Milking it?
Taupo-based dairy processor Miraka says it used Government funding to pay workers forced to stay home during the COVID-19 lockdown.
“There is a real demand for premium dairy products with a low carbon footprint,” said Grant Jackson, Miraka’s general manager of milk supply.
Te Ara Miraka (the Miraka Way) was introduced in 2014 and supports a culture of excellence through the Miraka supply chain.
The farming excellence programme assesses farms annually on five pillars: nga tangata (people), te taiao (environment), taurikura (prosperity), nga kau (cows) and miraka (milk).
Scores contribute to the final milk price, with high scoring farms getting extra financial incentive. By participating in Te Ara Miraka, farmers benefit through building on farm efficiencies and developing increased resilience to regulation changes and market fluctuations.
The company sees big challenges ahead for the agricultural sector in responding to zero carbon, climate change and freshwater quality.
“The Miraka Way is laying down the pathway for sustainable and successful dairy business,” it says.
Recently Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visited the Miraka plant in Taupo.
Murray Hemi, Miraka’s kaitiaki and general manager of environmental leadership says the company was honoured to host Arden “and to share our Miraka story with her”.
“We’re always valuing kaitiakitanga and making decisions with a long term view.
“Miraka is leading the way in New Zealand dairying with our focus on animal welfare, sustainable land management and actively supporting farming best practice.
“We’re producing world class dairy products, successfully living our values while thinking about our life and community in 100 years.
“We’d like our children and our children’s children to be proud of us and the actions we are taking today” says Hemi.
Miaraka says the PM was impressed with Miraka’s operations.
“It’s a real honour to be able to visit Miraka,” said Ardern. “It’s a message of hope for NZ that we can do things differently, that we can create successful companies that also support the people who supply them.
“Telling the story of why it’s so important to look after our land, our animals and our people. NZ can be the best food producer in the world and Miraka is a great example of how that’s possible,” says Arden.
