Strong growth for Yili's NZ operations
Chinese dairy giant Yili Group says its New Zealand operations are on track for strong revenue growth in 2025 after recording significant year-on-year growth for the first half of the year.
Images of Graeme McNabb’s farm on the West Coast will soon be hitting supermarket shelves around the world.
The farm, which supplies milk to Westland Milk Products will be a feature of Westgold Butter’s new packaging, designed to catch the eye of consumers around the world.
McNabb says it was exciting to get the call from Westgold staff recently to say the photos taken on the farm about 18 months ago will soon be on their product packaging.
Westgold is changing its packaging, across all products, to build consumer awareness of the brand, as well as differentiating Westgold from other brands, and to showcase its quality, both locally and in international markets.
With its lush green pastures backdropped by bush and the majestic Southern Alps, Graeme McNabb and Rachael Anderson’s 213ha dairy farm is at the end of the road in the Kowhitirangi Valley inland from Hokitika. The picturesque property is where some of the first dairy farms were established on the West Coast because of its flat, fertile land and reliable rainfall.
“Not only is it a lovely part of the country as far as its scenery goes, but we grow great grass here year-round which in turn produces excellent milk,” says McNabb, who moved to the West Coast property five years ago after running a dry stock farm in Canterbury.
“The West Coast is a great place to both farm and live. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Hamish Yates, Westland’s general manager sales and marketing, says the new look packaging follows two years of research to better understand consumers’ purchase drivers and the trends in food consumption.
The design aligns with Westgold's brand story and reflects its home, Te Tai Poutini, the West Coast of the South Island.
“We believe our home and where we source our milk from is a key driver for our intense flavours and great quality,” says Yates.
Three New Zealand agritech companies are set to join forces to help unlock the full potential of technology.
As the sector heads into the traditional peak period for injuries and fatalities, farmers are being urged to "take a moment".
Federated Farmers says almost 2000 farmers have signed a petition launched this month to urge the Government to step in and provide certainty while the badly broken resource consent system is fixed.
Zespri’s counter-seasonal Zespri Global Supply (ZGS) programme is underway with approximately 33 million trays, or 118,800 tonnes, expected this year from orchards throughout France, Italy, Greece, Korea, and Japan.
Animal owners can help protect life-saving antibiotics from resistant bacteria by keeping their animals healthy, says the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
According to analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA), New Zealand red meat exports reached $827 million in October, a 27% increase on the same period last year.

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