by solid market returns, nor sustainable.
SIGNALS: If current margins remain healthy it would enable some fat in the system for later in the year but that must be weighed up against market signals, Mel Croad says.
Cattle Sheep Deer
Weekly saleyard results
These weekly saleyard results are collated by the AgriHQ LivestockEye team. Cattle weights and prices are averages and sheep prices are ranges. For more detailed results and analysis subscribe to your selection of LivestockEye reports. Scan the QR code or visit www.agrihq.co.nz/livestock-reports
Giant Easter egg of high pressure rolls in
Philip Duncan NEWS Weather
THE weather leading up to Easter comes in the form of a giant Easter egg-shaped high pressure zone covering New Zealand – this will bring plenty of sunny and dry weather this week, although we do kick off Monday with a cold front rushing into the South Island bringing a burst of wind, rain, snow on the mountains and another temperature drop.
This cold front zips northwards and crumbles – so by Tuesday it’s cleared most of NZ. Some regions may get a slight temperature drop in the north, but not much else happening other than a few showers, mainly in the east.
High pressure – which technically may not be shaped perfectly like an Easter egg, but it’s the one week of the year I can use this analogy – will then move in from the west, keeping a crisp but only slight southerly flow for most (although locally your wind direction may be from any direction, but the general flow over NZ is southerly).
At the time of writing this the
long range forecast suggests that high pressure zone is over NZ on Thursday and then by Good Friday it slides out to the east of the nation – and this is where the forecast gets trickier, as we’re now monitoring the tropics due to a fairly large pool of low pressure stretching from Darwin to Tonga. There may be a tropical cyclone between the Northern Territory and Queensland (no threat to NZ) but the Coral Sea to Tonga zone of low pressure is trying to drop southwards into NZ with wind and rain – and that departing high pressure zone may allow this tropical low pressure to reach us. But it’s not locked in as it’s all about the speed at which that high pressure zone departs our shores/ skies.
I half jokingly said in my weather video last week that when it comes to Easter weekend I could give you the forecast for 2035 as you can usually draw a line down the
The Saturday and Easter Sunday portion of the long weekend looks more unsettled.
middle of it and say one half is settled and sunny, the other half windy and changeable.
For now, the Saturday and Easter Sunday portion of the long weekend looks more unsettled, with windier but not necessarily wetter weather. This may bring warmer, sunnier, weather for some and windier, cloudier or wetter weather for others.
But, as it’s been for most of this year, high pressure is driving the movement and placement of low pressure (and rain) – these highs are powerful and if you were a betting person you might bet that the high pressure will win –bringing drier than usual weather to many regions still.
Facial Eczema
We’re possibly in the peak now for 2024 following the rain on the dead grass and still some mild days and mild soil temperatures around the place. The cooler nights moving in over the next several weeks usually put an end to this. Lately the spore counts have been plateaued in a straight line on the graphs – but are higher than 2024 and 2023 and just below the peak of 2022.
DRY: This rainfall accumulation image over seven days, starting from Sunday, April 13 through to Sunday, April 20, shows more dry weather for our driest regions.
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