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.
PRIMARY INDUSTRIES Minister Nathan Guy has welcomed the findings of an independent report into the Primary Growth Partnership (PGP), which estimates it will add $6.4 billion per annum to New Zealand's economy by 2025.
"The NZIER report further concludes that the PGP has the potential to achieve an additional $4.7 billion per annum by 2025 if all the R&D is successful, the aspirational stretch of PGP programmes is achieved, and the innovations are widely uptaken.
"This would add up to $11.1 billion per annum to New Zealand's economy by 2025.
"The PGP is about supporting innovation in the primary industries, which are the backbone of New Zealand's economy – accounting for over 70% of our merchandise exports. There are currently 18 announced programmes jointly funded by industry and government."
The $11.1 billion per annum figure is made up of:
• $2.2 billion - GDP projected growth from government investment
• $4.2 billion – GDP estimate from industry investment
• Other aspects adding to $4.7 billion (i.e. from increasing the success of R&D, achieving the aspirational stretch of programmes and improving uptake of the innovations).
"The long term 30-year benefit cost ratio (BCR) for the government funding alone is 32, which confirms what a good investment this is. Clearly this will be a big part in achieving the Government's goal of doubling primary sector exports by 2025.
"Science and innovation are key drivers of economic growth and international competitiveness, as noted in the Government's draft National Statement of Science and Investment. Boosting productivity in New Zealand's primary industries will mean more exports, more jobs and an improved standard of living for New Zealanders.
"NZIER estimate extra income per year of $270 per hectare for hill country farming, $600 per cow for dairy, $370 per tonne of exported seafood, and $190 per hectare for forestry.
"It's also worth noting these figures don't include wider benefits the PGP will deliver, such as environmental sustainability and improvements to health and safety," Guy says.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) commissioned the NZIER to carry out independent research into the economic impacts of the PGP and provide a robust analysis of potential export growth, GDP growth, and other economic measures.
As at 30 April 2014, the total government funding paid to the 15 programmes currently underway was $99.8 million.
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.

OPINION: Election years are usually regarded as the silly season, but a mate of the Hound reckons 2026 is shaping…
OPINION: If farmers poured just a few litres of some pollutant into a stream, the Green Party and the wider…