Long-serving Miraka chairman, board members step down
The man largely responsible for setting up Miraka, the country’s first Māori dairy company, is stepping down.
Māori-owned milk processor Miraka says it is experiencing growth in all international markets.
“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.
Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.
Shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has so far not impacted fertiliser prices or supply on farm.
The opportunity to spend more time on farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.