Thursday, 28 December 2023 09:55

New National Lamb Day launches

Written by  Staff Reporters
National Lamb Day will take place on 15 February next year. National Lamb Day will take place on 15 February next year.

New Zealanders are set to celebrate National Lamb Day on 15 February.

The date holds special significance within the country’s history, commemorating the departure of the Dunedin from Port Chalmers in 1882, carrying the first shipment of frozen lamb to London. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of what has become New Zealand’s food and fibre industry.

Ag Proud chair John Pemberton says the journey of the Dunedin to London was more than a voyage, instead he says it was the start of Aotearoa’s journey as a “global food powerhouse”.

“National Lamb Day is our way of honouring this legacy, celebrating our incredible kai, and acknowledging every individual involved in its journey from farm to fork,” Pemberton says. “Let’s raise a chop in salute to our food champions!”

Beef + Lamb New Zealand Inc, which is responsible for the domestic promotion of beef and lamb, is supporting Ag Proud and the New National Lamb Day.

Chief executive Kit Arkwright says he’s pleased to be helping to establish an annual celebration.

“We hope this day can become an enduring yearly celebration of all New Zealand food, whether you’re producing it or simply love eating it, you can take a moment to appreciate how delicious New Zealand food and lamb is,” says Arkwright.

Those eager to be at the heart of the celebrations in person are encouraged to attend the Southern Fieldays at Waimumu near Gore, from 14-16 February.

More like this

Lost the room?

OPINION: Beef+Lamb NZ has run a roadshow to sell its new strategy.

New strategy for red meat sector

Beef + Lamb NZ is outlining a more streamlined and focused strategy for the next three years, saying it has probably tried to do too much in the past.

Farm returns recovering

Red meat farmers are in "a slightly better place" than they were a year ago, according to Beef+Lamb NZ chief economist Andrew Burtt.

Featured

Boost for hort exports

The horticulture sector is a big winner from recent free trade deals sealed with the Gulf states, says Associate Agriculture Minister Nicola Grigg.

Better animal genetic gain system

A governance group has been formed, following extensive sector consultation, to implement the recommendations from the Industry Working Group's (IWG) final report and is said to be forming a 'road map' for improving New Zealand's animal genetic gain system.

SIDE 2025's new schedule, venue

Annual farmer gathering, the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE), is set to make history as it heads to Timaru for the first time.

Taranaki piggery goes solar

Installing 400 solar panels at their Taranaki piggery and cropping operation will have significant environmental, financial and animal welfare benefits for the Stanley family.

National

The show is on!

It was bringing in a new Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) show board, more in tune with the CAPA general committee,…

Food charity to hold online auction

Meat the Need, New Zealand’s dedicated charity delivering locally sourced protein meals to food-insecure communities, is launching an online National…

Machinery & Products

An ideal solution for larger farms

Designed specifically for large farms that want to drill with maximum flexibility, efficiency and power, the new Lemken Solitair ST…

Landpower increases its offering

Landpower and the Claas Harvest Centre network will launch the Claas Scorpion and Torion material handling solutions to the market…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Leaky waka

OPINION: Was the ASB Economic Weekly throwing shade on Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr when reporting on his speech in…

Know-it-alls

OPINION: A reader recently had a shot at the various armchair critics that she judged to be more than a…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter