Prime Minister’s UK trip aims to boost export opportunities, back-to back tractor fatalities in Clutha and Taupo, and world-class shearers go for merino record in South Africa.

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Prime Minister’s UK trip aims to boost export opportunities

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is in the United Kingdom this week where he will meet King Charles and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The Prime Minister will focus strongly on trade opportunities, particularly for New Zealand's agricultural sector, during talks with Starmer. 

The UK represents a significant market for New Zealand's primary producers, with exports there growing by more than 20 percent in 2024 and continuing to climb. This growth provides important diversification for rural communities as global trade tensions between China and the US create uncertainty.

Luxon will explore the role of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership in promoting free trade as a path to prosperity for agricultural exporters. The Prime Minister plans to compare notes on world trade with his British counterpart and test what both countries can do together to strengthen trading systems vital to the primary sector.

Following his UK engagements, the Prime Minister will visit Istanbul and travel to Gallipoli for ANZAC Day commemorations to honour the commitment and sacrifice of New Zealand war veterans, coinciding with the 110th anniversary of the ANZAC landings.

 

Chicken exports recovering after avian flu outbreak

New Zealand chicken exports are returning to normal levels after trade was suspended following an avian influenza outbreak last year.

The Ministry for Primary Industries reports good progress in restoring international market access, with approximately $300 million – about 75% – of poultry product trade now recovered. 

MPI's divisional manager bilateral relations and trade, Steve Ainsworth, confirms the ministry has worked closely with overseas government counterparts and industry partners to meet market requirements and propose alternative assurances where needed. The collaborative approach has helped major exporters including Tegel, Ingham's, Brinks and Tara Exports resume their international trade.

The outbreak occurred last December when New Zealand experienced its first confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza at an Otago egg farm. While thousands of chickens were culled at Mainland Poultry's Hillgrove site, MPI confirms there remains no sign of the disease beyond that farm and no risk to domestic egg and chicken supply.

 

Back-to back tractor fatalities in Clutha and Taupo

Two separate fatal farm accidents happened over Easter weekend, with a respected Clutha volunteer firefighter among those who lost their lives.

Blair Halder, a 41-year-old farmer and secretary of the Clutha Valley Volunteer Fire Brigade, died Saturday afternoon following an incident involving a tractor on his Kononi property. Emergency services were called to the scene about 2.20pm, with crews from Lawrence, Balclutha and Lookout Point attending alongside Mr Halder's own brigade.

Mr Halder had served as a volunteer firefighter for approximately 23 years, beginning in Dipton before joining Clutha Valley in 2015. Clutha Valley Chief Fire Officer Richard Hunter remembered him as a genuinely good bloke who was always quick to help his community.

About an hour later, emergency services responded to another farm vehicle accident on State Highway 5 in Wairakei near Taupō. First responders arriving at the address shortly after 3.30pm found one person dead in what WorkSafe initially described as another tractor rollover.

Both deaths have been referred to WorkSafe and the coroner.

 

Whakatāne dairy farm cops $48K fine for effluent breach

A Whakatāne dairy operation has been fined nearly $49,000 after effluent from its farm was found discharging into a local waterway.

Nomar Farms Limited received the penalty in the Environment Court after pleading guilty to unlawful effluent discharge at their 81-hectare property. This marked their second breach, following an abatement notice issued in 2017 for similar issues.

The latest discharge was discovered during a routine inspection by a Bay of Plenty Regional Council compliance officer last November. The officer found a travelling irrigator with an enlarged nozzle causing significant effluent ponding in a paddock. Substantial liquid was observed in a farm drain that eventually connects to the Whakatāne River via the Kopeopeo and Orini Canals.

During the court case, council lawyer Hayley Sheridan described the incident as highly careless, noting the irrigator's oversized nozzle, lack of monitoring, and absence of fail-safe devices. While Nomar Farms' lawyer argued the discharge would have minimal ecological impact on an already low-quality waterway, Judge Sheena Tepania determined the ponding and over-irrigation must have spanned several days.

Judge Tepania ordered Nomar Farms to pay $48,750 plus court costs, with 90% of the fine going to the regional council.

 

World-class shearers go for merino record in South Africa

A record-breaking New Zealand shearer and a South African who took to shearing after a career-ending rugby injury are today tackling the first World shearing record in South Africa in 19 years.

Aidan Copp who grew up near Christchurch but now lives in NSW, and Tienie du Plessis, from Steynsburg in Eastern Cape, are attempting the nine-hour two-stand merino lambs record at Teebus Waters. The record category currently has no established benchmark, though the solo nine-hour merino lambs record of 664 has stood since New Zealander Dwayne Black set it in West Australia in 2004.

Copp brings impressive credentials to today's attempt, holding the eight-hours crossbred lambs record of 605 which he set two years ago. He first established himself as a record-breaker in 2019 and has shorn around the world, including teaching shearing in the Himalayas.

Tienie du Plessis came to shearing later in life after suffering a fractured skull in 2009 that ended his rugby career. Despite his relatively late start, he's already a South African record-holder, having shorn 506 merinos as part of a two-stand eight-hours tally of 1011 with Marius Klopper last September. I

Du Plessis hopes today's attempt will inspire South African shearers and demonstrate higher productivity to farmers while educating the public about shearing as a viable career. Copp, meanwhile, is already planning a solo eight-hours merino ewes record bid next month, also in South Africa.

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