Santa's present for the primary sector - an FTA with India
Primary sector leaders have welcomed the announcement of a Free Trade Agreement between India and New Zealand.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) and the Meat Industry Association (MIA) are throwing their support behind TPP.
"We're confident that New Zealand's negotiators have secured the best possible deal for Kiwi sheep and beef farmers," says B+LNZ chairman James Parsons.
"The TPP will have a significant impact on the competitiveness of our exports in TPP markets."
The sheep and beef sector paid $94 million in tariffs for $2.4 billion exports to TPP countries in 2014. Nearly a third of the sector's exports are to TPP countries.
New Zealand doesn't currently have FTAs with Japan, the US, Canada, Mexico or Peru, says MIA chairman Bill Falconer.
"This deal is particularly important for us in relation to those markets, some of which currently charge very high tariffs on our exports but are highly valuable to the sector,"
"The TPP will also open the door to addressing some complex and costly non-tariff barriers." says Falconer.
New Zealand's FTAs saved $161 million in tariffs on the sheep and beef sector's global exports last year, and the conclusion of the TPP means that number will continue to grow.
The full details of the TPP, including the specific tariff cuts taking place in various markets, are expected to be released by the government soon.
Legal controls on the movement of fruits and vegetables are now in place in Auckland’s Mt Roskill suburb, says Biosecurity New Zealand Commissioner North Mike Inglis.
Arable growers worried that some weeds in their crops may have developed herbicide resistance can now get the suspected plants tested for free.
Fruit growers and exporters are worried following the discovery of a male Queensland fruit fly in Auckland this week.
Dairy prices have jumped in the overnight Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction, breaking a five-month negative streak.
Alliance Group chief executive Willie Wiese is leaving the company after three years in the role.
A booklet produced in 2025 by the Rotoiti 15 trust, Department of Conservation and Scion – now part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute – aims to help people identify insect pests and diseases.

OPINION: The release of the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill to replace the Resource Management Act is a red-letter day…
OPINION: Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ for ‘The Twelve Pests of Christmas’ to…