Editorial: Stay the Course
OPINION: The United States wine market has changed forever, and companies cannot use same old playbook, said Erin Kirschenmann at the New Zealand Wine 2026 Wine Business Forum in August.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is off to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for high-level talks with Emirati leaders.
He will also witness the signing of the New Zealand-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Negotiations concluded on the free trade agreement in September last year and the deal has been largely welcomed by the agriculture sector.
Currently, two-way trade between New Zealand and the UAE is valued at NZ$1.3 billion. From day one of the agreement, duties will be eliminated on 98.5% of New Zealand’s exports to the UAE.
Luxon says the UAE is a trusted partner for New Zealand.
“I look forward to celebrating the growth in our bilateral relationship, including the signature of our first-class trade deal,” he says.
Luxon says the agreement provides a springboard for New Zealand companies to engage with the UAE’s market, offering opportunities to increase trade and investment flows.
“This is all part of the work we are doing to achieve our goal of doubling the value of our exports in ten years,” he says.
Farmers have until the end of this week to help shape DairyNZ’s future focus.
Wayne McNee, chief executive of AgriZeroNZ, has resigned and will leave the organisation on 15 January 2027.
The New Zealand dairy sector set a record in the 2025/26 season, producing more than two billion kilograms of milksolids for the first time.
Milk powder prices are continuing their merry run, firming up a potential $10/kgMS farmgate price this season.
Teachers are welcoming the outgoing Government’s U-turn allowing agriculture and horticultural science to remain a standalone Year 11 subject.
Outgoing ACT MP and dairy farmer Mark Cameron says Saturday’s election result reflects voters deeply impacted by the cost of living.