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OPINION: The stats speak for themselves.
New Zealand’s largest export earner, directly providing over 51,000 jobs and a major purchaser of output from many other sectors.
This makes the dairy sector one of New Zealand’s most important economic sectors, according to updated analysis by Sense Partners.
The report, commissioned by DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ), finds the sector’s impact is felt most strongly in regional New Zealand, where it underpins jobs, wages, businesses and local investment.
In regions such as Waikato, Southland, Taranaki and the West Coast, dairy is a major contributor to economic activity and community wellbeing. For example, dairy delivers 12% of West Coast GDP, one in every four jobs in South Taranaki is a dairy job, the Waikato region has over 10,000 employees, and dairy accounts for nearly 50% of the wages paid in Waimate district.
Dairy exports reached $28.8 billion in the year to December 2025, making it the largest goods export sector by a wide margin. As DairyNZ points out, when dairy succeeds, the benefits extend well beyond the farm gate.
Therefore, the onus is on politicians to ensure that our dairy sector remains competitive.
DairyNZ is asking the Government, on behalf of dairy farmers, to get resource management and freshwater systems right, maintain a strong biosecurity system, support a better dairy workforce, boost science funding, promote low emissions technology and invest in rural infrastructure.
Dairy farmers understand that change is a constant.
But they are also looking for certainty and need policy that rewards investment and encourages innovation.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
The first major update to the Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare in more than a decade has been released, marking what DairyNZ describes as an important step in ensuring animal welfare standards continue to evolve alongside scientific evidence and on-farm realities.
OPINION: Have a plan in place now!
A spate of southerly winds bringing cold temperatures has presented challenges for Taranaki dairy farmers.
Have a plan in place for your cows and staff.
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) and Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network are calling for investment in a proposed new training pathway for rural GPs, warning that many rural practices are struggling to recruit while a large share of the existing workforce nears retirement.
Federated Farmers has called on Central Otago District Council (CODC) to drop or vote down a plan to truck sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell to farmland near Lauder, warning it would compound an "outrageous" situation created by a separate council's decision weeks earlier.
Synlait has swung to second-half profit as operations stabilise, but the dairy processor still posted a $75.4m annual loss.
LIC shareholders have elected a new North Island representative to the co-operative's Board, along with five representatives to its Shareholder Reference Group (SRG), following the company's Annual Meeting held in Invercargill.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.
