Auckland Man Fined for Selling Illegally Slaughtered Pigs
An Auckland man has been fined $6,000 for offering to sell illegally slaughtered pigs.
With modern technology your farm’s customers are only a smartphone call away, Primary Industry Minister Nathan Guy says.
We are taking primary products to 140 countries and consumers are a lot closer than they ever were before.
He was speaking at a field day at the Helensville farm of Richard and Dianne Kidd, winners of the 2016 National Ballance Farm Environment Award. The Kidds and six other farmers are involved in premium brand Kaipara lamb, sold through Countdown supermarkets.
“It won’t be long before Kaipara lamb will have the barcode at the chiller; they will scan that and up will pop a little video of you on your farm saying ‘here are my lambs, this is when I drench them, this is when a crutch them, here is my property, this is what I do to look after the environment’. Creating that story and selling that product has to be worth a premium,” says Guy.
“There are costs in lifting our total environmental performance, but there are benefits… thinking about the consumers on the other side of the world who are a lot closer than they once were.”
Guy said the field day had shown environmental stewardship and excellent performance of livestock, “on a farm right on the edge of our largest city. This farm and others close to cities and towns can build the connectivity between urban and rural.”
About 70% of Auckland land is in agriculture, horticulture and forestry; about $2.4 billion of the region’s earnings come from the primary sector.
“Aucklanders should be thankful for what you do, providing wonderful food to the largest city in New Zealand.”
Horticulture New Zealand says proposed changes to the Plant Variety Rights Act 2022 will drive innovation, investment and long-term productivity.
More than 1200 exhibitors will showcase their products and services at next month’s National Fieldays, with sites nearly sold out.
Despite difficult trading conditions for European machinery manufacturers brought about conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, alongside the United States imposing punitive tariffs, Italian manufacturer Maschio Gaspardo, has seen turnover increase 12% in 2025 to €390 million (NZ$775m) with a net profit of €11.2 million (NZ$22.3).
New Zealand innovation company Techion, best known for its animal diagnostics platform, FECPAK has signed an exclusive strategic partnership with Farmlands to bring independent animal health disease intelligence to its customers.
Zespri says it welcomes the recently signed Western Bay of Plenty Regional Deal, describing it as an important step towards supporting growth in the region and for New Zealand's kiwifruit industry.
Troubled milk processor Synlait has lost its third chief executive in five years.

OPINION: When Donald Trump returned to the White House, many people with half a brain could see the results for…
OPINION: Media trust has tanked because of what media's more woke members do and say.