Farmers back government’s RMA reforms
Farmers appear to be backing the Government's recent Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms announcement.
NZ’s potato sector now has an overall value of $1.16 billion – with 58% growth in domestic value since 2013.
Potatoes New Zealand (PNZ) says despite the challenges, 2020 was another year of growth, with the NZ sector now valued at over a billion dollars per annum.
In its latest annual report, PNZ chief executive Chris Claridge says the NZ potato sector now has an overall value of $1.16 billion - with 58% growth in domestic value since 2013.
"This is a pleasing result, as we have achieved our target of a 50% increase in domestic value, 4 years early," he says. "It took us just 7 years to increase 50% rather than the 12 years planned for."
Claridge points out that 67% of this NZ crop is processed and says this is the reason the industry's value has rapidly risen in value.
"We're very pleased to see that overall marketable crop yield has remained the same as the previous year, indicating consistent agronomic practice." However, he adds that growers saw a 5% decrease in farmgate value over the 2020 year and, despite a drop in the crop produced, there was still a rise in value across both export and domestic markets.
"It's fair to say that the pandemic crisis continued to impact our industry in 2020, due to further sporadic hospitality closures and dumping of European fries into our domestic markets," Claridge adds.
"The PNZ tariff application to MBIE was unsuccessful but we continue to voice our concerns where appropriate and using whatever tools available to us."
He adds that the export market has been affected by global disruption to supply chains due to the pandemic, resulting in a 17% drop in NZ exports to the end of December 2020.
"Suspected dumping by foreign firms in our export markets and overseas lockdowns reducing global consumer demand have also played their part in leaving our export value lower than we'd targeted."
Claridge says a key takeaway from 2020 is that a strong domestic market underpins NZ's potato industry.
"It affirms that securing and stabilizing our domestic market share should remain a top priority for PNZ," he explains. "A strong domestic market maintains NZ industry resilience."
According to ASB, Fonterra's plan to sell it's Anchor and Mainlands brands could inject $4.5 billion in additional spending into the economy.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.
The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.
Dignitaries from all walks of life – the governor general, politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Todd McClay is encouraging farmers, growers, and foresters not to take unnecessary risks, asking that they heed weather warnings today.
With nearly two million underutilised dairy calves born annually and the beef price outlook strong, New Zealand’s opportunity to build a scalable dairy-beef system is now.

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