Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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EMA – ExportNZ’s flagship summit Global X returns – helping exporters navigate a changing world

Source: EMA

ExportNZ and the EMA are bringing together some of New Zealand’s leading exporters and trade experts at the Global X Summit in Auckland on 15 September, as businesses face an increasingly complex global trading environment.
The one-day summit will provide practical insights, expert perspectives and real-world experiences to help New Zealand exporters understand emerging opportunities and adapt to rapid changes in global markets.
EMA Head of Export, Simon Devoy, says the event comes at a critical time for New Zealand businesses looking to grow internationally.
“New Zealand is a small country, a long way from global markets. If we want a prosperous future, export success is absolutely essential,” Devoy says.
“Exporting is no longer just about our traditional strengths in primary industries like dairy, meat and horticulture. We are increasingly exporting technology, services and expertise around the world, and that is a big opportunity for New Zealand businesses.”
Keynote speakers: Dr Alan Bollard & Stephen Jacobi
The Global X Summit will feature a diverse range of speakers from across the export ecosystem, including major exporters, industry leaders and policy experts.
The keynote speakers include Dr Alan Bollard, the former Secretary to the Treasury and Governor of the Reserve Bank, who will share his insights on the forces reshaping global trade, including trade policies and geopolitical tensions.
Stephen Jacobi, a former Director of the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF), will provide a practical “on-the-ground” view of how shifting trade dynamics are playing out in key markets, with a focus on how New Zealand exporters can stay competitive.
Practical lessons from successful New Zealand exporters,
Attendees will also hear directly from successful New Zealand exporters, including Rachael Armstrong ( Antipodes Water), David Sweas ( The Dodson Group), Fee Cortis ( BLUNT Umbrellas) and Sarah Kennedy ( Calocurb), who will share what it takes to build brands, win customers and scale on the global stage.
Understanding how to navigate changes in trade policies
Executive Director of ExportNZ, Josh Tan, says exporters must remain agile as global trade conditions continue to shift.
“The international trade environment is changing quickly. The rules-based system is under pressure, and exporters need to stay informed, stay connected and be ready to adapt,” he says.
“Globalisation hasn’t gone away, but it has changed. Understanding how to navigate that change is critical for any business looking to grow offshore.”
Bilateral business councils representing key markets
Global X will play an important role in bringing together the full breadth of New Zealand’s export networks.
“What makes Global X different is that it brings together the bilateral business councils, including the US, China, ASEAN and the EU, alongside exporters, government and industry leaders in one place,” Tan says.
“That connection matters. It helps businesses better understand different markets, build relationships faster, and tap into shared knowledge across the export community.”
Collaboration and practical learning.
Designed to bring the export community together, Global X will provide a platform for connection, collaboration and practical learning.
“This is about hearing from experts, learning from others who have done it before, and taking time out of the business to think strategically about growth,” Devoy says.
“With so much change happening globally, there has never been a more important time for exporters to come together and share ideas.”
To register for Global X, please go to: Global X Summit – Hear from Major New Zealand Exporters
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Conflict – Five children killed by explosive weapon in Yemen while engaged in child labour in deadliest incident this year – Save the Children

Source: Save the Children

At least five children have been killed and seven more children injured by an unexploded ordnance (UXO) that detonated next to them in southern Yemen in the deadliest incident for children so far this year, Save the Children said.
The children, aged between 7 and 13, came across the UXO while collecting scrap metal to sell, and, thinking it was a toy, started playing with it.
Save the Children, which is supporting some of the injured children with medical treatment, said they sustained multiple shrapnel injuries to their chests, abdomens and limbs.
Previous Save the Children analysis found that in the past four years since a UN truce in April 2022, at least 511 of 1,200 conflict-related child casualties were due to landmines and explosive remnants of war.
The same analysis found that children were over three times more likely than adults to be killed or injured by explosive remnants of war in Yemen, partly due to a lack of mine risk awareness.
Child labour is rife in Yemen due to the worsening economic situation and global funding cuts, exposing children to risk while tending livestock and gathering firewood, as well as working in construction and scrap metal collection. According to UNICEF, 12.5% of children aged 5-14 are engaged in child labour, a figure that rises sharply to 15.4% in rural areas.
A survey by Save the Children in south Yemen last year found that 90% of 615 households relied on the income children received for their work to eat, with displaced children worst affected.
Rishana Haniffa, Country Director for Save the Children in Yemen, said:
“It is an outrage that after a decade of conflict, children in Yemen are still paying the price with their lives due to a double threat from explosive remnants of war and child labour. Injuries from explosives can leave children permanently disabled, sometimes leading to the amputation of limbs or the loss of sight or hearing.
“All parties to the conflict must de-escalate the crisis, stop the use of explosive weapons and uphold international humanitarian law to prevent further harm to civilians.
“At the same time, Yemen requires sustained and increased humanitarian funding for the clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXOs), victim assistance and risk education initiatives that have been scaled back due to aid cuts. Families also need more support for sustainable livelihoods so that children are not forced into work, putting them at risk. These life-saving efforts are critical to protect vulnerable communities, especially children, from the deadly impact of explosive weapons.”
Save the Children has been working in Yemen since 1963, implementing programmes in education, child protection, health and nutrition, water and sanitation, and emergency response across most of the country.
Child protection remains at the heart of our programmes, including specialized care and assistance for children injured by explosive weapons and mine risk education.
About Save the Children NZ:
Save the Children works in 120 countries across the world. The organisation responds to emergencies and works with children and their communities to ensure they survive, learn and are protected.
Save the Children NZ currently supports international programmes in Fiji, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, Nepal, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Areas of work include child protection, education and literacy, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and alleviating child poverty.
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Employment – Northland Mill proposed to close without a buyer found

Source: Workers First Union

There has been disappointment and shock from Workers First Union members in Northland this morning following the announcement that one of two of Northland’s Juken New Zealand mills has failed to find a buyer and is proposed for closure.
Marcus Coverdale, Workers First Organiser, said staff from the JNL-owned Northland Mill were called to a 6:30 AM meeting this morning and told that no buyer had been found during the sale window, and a proposal to close would open for consultation from 8 July.
“We’re disappointed that no buyer has been found for Northland Mill but there is still a window for central Government to step up and push for a solution,” said Mr Coverdale.
“Now is the time for a localised solution to save our manufacturing industry and our skilled woodworkers.”
Meanwhile, JNL’s second mill – the Triboard Mill – appears to have found a buyer, or at least, was not proposed for closure following this morning’s meeting, Mr Coverdale said.
“In terms of sustainability, between the two mills, the full log is used,” said Mr Coverdale. “The top of a log is refined for the tri-board product, and the middle for veneers and mulch.”
“Without a buyer found for the Northland Mill, we’ll be taking the top of the log for tri-board and sending the other raw two-thirds overseas without any value added.”
The Northland Mill employs around 60 people, with 40 Workers First members who have redundancy provisions and may be able to access redeployment or other options, Mr Coverdale said.
The proposal window and consultation would begin on 8 July and a final decision is expected by 16 July. In the meantime, the mill’s Collective Agreement has expired, and it was unlikely that bargaining for a new one-month term prior to a closure would commence.
“I think union members have been frustrated as the company continues to talk about ‘good faith’ without guaranteeing their future or making any gesture of that nature,” said Mr Coverdale.
“But not all hope is lost, and it’s now time to wait to see if this Government will offer the mill workers a lifeline or if we’re set to lose yet another important wood manufacturing facility.”
The potential closure of Northland Mill would be the seventh major wood processing site lost under the current National-NZ First-ACT Government.
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Events – Three new exhibitions open Adam Art Gallery’s winter season

Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Te Pātaka Toi Adam Art Gallery at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington will open its winter season with three new exhibitions. Two solo projects, The Choice by George Watson and ‘Ua Tafa Mai Ata: Matāli’i ki Wainuiātea by Elisapeta Hinemoa Heta, are accompanied by a group show, Not a solitary feeling. While developed as distinct projects, each exhibition contends with inherited histories in different ways, and proposes a critical framework attuned to the challenges of the present. Thresholds, gates, the eye of the storm—these works collectively offer moments of reflection, and the recognition of larger forces at play.

In the gallery foyer, artist and architect Elisapeta Hinemoa Heta presents the sculptural installation ‘Ua Tafa Mai Ata: Matāli’i ki Wainuiātea. The title connects to the artist’s Sāmoan gafa (whakapapa) and alludes to the ata or morning light that cuts through the darkness, similar to the capacity of art to reveal that which may be less visible or material. The work takes the form of an ātea—a public forum, most commonly referring to the open area in front of the wharenui where visitors are welcomed and issues are debated. The installation includes low seats made from charred timber, a gauze-like textile canopy, a foundation of bricks formerly used in Wellington’s Te Ngākau Civic Square. The work becomes a platform from which one might, metaphorically or in more tangible ways, connect or reconnect with the expansiveness of Moana-nui-a-Kiwa. Heta’s project—this third version of which is presented for Adam Art Gallery by guest curator Israel Randell—is a built structure designed for hosting people, and foregrounds the role of talanoa or dialogue in the navigation of our multiple and pressing relationships to the ocean that surrounds us.

George Watson’s artwork The Choice is her most physically substantial project to date, constructed primarily with found and prefabricated materials. Working with metal, textiles, artificial dust, text, and processes of sculptural subtraction, Watson’s installation brings together seemingly divergent references—to the farm, the villa, and the 19th-century novel—within a larger narrative about colonial inheritances, and the ways that such histories haunt us in the present. The work comprises large, galvanised steel farm gates, the removal of gallery wall panels to reveal the internal structure, and the addition of ornate Victorian era fretwork. The title references Robyn Kahukiwa’s 1974 painting, The Choice, a work that Watson has returned to frequently in her own thinking on urban migration of Māori in the 1970s, and its legacies in the present.

Not a solitary feeling is a group exhibition of works that disrupt our image of the past and open possibilities for altering how we might think about, anticipate, and imagine the future. Featuring a selection of works from Ngā Puhipuhi o Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Art Collection alongside loaned works, the exhibition explores how artworks may open perceived boundaries between human and more-than-human, planet and atmosphere. Including sculpture, painting, video and photography, the exhibition pays attention to the atmosphere as a commons, considering bodies which we might not see but can sense and feel, such as wind, weather, water, and the air in-between, and what it means to be a community of which this planet is a part. Not a solitary feelingcompletes a three-part series of exhibitions which unpack the possibilities for an environmentally-considered art history of Aotearoa, co-curated by Professor of Art History and Environmental Humanities, Susan Ballard, and former Kaiwhakarākei Curator Collections at Adam Art Gallery, Sophie Thorn.  

Details of the exhibitions

‘Ua Tafa Mai Ata: Matāli’i ki Wainuiātea
Elisapeta Hinemoa Heta
Curated by Israel Randell

The Choice
George Watson
Curated by Abby Cunnane and Keani Rewha

Not a solitary feeling
Fiona Connor, Colin McCahon, Ross Hemera, Brett Graham, Mark Harvey, Ayesha Green, Yuki Kihara, Kate Newby, Layla Rudneva-Mackay, Christine Hellyar, Tanya Ashken, Melissa Macleod.
Curated by Susan Ballard and Sophie Thorn

4 July–11 October 2026
Te Pātaka Toi Adam Art Gallery
Opening hours
Te Pātaka Toi Adam Art Gallery
11am–5pm Tuesday–Sunday
FREE ENTRY
adamartgallery.nz

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Health – New roadmap calls for faster action on mental health, addiction and wellbeing

Source: Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission

Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission- has today launched a new roadmap at Parliament calling for faster, more focused action to improve mental health, addiction and wellbeing outcomes in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The call comes as psychological distress continues to rise across Aotearoa, while the mental health and addiction system struggles to keep pace with people’s needs.
“While progress has been made in recent years, change is not happening fast enough, especially for young people and Māori,” says Te Hiringa Mahara Chief Executive Karen Orsborn.
“This roadmap is designed to help decision-makers focus effort and investment where it can make the greatest difference, so people and whānau can get support earlier, closer to home, and in ways that work for them.
“The mental health system cannot solve these issues on its own, but it must play its part well.
“The roadmap draws on five years of monitoring and advocacy. It highlights key priorities for action, including earlier and easier access to support for young people, a better coordinated crisis response system, stronger investment in Kaupapa Māori and culturally appropriate services, and growth in the mental health and addiction workforce.”
“Today we were proud to launch the roadmap alongside MPs from across the political spectrum and to focus on the action needed now.
“Te Hiringa Mahara is urging decision-makers to look closely at the roadmap to improve support for people and whānau, and help ensure the system is fit for purpose,” says Ms Orsborn.
Find the roadmap in full, here: www.mhwc.govt.nz/roadmap
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Sustainability profession ‘comes of age’ – but pressure remains beneath the surface

Source: Sustainable Business Council

New research shows the sustainability profession in Aotearoa New Zealand has firmly established itself at the centre of business strategy – but ongoing pressures around capability, career pathways and pay are threatening to stall its progress.
The 2026 Insights on Aotearoa New Zealand’s Sustainability Professionals report, released today by Oxygen Consulting, in partnership with the Sustainable Business Council (SBC), Sustainable Business Network (SBN) and Auckland University of Technology (AUT), is now in its seventh year of research, providing a unique longitudinal view on the profession’s evolution.
Drawing on insights from more than 200 sustainability professionals across the country, the research finds the profession has reached a new level of maturity, while also entering a more complex and demanding phase.
“Seven years of this research tells us we’ve built something real. The sustainability profession in Aotearoa is no longer establishing itself, it is here,” says Dr Sarah Holden, Founder and Director of Oxygen Consulting.
“But coming of age brings a different kind of work. The challenge is now not proving the value of sustainability, but ensuring the profession is properly equipped, supported and able to sustain itself over the long term.”
Progress continues – but key pressures remain
The research shows sustainability professionals are increasingly embedded in organisations and confident in their roles, with 88% agreeing they have the capability to deliver on expectations.
However, this progress is being tested by a widening gap between what is being asked of professionals and the resources available to them.
Key findings include:
– Capability gaps are widening, with 40% of professionals identifying gaps in current training, clustering around technical skills, commercial and financial acumen, strategic influence and communication, project delivery, te ao Māori competency, and sector-specific or advanced training
– Participation in professional training has dropped to its lowest level on record at just 27%
– Career pathways remain unclear, with 81% of respondents unable to identify their next step in the organisation
– Turnover risk is increasing, particularly among younger professionals considering roles overseas
While wellbeing remains broadly stable, it no longer stands apart from other professions. The research also signals early warning signs are increasing as pressures begin to converge on professionals and turnover intentions creep up.
Implications for business: capability is now a strategic constraint
For business leaders, the findings highlight a growing risk: sustainability is now central to organisational performance, but the capability pipeline may not be keeping pace.
“Sustainability capability is critical to delivering strategy, managing risk, and unlocking long-term value and economic growth,” says Mike Burrell Chief Executive of the Sustainable Business Council.
“What this research shows is that while expectations of sustainability teams are increasing, the investment in capability, resourcing and career development is not keeping up. For businesses that creates a significant risk when it comes to execution.”
“Organisations that fail to address these gaps risk slowing progress at a time when the external environment, from investors to global markets, is only becoming more demanding.”
Training and education systems under pressure to respond
The research highlights a clear role for educators and training providers, with professionals identifying gaps across technical skills, commercial acumen, strategy influence, and te ao Māori competency.
AUT’s Professor of Ethics and Sustainability Leadership, Marjo Lips-Wiersma says, “What these latest insights tell us is that the sustainability role today is broader and more complex than ever before.
“AUT’s Business School makes environmental, social and governance (ESG) courses compulsory to all of its students throughout their degree, enabling them to have a good understanding of it – regardless of whether they are studying marketing, accounting, finance or management – as it’s crucial that we prepare and equip current and future professionals for the changing demands of the roles they are stepping into.”
Momentum is real – now it needs to translate into action
Despite the challenges, the research reinforces momentum behind sustainability in Aotearoa New Zealand remains strong.
The opportunity now is to convert that momentum into sustained, system-wide progress.
“Turning ambition into impactful action requires us to back the people doing this work, strengthening capability, and creating the conditions for long-term impact,” says Rachel Brown, CEO of the Sustainable Business Network.
“For sustainability strategies to be truly effective, people across all teams need to be engaged, especially when resources such as people, skills and funds are very thin. This is critical if we want Aotearoa New Zealand to move beyond progress to transformation.”
After seven years, the findings show the sustainability profession in Aotearoa New Zealand has moved beyond establishment and into a new phase of maturity.
The report now calls for stronger investment in capability, clearer career pathways, and deeper integration of sustainability into core business decision-making.
Without this, progress risks stalling. But with it, the profession is well placed to play a defining role in delivering long-term business performance, and the economic and environmental benefits of a resilient, low-emissions economy.
A comprehensive list of training opportunities offered by the report’s partners can be found here.
Insights on Aotearoa New Zealand Sustainability Professionals is the only research of its kind in New Zealand. Download the full insights report here.
Notes
The sustainability experts and partners listed above will be participating in a panel at today’s launch event, responding to the insights and discussing ideas for addressing future challenges.
Target participants for this research included any employed people who currently have ‘sustainability’ as part or all of their role. ‘Sustainability’ includes responsibilities that address the social, environmental and economic risks to the organisation. The scope included anyone in full time, part time or contractual positions within public, private, non-governmental, charity, and not-for-profit organisations.
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Greenpeace – New map highlights mining threat associated with controversial conservation reforms

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace has launched an interactive online map exposing the overlap between known deposits of minerals the Government has deemed “critical” and the public conservation land that would be easier to sell off and exploit under the Government's Conservation Amendment Bill. Greenpeace has dubbed the proposed law change the ‘Conservation Exploitation Bill’.
Greenpeace campaigner Gen Toop says, “The Government wants to make it easier to commercially exploit and sell off public conservation land, at the same time that it is pursuing an aggressive mining push. This map helps connect the dots.”
“Our map shows that some of Aotearoa's most irreplaceable and world-renowned areas sit above minerals that mining corporations would no doubt love to plunder. These places are at even greater risk now because of this egregious Bill.”
“Once ancient forests are bulldozed and dug up, mountains blasted apart and rivers polluted by toxic mine drainage, we cannot get those precious ecosystems back.”
The Conservation Amendment Bill would change the purpose of the Conservation Act, and make it easier to sell off or exchange around five million hectares, 60 percent of the conservation estate.
If the bill passes, DOC would be directed to enable commercial exploitation “to the greatest extent practicable” on all conservation land. The same commercial exploitation mandate is drafted into the purpose architecture of the Conservation Act, and would guide conservation planning documents.
“This Conservation Exploitation Bill is the final and most despicable assault in the Luxon Government’s war on nature. From start to finish the Bill is rotten to its core. It must be thrown out immediately” says Toop.
“Public conservation land must be protected for nature, for wildlife, and for future generations – not opened up to mining corporations or sold off to a billionaire to lock behind a private gate.”
Greenpeace says the Government's aggressively pro-mining track record provides important context for the proposed reforms. In its term the Government has: set a target of doubling the value of minerals exports by 2035, brought in the Fast-track Act, loosened environmental protections over mining on wetlands and biodiversity hotspots, invited mining lobbyists into the halls of power for a roundtable and is currently negotiating a minerals deal with the United States.
The Prime Minister has publicly stated that his intention with the Conservation Amendment Bill is to “unleash economic growth” on public conservation land, while Minister for Resources Shane Jones has said the conservation estate is too big, and we should “exploit part of that.”
“The Coalition Government has completely misjudged how much New Zealanders, from all walks of life, love public conservation land,” says Toop.
“The last time a National-led Government threatened to mine New Zealand’s most highly protected conservation land, tens of thousands of people took to the streets and forced them to back down. We’ve defended conservation land before, and we will do it again.”
Greenpeace is currently encouraging people to make a submission on the Bill before the consultation deadline on July 2 and has released a submission guide to support people to do so.
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Awards – Young Waikato farmer named top emerging leader

Source: Federated Farmers

Young Waikato dairy farmer Danielle Hovmand has been named the primary sector's top emerging leader, with judges praising her selfless leadership and commitment to helping others succeed.
Hovmand received the Primary Industries New Zealand Emerging Leader Award at the eighth annual awards ceremony in Auckland this evening.
The 29-year-old is a 50/50 sharemilker, Federated Farmers Waikato sharefarmer chair, and has been a driving force behind the Morrinsville-Ngarua Young Farmers Club.
She was selected ahead of fellow finalists James Robertson, chief of staff at Fonterra, and dairy farm manager Ben Purua, the 2024 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer of the Year (Dairy).
Judges described the category as one of the most competitive, saying all three finalists had made outstanding contributions to New Zealand's primary sector.
“However, it was the selfless leadership qualities of one entrant that stood out for the judges in meeting the spirit of this award.”
The judges said Hovmand combines practical farming experience with a genuine commitment to the success of others.
“Through roles with Young Farmers and Federated Farmers, she has led initiatives to build both community and young farmer confidence.
“Her advocacy, community involvement and ability to connect with and uplift others demonstrate a level of maturity and influence well beyond her years, making her a standout emerging leader.”
Hovmand is milking about 250 cows just outside Morrinsville with her partner, Harry Phipps, a builder.
Away from the farm, Hovmand has helped raised thousands of dollars for local causes, volunteered at community events, promoted agriculture through schools, Ag Days and A&P shows, and worked with community organisations to strengthen rural connections.
The Emerging Leader Award adds to an already impressive list of achievements.
She was named Auckland-Hauraki Share Farmer of the Year in 2022, received the New Zealand Young Farmers Contiki Local Legend Award in 2024, and was a finalist in this year's ASB Alumni of the Year Award.
Federated Farmers dairy chair Karl Dean says Hovmand is making an outstanding contribution to the sector both on and off the farm.
“Dani isn't just an excellent farmer – she's a leader who's prepared to speak out and help shape the future of our industry.
“She was one of the driving forces behind Federated Farmers' campaign to allow young farmers to use their KiwiSaver to help buy their first home or farm.
“She kept pushing for change, and farmers across the country celebrated when the Government finally changed the rules earlier this year.
“She's also been a strong advocate for sharemilkers and contract milkers, and is always willing to share her knowledge to help industry newcomers succeed.”
When announced as a finalist earlier this year, Hovmand said the recognition reflected the many people who had supported her journey.
“There are so many people who have created my journey and allowed me to be in leadership roles, and to achieve things.”
The Emerging Leader Award, sponsored by Lincoln University, recognises a young person in the primary sector who is already making a meaningful contribution to the industry.
The award celebrates an individual who demonstrates exceptional passion, commitment, and leadership in their chosen field, while showing great promise for the future of New Zealand’s primary industries.
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Awards – Primary Industries Award winners announced

Source: Federated Farmers

A pioneer of rural radio, a titan of the dairy industry, and some of New Zealand’s most influential leaders are among the winners of this year’s Primary Industries Awards.
More than 500 people gathered in Auckland tonight to celebrate the best and brightest across New Zealand’s primary sector – a sell-out crowd.
The annual Primary Industries New Zealand Awards recognise the people, businesses and organisations helping drive the country’s food and fibre industries forward.
There was a standing ovation when Jim van der Poel was recognised for his incredible service to the dairy sector, receiving the Outstanding Contribution to Primary Industries Award.
Judges described van der Poel as “an absolute titan” of the New Zealand dairy industry. 
“When you talk about New Zealand’s primary industries, there are very few names that carry more weight than that of Jim van der Poel.
“Jim has made a significant, sustained and truly outstanding contribution spanning more than four decades of loyal service.”
Van der Poel’s distinguished career has spanned farming, business, and industry governance.
He was instrumental in the merger that formed Fonterra, and steered the DairyNZ board as chairman through a period that presented significant challenge for the sector, from 2017 to 2024.
“Jim was at the helm as the dairy industry navigated the highs and lows of the milk price, an upswing in environmental regulation, and the Mycoplasma bovis biosecurity incursion.
“Throughout all these challenges, Jim carried himself with absolute integrity, dedication and empathy.”
Another stalwart of rural New Zealand, Neil Bateup, was announced winner of the Champion Award, recognising his decades spent supporting farmers and rural families through challenging times.
Bateup helped establish the Waikato Hauraki Coromandel Rural Support Trust in 2004, then served as chair of the New Zealand Rural Support Trust from 2017 to 2024 after playing a key role in establishing the national network.
Judges said Bateup was “quiet, humble but tenacious” and had been a visionary for the wellbeing of the rural community.
Legendary rural commentator and radio host Jamie Mackay was crowned Agricultural Communicator of the Year.
Mackay is the founder and host of flagship rural radio show The Country, now more than 30 years old.
Judges said Mackay was a pioneer of rural radio who’d achieved national reach.
Another well-known radio personality, Alexa Cook, won the Excellence in Agricultural Journalism Rongo Award for her series on Hawke’s Bay pine expansion.
Judges said she’d written an “outstanding feature that brought new perspective to the issue of carbon forestry and land use change impacts”.
They praised the RNZ reporter for taking a thoughtful approach to ensure both sides were told, and for bringing this story to the wider attention of the general public.
The Rural Woman of the Year Award – a new category – was presented to Kate Acland, chair of Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Judges said Acland had shown “inspirational leadership” in changing both the culture and effectiveness of Beef + Lamb.
“Under Kate's leadership, we have seen a significant change in the sentiment of Beef + Lamb’s levy-payers.
“Someone needed to do it and Kate felt that she had the strength to take on the challenge and reset the organisation.”
Young Waikato dairy farmer Danielle Hovmand claimed the Emerging Leader Award for her “selfless leadership qualities” in roles with Young Farmers and Federated Farmers.
“Her advocacy, community involvement, ability to connect with and uplift others demonstrate a level of maturity and influence well beyond her years, making her a standout emerging leader,” judges said.
The Team & Collaboration Award went to Sow the Seed, the Horticulture and Agriculture Teachers Association’s advisory team.
When the Government proposed removing agribusiness and agricultural and horticultural science from the senior curriculum last year, Sow the Seed successfully fought to keep the subjects.
Judges said the group “protected a critical pathway for people coming into the industry”.
Prism Earth took home the Technology & Innovation Award for developing a system that helps New Zealand’s primary sector comply with the European Union’s strict deforestation regulations, ensuring ongoing access to a $200 million export market.
Judges said the solution “positions New Zealand as one of the only countries ready to meet the EU’s strict regulations while future-proofing our sector’s environmental credentials”.
The Food, Beverage and Fibre Producer Award, which recognises an outstanding product from New Zealand’s primary sector, was won by T&G Global for its apples business.
Judges pointed to T&G’s premium ENVY brand, which has delivered strong returns per hectare for growers, with leading performers achieving over $115,000 per ha, rivalling kiwifruit returns.
Parininihi ki Waitotara (PKW) was named winner of the Guardianship & Conservation Award (Kaitiakitanga Award), celebrating an outstanding conservation project or initiative within New Zealand’s primary industries.
Judges said the Māori agribusiness had ingrained kaitiakitanga into its business over 30 years, ensuring environment, people and animals were all covered with actions and metrics to improve performance.
Primary Industries NZ Award winners 2026
Agricultural Communicator of the Year Award
Winner: Jamie Mackay
Sponsor: Ravensdown
Rural Woman of the Year Award
Winner: Kate Acland
Sponsor: Farmers Weekly
The Excellence in Agricultural Journalism Rongo Award
Winner: Alexa Cook
Sponsor: MPI
Emerging Leader Award
Winner: Danielle Hovmand
Sponsor: Lincoln University
Champion Award
Winner: Neil Bateup
Sponsor: Afimilk
Team & Collaboration Award
Winner: Sow the Seed, Horticulture & Agriculture Teachers Association (HATA)
Sponsor: The Country
Technology & Innovation Project Award
Winner: Prism Earth
Sponsor: AsureQuality
Food, Beverage and Fibre Product Award
Winner: T&G Global
Sponsor: Kotahi
Guardianship & Conservation Award (Kaitiakitanga Award)
Winner: Parininihi ki Waitotara
Sponsor: Rabobank
Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand's Primary Industries Award
Winner: Jim van der Poel
Sponsor: Bioeconomy Science Institute.
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Federated Farmers welcome Jones’ backing of Waikato farmers

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers is welcoming comments from New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones today expressing deep concern about the impact Waikato Region Plan Change 1 could have on farmers.
Speaking at the Primary Industries New Zealand Summit in Auckland, Jones said he feared for the future of farmers if Plan Change 1 (PC1) is implemented.
“The level of burden that these new potential rules and regulations place upon landowners, veggie growers, and farmers, I think they are unbearable.”
Jones said New Zealand First would seek key commitments from National as discussions continue over Resource Management Act reforms.
“Number one, no single new rule or regulation can be operationalised unless it has the concurrent sign-off of the Director General of Agriculture, so we've got someone whose perspective is firmly focused on the economic viability of the primary sector.”
Jones said New Zealand First would also oppose interpretations of Waikato River settlement legislation that undermine food production at a time when we have a cost of food crisis.
“If we believe your industry is at the centre of our economic fortunes, then we need a regulatory framework that enables it to grow and expand, and throw the resources at it, so it can genuinely help us dig ourselves out of the post-COVID hole that we're still in.”
Jones’ comments came on the same day Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay also addressed growing concerns about the effects PC1 could have on farmers.
“It doesn’t make sense to have a new national planning system adopted by Parliament before the election but for the Waikato to be sentenced to rules that were developed under the old system,” McClay said at the Primary Industries NZ Summit.
“We will instruct officials to provide advice on options to better align rulemaking in the Waikato with the replaced RMA.”
Federated Farmers Waikato vice president Andrew Reymer said it was hugely encouraging to hear senior ministers acknowledging how serious the situation is.
“We've repeatedly said that it makes no sense to continue with Plan Change 1 while the Government is reforming the resource management system.
“We’re grateful to Ministers Jones and McClay for standing up today and assuring Waikato farmers they not only recognise the problem, but that they intend to do something about it.