Hemp/wool combo spinning a good yarn
Innovative new products using wool and hemp fibre will be developed under a new partnership between NZ Yarn and Hemp NZ.
Colin McKenzie has been appointed as the new chief executive officer for Christchurch based NZ Yarn Ltd, effective Monday, July 4.
NZ Yarn manufactures and markets high quality wool spun yarns for the carpet industry worldwide.
McKenzie was most recently chief executive and managing director of Cavalier Corporation. He has extensive experience in the textile and manufacturing sectors, and for companies servicing local and export markets.
NZ Yarn is 100% New Zealand owned by Carrfields Primary Wool and several independent investors, who bought it from receivers in 2014. Executive chair, Ross Callon, has been running the business until this point. Callon was initially engaged for a six month term as executive chairman to develop the business strategy, organisational structure, policies and procedures of NZ Yarn which was incorporated to purchase the assets and business of Christchurch Yarns NZ, which was in receivership.
Despite challenging industry conditions, the business now has its highest level of forward orders for several years, has developed a plan to consolidate and upgrade the mill, and recently commenced staff recruitment to enable increased sales and production levels.
Carrfields Primary Wool, the major shareholder, has recently committed to increasing shareholder funding to enable the company to implement a number of growth initiatives as part of the next stage of the business plan.
With the successful appointment of McKenzie as chief executive, Callon is now able to dedicate time to his other business interests.
McKenzie is a highly experienced executive, and has extensive connections within the international textile community and has been actively involved leading business development in North Asia, North America, UK and Western Europe markets.
"Colin's appointment is a key milestone. He has the skills and expertise to deliver our business objectives, we are confident that the future of high-end yarn is positive, and I look forward to working with him," Callon says. He says that further work is planned to realign the factory.
"This investment is based on new business that we're winning, which indicates that demand for high quality yarn is strong."
McKenzie will also act as a consultant for Carrfields Primary Wool.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
OPINION: ACT MP Mark Cameron isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he certainly calls it how he sees it, holding…
OPINION: Did former PM Jacinda Ardern get fawning reviews for her book?