McRae Wins Southern South Island B+LNZ Director Vote
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.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand has appointed Sam McIvor as its new chief executive officer.
He will also have the role of CEO of the New Zealand Meat Board.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand chairman James Parsons says McIvor is an experienced CEO who brings a range of strategic thinking and management experience to support both organisations' work for sheep and beef farmers, and the broader sector.
McIvor is currently the group general manager farm operations at Ospri and he has held the roles of CEO Preston Corp Ltd and CEO of New Zealand Pork.
His primary industry career has spanned on-farm activity through to processing and retail. This included Beef + Lamb New Zealand's predecessor organisation Meat & Wool New Zealand as the research and development manager and product and information transfer manager.
McIvor will replace current CEO Dr Scott Champion on April 1. Champion leaves the organisation following seven and a half years as CEO of Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the New Zealand Meat Board.
Entries opened on Monday, 5 October 2026 for the 2027 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA), which organisers describe as the nation's biggest celebration of excellence in the dairy sector.
Waikato milk processor Tatua has again declared a record milk payout to farmer shareholders, leaving other processors in the dust.
A Labour-led Government won’t be bringing back the controversial freshwater rules of 2020.
National’s much-touted free trade deal with India featured in the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek, Hamilton on Wednesday night.
New Zealand's 2026-27 freshwater fishing season has opened, with anglers encouraged to head to rivers and lakes over the coming days as conditions look favourable across much of the country.
Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.

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