Select committee 'blew it' - Feds
Sheep and beef farmers are urging the Government to do more to stop productive farmland overrun by pine trees.
A new trade agreement between New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) could boost New Zealand’s halal meat exports.
Meat Industry Association chair Nathan Guy notes that with a population where over 75% are Muslim, the UAE is a key halal market that is increasingly looking for reliable sources of high-quality red meat that meets their strict halal expectations.
“Halal-certified exports made up 37% of total red meat exports and were worth approximately $3 billion in 2023/24, so New Zealand is well placed to meet the UAE’s red meat needs.”
The trade deal, announced today, will eliminate all tariffs on frozen beef and sheepmeat from New Zealand upon on entry into force of the agreement. The total UAE tariffs for frozen beef and sheepmeat is currently 5%, costing the sector approximately $750,000 in 2023. Chilled products are already tariff-free.
Guy says the UAE is New Zealand’s 21st largest market by value so there is huge potential to grow.
“The UAE is an important market for New Zealand’s red meat sector, generating $47 million of export earnings in 2023/24, making it the second largest market in the Gulf Cooperation Council after Saudi Arabia.
“It is among the world’s wealthiest economies and there is increasing demand in the market for the high-quality, safe, sustainable, and nutritious products that New Zealand can provide.”
Beef + Lamb New Zealand chair Kate Acland says New Zealand farmers are raising sheep and cattle to provide the UAE market with the high quality, safe, sustainable and nutritious products they are seeking.
“It’s a tough time financially for farmers currently and this news is a welcome boost. Improving market access settings for New Zealand’s beef and sheepmeat is critical with approximately 60% of export revenues flowing through to farmers.
“We know food security is a priority for the UAE with international trade identified as a key enabler, and beef in particular, cited in their strategy as a key food item to secure supply in.
“The UAE has a strong interest in environmental sustainability, and with our strong environmental credentials we can provide consumers with assurances that the food they are eating aligns with their values,” Acland says.
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand has launched an AI-powered digital assistant to help farmers using the B+LNZ Knowledge Hub to create tailored answers and resources for their farming businesses.
A tiny organism from the arid mountains of mainland Greece is facilitating a new way of growing healthier animals on farms across New Zealand.
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