How New Zealand Apple Growers Won India Market Access
Eighteen months ago, when negotiations for a free trade deal with India were announced, New Zealand apple growers expressed their desire to be part of the deal.
NZ Apples and Pears (NZAPI) appointed two new directors to its board in late December.
Craig Betty replaces Peter Landon-Lane who is stepping down in early 2023. He will serve as a director for the remaining term of Landon-Lane's tenure, which ends in August 2023 and he will be eligible for re-election to the board at that time.
Betty leads T&G's growing operations for apples and berries, including operational R&D, post-harvest and supply chain operations and has global accountability for continuous improvement and quality standards and frameworks. He was previously chief operating officer for Westland Milk Products and general manager operations for Fonterra.
Meanwhile, economist Cameron Bagrie was also appointed to the board as the second independent director. NZAPI says a decision was made some time ago to use this appointment to widen the skill base of the board.
Bagrie is the managing director of Bagrie Economics and a regular economic commentator. He was formerly chief economist of ANZ and is a board member of Te Waka - Waikato Economic Development Agency, and Life Education New Zealand.
The two new directors join Cameron Taylor, Jackie van der Woort, John Allen, Lesley Wilson, Catherine Wedd and Evan Heywood on the board, along with independent director and board chairman, Richard Punter.
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.
For Canterbury dairy farmers Sian Meijer and Rick Wobben, wearable technology has become one of their most valuable on-farm tools - helping manage 1850 cows across an expansive, high-performing dairy operation while improving efficiency, mating outcomes and day-to-day decision making.
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.
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: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…