Dairy farmer profits to hit record levels in 2025
The profitability of dairy farmers is likely to increase in the coming year, accordign to the latest report by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) on the outlook for the primary sector.
Westland Milk Products says it is registered to export dairy products including infant formula milk powder to China.
The West Coast-based milk processor has been working with MPI and Chinese authorities and has been notified of its registration with the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People's Republic of China (CNCA).
"We support the Chinese moves to impose greater controls and stricter standards around the importation of infant formula. Ultimately this will benefit New Zealand exporters by giving Chinese consumers more confidence in our products" says Westland chief executive Rod Quin.
Quin says Chinese authorities have been signalling the changes for some months, and Westland has been working closely with authorities to ensure the company is well prepared to meet any new requirements.
"Westland is different to some of the other major New Zealand exporters of infant formula in that we do not, as yet, export branded consumer goods," Quin says. "Rather, we produce and sell ingredient base powders, which are sold to customers in New Zealand and offshore, including China for further processing and packing. Nevertheless as a manufacturer we are still required to be registered with CNCA. We were included in the recent Chinese audit visits to New Zealand infant nutrition manufacturers and we are very pleased to have achieved registration."
Quin says the new Chinese regulations support Westland's recently announced decision to invest in new $102 million infant nutritional product manufacturing capacity at the Hokitika site.
"In fact, the implementation of these new regulations provides clarity for our industry that, in turn, gives certainty to our customers. For Westland this lends significant support to our strategic move into the high added value nutritional products portfolio."
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.
Following heavy rain which caused flooding in parts of Nelson-Tasman and sewerage overflows in Marlborough, the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme (IFSO Scheme) is urging homeowners and tenants to be cautious when cleaning up and to take the right steps to support claims.
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