Election 2026: How Parties Would Lift the Arable Sector
As part of its Election 2026 coverage, Rural News asked political parties how they would help pull the arable sector out of the doldrums. Here's what they said:
The Woolworks’ Awatoto scouring facility in Napier is the largest of its kind in the world. Woolworks scours 80% or 100 million kilograms of New Zealand’s wool each year. The Awatoto facility scours more than half of New Zealand’s wool.
Chief guest at the re-opening, Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson said the reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20% of global strong wool production.
“The refurbished facility will bolster New Zealand’s wool scouring capacity and capability, contributing to the local and wider economy and growing our wool sector.”
Petterson met with key industry leaders from NZ’s largest export markets, including delegates from International Wool Textile Organisation Congress who attended the event.
“This presents an opportunity to build and strengthen connections across the global wool supply chain, promote our incredible, natural fibre, and help open doors for New Zealand wool businesses.
“This, along with the woolshed meetings we’re holding across New Zealand, are part of the Government’s commitment towards supporting the success of the food and fibre sector, including New Zealand wool businesses.”
