Upgraded trade deal opens doors for Kiwi exporters, drought relief payments roll out to struggling farmers, and strong finish predicted for dairy season despite seasonal dry-off.

Welcome to Proud Country's Early Bird - The top things you need to know that impact rural New Zealand delivered to you by 5am, because who doesn’t need better chat beyond the weather!

 

Upgraded trade deal opens doors for Kiwi exporters

An upgraded free trade agreement between New Zealand, Australia and ten Southeast Asian nations has come into force, delivering new opportunities for Kiwi exporters in key Asian markets.

The enhanced ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement strengthens trade ties with a region that collectively forms New Zealand's fourth-largest trading partner. The upgraded agreement focuses on streamlining customs processes, improving the flow of essential goods during crises, and reducing non-tariff barriers that have historically hindered access to these markets.

Rural exporters stand to benefit significantly from the improvements as the deal sharpens rules for services, e-commerce and supply chains. While most New Zealand goods already enter ASEAN markets tariff-free, the upgrades give producers additional tools to navigate regional trade more efficiently. Trade Minister Todd McClay says this provides much-needed certainty for Kiwi businesses looking to expand their operations across Southeast Asia.

The timing of the upgrade coincides with ASEAN's 50-year dialogue partnership with New Zealand and represents a combined two-way trading relationship worth more than $59 billion annually. The ten ASEAN nations include major agricultural importers Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, along with Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

 

Drought relief payments roll out to struggling farmers

Drought-stricken farmers across large parts of the country will receive financial assistance starting next Monday, with Rural Assistance Payments being rolled out to help meet essential living costs during the ongoing dry conditions.

The support package targets 27 districts throughout the North Island and upper South Island where farm incomes have been severely impacted by prolonged low rainfall. Payments will be available for six months until October 28, when seasonal farm incomes are expected to improve. Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson acknowledges farmers still face challenging times ahead, particularly with winter approaching after the drought conditions.

Eligible regions include Northland, Waikato, Taranaki, Manawatū-Whanganui including Tararua, as well as Marlborough, Tasman and Nelson in the South Island. Social Development Minister Louise Upston says the government wants to ensure timely support reaches those whose livelihoods have been significantly impacted by the dry conditions.

Farmers experiencing financial hardship are being encouraged to contact their local Rural Support Trust to learn about available assistance options and how to apply for the payments. The Rural Support Trust network provides a crucial link between struggling farmers and government support services during adverse events like drought.

 

Strong finish predicted for dairy season despite seasonal dry-off

Dairy farmers are heading toward a strong finish for the 2024/25 season with March milk production surprising analysts by posting a 0.8 percent increase in milksolids compared to the same month last year.

The positive production figures, combined with two consecutive price increases at Global Dairy Trade auctions, suggest dairy farmers will end the current season on solid footing while establishing a strong foundation for next season. According to NZX data, New Zealand produced nearly 174 million kilograms of milksolids in March, pushing season-to-date production 3 percent higher than the previous year.

While April and May are expected to show declines of 2.2 percent and 3.1 percent respectively as North Island herds dry off earlier than usual, the full season should still finish 2.2 percent ahead of last year. This represents a significant achievement considering production still sits 1.9 percent below the five-year March average, reflecting the ongoing impacts of changing climate conditions and evolving farm systems.

The international dairy landscape presents both challenges and opportunities for Kiwi farmers. Global supply remains tight with the United States and Australian production down 2.5 percent and 4.8 percent respectively in February, while Europe recorded a slight decline in January. Global Dairy Trade auctions reflected this tightness with price index increases of 1.1 percent and 1.6 percent during April's two events, driven by strong demand from North Asian buyers.

While current market conditions provide dairy farmers with a welcome window of opportunity through favourable prices and resilient global demand, continuing trade risks, geopolitical tensions and climate unpredictability will require ongoing adaptability as the new season approaches.

 

Leadership pathway opens for aspiring horticulture directors

Horticulture New Zealand is calling for growers with leadership aspirations to apply for its associate director programme, offering hands-on governance experience at the industry's highest level.

The 18-month development opportunity positions the successful applicant as a non-voting board member with full participation rights, backed by mentoring from experienced directors and professional governance training. Board Chair Bernadine Guilleux says the role provides valuable insight into board-level decision-making while building critical leadership skills for the sector's future.

HortNZ is seeking candidates actively involved in horticulture who understand the issues and opportunities facing growers. Strategic thinking ability and skills in interpreting financial, operational and technical information are essential qualities for the position. Guilleux emphasises that building governance capability across the sector is vital as the industry faces growing challenges and complexity.

The successful candidate will join the nine-member HortNZ board from July this year to December next year, attending six annual meetings held in Wellington and across major growing regions, with additional online meetings throughout the year. The extended term ensures the associate director experiences a full annual cycle of board activities while having time to settle into the role and make meaningful contributions.

Nail-biting finish sees Stratford take lambshearing crown

Southland shearer Nathan Stratford has claimed the Mackenzie Highland A and P Show New Zealand Lambshearing Championships title by the barest of margins, winning his 89th Open title by just 0.011 points on Easter Monday.

Stratford narrowly defeated Oamaru shearer Justin Meikle despite finishing more than 30 seconds slower, with his superior quality work making the difference. Meikle had the time advantage, completing his 20 seven-month lambs in 17 minutes and 38 seconds compared to Stratford's 18 minutes and 12 seconds, but fell short where it counted most on the judging board.

Pleasant Point shearer Ant Frew took third place as the only competitor returning from the 2024 final, while Oamaru's John Cherrington made an impressive debut by qualifying for the Open final in his first attempt after stepping up from the senior grade.

The Mackenzie Shears marked the final event on the 2024-2025 Shearing Sports New Zealand calendar, which featured 58 shows nationwide since October.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.