Pāmu Appoints Dave Nuku as Associate Director
State farmer Pāmu (Landcorp) has announced Dave Nuku is its new Associate Director, joining the board as an observer from 1 March 2026.
The first calves of a new crossbred dairy-beef offering are now on the ground at a Pamu (Landcorp) farm near Taupo.
The state-owned enterprise and LIC are set to deliver a new dairy-beef product to market in 2026, designed to benefit dairy farmers, calf rearers, beef finishers and processors.
The Synergizer brand brings together the very best of Stabilizer® and Charolais genetics, developed in collaboration with Pamu subsidiary Focus Genetics. The breeding programme focused on key traits including short gestation, ease of calving and rearing, strong growth and meat quality.
Mark Leslie Pamu chief executive says Synergizer represents the power of collaboration and the potential of New Zealand agriculture when we work together.
“By combining genetics expertise, farming knowledge, and a shared vision, we’re creating a solution that will deliver long-term benefits across the entire dairy-beef value chain and build resilience, productivity and sustainability for future generations of farmers."
LIC chief executive David Chin says the launch of Synergizer marks an important milestone in the co-operative’s dairy-beef journey.
“Synergizer is an exciting step forward for LIC as we continue to invest in dairy-beef genetics that give farmers confidence. Backed by world-class science, robust data and rigorous progeny testing, Synergizer has been developed to deliver a reliable, profitable and sustainable option for dairy-beef systems.”
The first frozen semen inseminations will be available in limited quantities from spring next year, with liquid insemination available from spring 2027.
More about Synergizer
Synergizer bulls have been developed to produce calves with the following characteristics:
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) has released its 2026 election manifesto, outlining priorities to support the sector’s growth, resilience, and contribution to New Zealand’s food security and export revenue.
Farmers have voted to continue the Milksolids Levy that funds DairyNZ.
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell has resigned after eight years in the role.
Matt McRae, a farmer from Mokoreta in Southland who runs a sheep, beef and dairy support business alongside a sheep stud, has been elected to the Beef +Lamb NZ Board as a farmer director.
Ravensdown's next evolution in smart farming technology, HawkEye Pro, was awarded the Technology Section Award at the Southern Field Days Farm Innovation Awards in February 2026.
While mariners may recognise a “dog watch” as a two-hour shift on a ship, the Good Dog Work Watch is quite a different concept and the clever creation of Southland siblings Grace (9) and Archer Brown (7), both pupils at Riverton Primary School.

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