Waikato Dairy Farmer Danielle Hovmand Named Primary Sector's Top Emerging Leader
Waikato dairy farmer Danielle Hovmand has been named the primary sector's top emerging leader.
Agricultural exports could be hurt by the Government's decision to focus tourism visitor numbers on higher spending visitors.
The Government's proposal to reduce future international tourism visitor numbers post-Covid to concentrate on higher spending visitors may solve one problem but create others.
Research by Lincoln University has highlighted that most of our agricultural products delivered fresh to market are transported on passenger planes, and tourists contribute to the cost.
It says the drop in tourism numbers could push up transport costs to the point where some businesses do not export at all and are put out of business.
Before Covid-19 hit, there were 550 international flights into and out of New Zealand each week, which carried 80% of New Zealand’s overall export airfreight in their belly-holds, and that it was worth $10.8 billion in December 2019. Only 20% of New Zealand’s airfreight was carried by dedicated air cargo-only freighters.
Before Covid-19, air freight was less than 1% of New Zealand’s total trade by volume, but about 16% in terms of dollar value.
The report says the decision may show a lack of understanding of the inter-relatedness of industries.
With the New Zealand/India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) dominating political debate here, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting New Zealand next week.
Michelle and Tony Roberts didn't inherit the farming business they have today. They’ve built it from the ground up.
“We’re not normal.” That’s how Jack Walters, executive director of Pungent Pukeko, describes his gin brand, which has just won gold at the World Gin Awards.
Dr Tim Harwood, a seafood food safety research leader, has been awarded the 2026 Significant Contribution Award at the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology (NZIFST) Food Industry Awards.
Today marks the first day of operations for Waikato Waters, a new council-controlled organisation established by six district councils to deliver water and wastewater services for their communities.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has announced has opened applications for the 2026/27 funding round of the Greenhouse Gas Inventory Research (GHGIR) fund.

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