Meat Industry Association CEO to Step Down
The Meat Industry Association of New Zealand (MIA) today announced that Chief Executive Officer Sirma Karapeeva has resigned from the role.
Former Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy will take over as chair of Apiculture New Zealand in July.
Former Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy has been announced as the new chair of Apiculture New Zealand.
Guy will take over the role from Bruce Wills in July 2022. Wills has held the role since the industry organisation was established in 2016.
Coming from a primary sector background, Guy has spent 15 years as a Member of Parliament, nine years as a Minister of the Crown, with five years as the Minister for Primary Industries.
“The board is delighted that Nathan Guy is to be the new Chair of Apiculture New Zealand,” says Wills, who will remain chair until June 2022.
“Nathan’s commitment to New Zealand’s primary sector, his understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by the apiculture sector, and his ability to connect with key stakeholders here in New Zealand and abroad will be welcomed by the industry.”
“Nathan’s time as Minister has also seen him gain specific experience and knowledge of key areas including biosecurity and honey regulations, as well as experience of international markets and consumers,” says Wills.
Guy says he is excited to be taking over the role.
“The industry plays a critical role in our agri-sector, contributing over $5billion to New Zealand’s economy, not just through honey and bee products but also through pollination services,” he says.
“There is huge opportunity to grow the sector’s value to New Zealand and I look forward to working with the Board, its members and industry to continue their work consolidating a sustainable future for the apiculture sector.”
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.
Philip and Lyneyre Hooper of the Hoopman Family Trust have tonight been named the Taranaki Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
We are not a bunch of sky cowboys. That was one of the key messages from the chairperson of the NZ Agricultural Aviation Association (NZAAA) Kent Weir, speaking at an education day at Feilding aerodrome for 25 policymakers and regulators from central and local government and other rural professionals.
New Zealand's dairy and beef industries say they welcome the announcement that the Government will invest $10.49 million in the Dairy Beef Opportunities (DBO) programme.

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