NZPork Urges Government to Protect Productive Rural Land in Planning Reform
NZPork says the Government needs to strengthen its proposed planning laws to ensure New Zealand's pig farmers can continue to produce pork.
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.
Farmers have voted to continue the Milksolids Levy that funds DairyNZ.
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell has resigned after eight years in the role.
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.

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