Westpac NZ launches community banking van in Northland
A new Westpac NZ community banking van begins making visits around Northland this week.
Dairy prices overall were up slightly in last night’s Global Dairy Trade auction.
However, there were mixed results across products: whole milk powder prices rose by 2.1%, while skim milk powder prices dipped 0.8%.
Butter prices rose by 4.5%, but anhydrous milk fat was up just 0.5%. Buttermilk powder, which wasn’t offered at the previous auction, was down sharply.
Westpac senior economist Michael Gordon says the auction results were surprisingly positive, against the backdrop of a severely weakened global economy as many parts of the world have locked themselves down to slow the spread of COVID-19.
“It was, however, in keeping with the calmer tone in world financial markets since the last auction on 18 March,” he says.
Key results:
AMF index up 0.4%, average price US$4,345/MT
Butter index up 4.5%, average price US$4,263/MT
BMP index down 11.9%, average price US$2,446/MT
Ched index up 0.2%, average price US$4,395/MT
LAC index up 4.4%, average price US$959/MT
RenCas index down 2.6%, average price US$9,717/MT
SMP index down 0.8%, average price US$2,514/MT
SWP index not available, average price not available
WMP index up 2.1%, average price US$2,820/MT
This week, more than 100 farmers, policy makers, politicians and other industry influencers will gather at the annual Dairy Environment Leaders (DEL) Forum to workshop positive environmental change for New Zealand dairy.
Fonterra says its interim results show continued momentum in its performance, with revenue of $13.9 billion in the first half of the 2026 financial year.
New Zealand's diverse cheesemaking talent shone brightly last night as the New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association (NZSCA) crowned the champions of the 2026 New Zealand Cheese Awards.
Tracing has indicated that the source of the first velvetleaf find of the 2025-26 crop season, in Auckland, was likely maize purchased in the Waikato region.
Fish & Game New Zealand has announced its election priorities in its Manifesto 2026.
With the forage maize harvest started in Northland and the Waikato, the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is telling growers of later crops, or those further south, to start checking their maize crop maturity about three weeks prior to when they think they will start silage harvesting.
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