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Agriculture Minister Todd McClay
The Government says it is sharpening its focus and support for the food and fibre industry in Budget 2025.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says $4.95 billion has been set aside to continue baseline funding for the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the next four years.
“This year alone, the food and fibre sector is forecast to contribute $56.9 billion to the economy, that’s why we’re focused on unlocking new global opportunities –from the UK and EU, to the Gulf, and India– while cutting red tape so producers can get on with the job.”
The government has also introduced a series of what it calls ‘grassroots investments’.
Included in that is $246 million over the course of four years for a new Primary Sector Growth Fund (PSGF).
The PSGF replaces the former Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund and will focus on practical projects aimed at reducing costs across the sector value chain and delivering stronger returns on investment to the farm and forest gate.
The fund is designed to support projects that are business-led, market-driven, and commercially focused.
“We’ll be working with the sector to find the best projects that help drive returns, including new high-value products, and providing practical tools for farmers and growers,” McClay says.
He says projects that increase productivity and support the quality demanded by global consumers remain a priority.
There will also be $400,000 over the next four years to support A&P shows across the country.
A $2 million Rural Wellbeing Fund is also being set up, which Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson says builds on the Government's $1 million investment in the Rural Support Trusts.
The fund will be administered by MPI, with successful applicants selected by a governance group including industry representatives.
“This is about giving rural people the tools and connections they need to stay supported,” Patterson says.
“Initiatives that bring people together through events, advice, or peer networks are a key part of building long-term resilience across the sector.”
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) will receive $250,000 from the Government for the 2025/26 financial year to help the organization expand its reach during its 100th year.
“Rural Women New Zealand has been a backbone of rural life for 100 years,” Patterson says.
“This funding will support the important work they do every day – helping connect people to services, building strong local networks, and advocating for rural voices to be heard.”
Associate Agriculture Minister Nicola Grigg says that rural women are the “beating heart” of the New Zealand economy.
“Rural women are at the heart of our rural economy – they lead businesses, care for families and hold communities together,” Grigg says.
“By backing Rural Women New Zealand, we’re investing in the strength and resilience of the rural sector itself,” she adds. “This is about ensuring women have the resources and support they need to lead their communities into the next century.”
Trade Minister Todd McClay says his officials plan to meet their US counterparts every month from now on to better understand how the 15% tariff issue there will play out, and try and get some certainty there for our exporters about the future.
It's critical that the horticulture sector works together as part of a goal to double the sector’s exports by 2035.
The Government and horticulture sector have unveiled a new roadmap with an aim to double horticulture farmgate returns by 2035.
Hawke's Bay's loss is Canterbury's gain with the opening of a new state-of-the-art soil testing laboratory for the Ravensdown subsidiary ARL (Analytical Research Laboratories) at Rolleston.
New Zealand avocado growers have received a major boost by securing a collective FernMark Licence for their exports.
Claims that some Southland farmers were invoiced up to $4000 for winter grazing compliance checks despite not breaching rules are being rejected by Environment Southland.
According to the most recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, farmer confidence has inched higher, reaching its second highest reading in the last decade.
From 1 October, new livestock movement restrictions will be introduced in parts of Central Otago dealing with infected possums spreading bovine TB to livestock.
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
