Pork Prices Hold Steady as Food Costs Rise Across New Zealand
New data shows that pork remains one of the more affordable meat options for New Zealand households at a time when grocery costs continue to put pressure on budgets.
Pork farmers says a significant influx of imported pork is causing them concern.
NZPork says much of it is from countries that permit pig farming practices illegal in New Zealand, and in some cases, have herds affected by African Swine Fever (ASF).
According to data from NZPork, between January and September this year, imported pork accounted for nearly 62% of pork consumed in New Zealand.
New Zealand imported a total of 66,686 carcass weight equivalent tonnes (CWE) of pork, up from 65,566 CWE in 2023.
In comparison, local pig farmers produced 41,099 CWE tonnes of New Zealand-born and raised pork, slightly down from 41,789 CWE last year.
"Almost two-thirds of the pork consumed in New Zealand is imported, yet there are no requirements for these imports to meet our stringent pig welfare standards," says Brent Kleiss, chief executive of NZPork.
The closure of the McCain processing plant and the recent announcement of 300 job losses at Wattie’s underscore the mounting pressure facing New Zealand’s manufacturing sector, Buy NZ Made says.
Specialist agriculture lender Oxbury has entered the New Zealand market, offering livestock finance to farmers.
New research suggests Aotearoa New Zealand farmers are broadly matching phosphorus fertiliser use to the needs of their soils, helping maintain relatively stable nutrient levels across the country’s agricultural land.
Helensville farmers, Donald and Kirsten Watson of Moreland Pastoral, have been named the Auckland Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
Marc and Megan Lalich were named 2026 Share Farmers of the Year at last night's Canterbury/North Otago Dairy Industry Awards.
William John Poole, a third year Agribusiness student at Massey University, has been awarded the Dr Warren Parker and Pāmu Scholarship.

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