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Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has praised farmers’ preparations for this summer’s El Nino climate pattern, as it shapes up to be one of the strongest on record. 

“NIWA has released a report last week confirming that El Nino will definitely continue at least over the next three months, and is likely to intensify and peak over the summer,” says Mr Guy.

A new veterinary exchange programme with China will help build closer relations in the equine industries, says Primary Industries and Racing Minister Nathan Guy.

“China is a growing and important market for New Zealand-bred horses. This programme will train Chinese vets to learn from New Zealand and increase their skills and experience in animal health and welfare,” says Mr Guy. 

New Zealand’s biosecurity frontline will be further strengthened with the graduation of 57 staff today, says Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.

“These Ministry for Primary Industries staff include 24 detector dog teams who will be in action this summer, protecting our borders from pests and diseases,” says Mr Guy.

“This is going to be a very busy summer with record numbers of visitors expected, both air travellers and on cruise ships.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has congratulated students from Palmerston North Girls’ High School for winning the Enterprising Primary Industries Career (EPIC) Challenge today.

The competition involves students promoting careers in the primary sector to their peers.  

“The winning entry included posters with information on becoming a Beef Manager, Dairy Farmer and Bee Keeper and a promotional video,” says Mr Guy

The opening of a new $3 million fish processing plant in the Chatham Islands yesterday is a major economic boost for the community, says Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.

“Fishing is the major industry on the islands with around $124 million worth caught in the waters here and much of it exported to Asia. The community here punches well above its weight given the population is just 600.

The Government will invest $8.4 million over seven years in a research partnership that could transform New Zealand’s wool industry, Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy announced today.

The Wool Industry Research Ltd (WIRL) partnership “New Uses for Wool” is co-funded by the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand and worth $21 million overall.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has welcomed the release of a new report on soil health by Landcare Research, ahead of World Soil Day tomorrow.

“Good quality soil is fundamental to life on earth and to New Zealand given that the primary sector makes up around three quarters of our exports,” says Mr Guy.

“This report was commissioned by the Ministry for Primary Industries to summarise what we know about our soils and soil management, and how we may need to improve in the future.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has congratulated MPI staff and the Auckland community for the successful eradication of Queensland fruit fly, but is warning the public to stay on high alert this summer.

“It’s great news this small population has been eradicated and all restrictions are now lifted. It means that New Zealand is officially free of this potentially destructive pest,” says Mr Guy.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has introduced a bill to update and futureproof the New Zealand Horticulture Export Authority Act 1987.

“The proposed changes in the bill will update the export framework and enable New Zealand industries to be global leaders in horticultural exports,” says Mr Guy.

“The changes will enable growers and exporters of horticultural products like avocados, summerfruit and buttercup squash to better target their marketing strategies to meet the specific needs of different markets.

A report today published by the Land and Water Forum on the next steps needed to improved management of freshwater will be carefully considered by Government and help contribute to a public discussion paper to be published next year, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy said today. 

Opportunities for more investment, more jobs and better incomes for the West Coast will be the focus of a comprehensive economic study announced today by Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.

A new report on New Zealand’s food and beverage export sector shows that the sector is successfully achieving growth by investing in added value products and moving up the value chain.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy today released the 2015 edition of the Investor’s Guide to the New Zealand Food and Beverage Industry which shows increasing levels of investment in product diversification and branded high value consumer products.

Today’s announcement of the start of a review of the NZ ETS brings an opportunity to consider how New Zealand can further incentivise the planting of more forests, says Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew.

“Forestry is one of New Zealand’s largest and cheapest forms of carbon storage,” says Mrs Goodhew. “It is critical that foresters engage in the review so that together we can develop policy proposals that are in the best interests of the scheme and the sector.”

Outstanding advocacy for protection of New Zealand’s seabirds by the fishing industry has been recognised tonight at the Seabird Smart Awards, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry say.

“New Zealand is a home for more than one third of the world’s seabird species and we have a responsibility as a nation to ensure they survive,” Ms Barry says.

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

It is a pleasure to be here again to discuss challenges facing the dairy sector.

I have just been at the launch of ANZ’s Insights Report ‘Hungry for growth’ where I spoke about the key challenges of distance and scale for New Zealand’s food industry.

Distinguished guests,

It is my pleasure to speak here today. I want to thank the Development Research Centre (DRC) for inviting me here to participate at this Summit.

Today I will discuss the role that New Zealand, as a regional partner in the Asia Pacific, can play with China in meeting the challenges of food security and food safety.

As China liberalises its economy and raises living standards, its demand for raw materials and food for its 1.3 billion population will have a significant impact on global agricultural markets.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy is travelling to Australia and China over the next four days to attend racing and agricultural conferences.

He travels to Brisbane today to attend the Australasian Racing Ministers’ Conference, which involves Australian state ministers of racing.

“New Zealand shares a lot in common with the Australian racing industry, and this is a chance to discuss issues like animal welfare and the impact of offshore online wagering,” says Mr Guy.

Improving the quality of our natural resources is the key to sustaining economic growth in our primary sectors right across regional New Zealand, says Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.

Ministers Joyce and Guy today launched the updated Building Natural Resources chapter of the Business Growth Agenda with an emphasis on lifting primary sector productivity while improving our environmental outcomes at the same time.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Paul Goldsmith have welcomed the Commerce Commission’s release of a draft report on the state of competition in New Zealand’s dairy industry today. 

The report was commissioned by the two Ministers on 2 June 2015 as required under the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001. That Act allowed the formation of Fonterra, and includes provisions to promote contestability in New Zealand’s farm gate and factory gate dairy markets to ensure their efficient operation. 

The forestry industry has become the sixth industry group to join the Government Industry Agreement (GIA) biosecurity partnership, Primary Industries Ministers Nathan Guy and Jo Goodhew have announced today.

“It’s great to have the New Zealand Forest Owners Association (FOA) onboard, working with the Ministry for Primary Industries to manage and respond to the most important biosecurity risks,” says Mr Guy.

“A growing number of industries have now signed up to work together with the Government through the GIA.”

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy today launched the Bay of Plenty Regional Economic Action Plan, a set of key initiatives designed to lift employment, incomes and investment across the region.

“The Bay of Plenty region is growing well as a result of the recovery from the kiwifruit PSA crisis and the rapidly growing tourism industry.  This Bay of Plenty Action Plan will ensure growth is maintained and extended to all parts of the region, especially the eastern Bay,” Mr Joyce says.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has welcomed the start of construction work on the new National Biocontainment Laboratory in Upper Hutt today.

“This is an $87 million investment which will play a major role in protecting both our economy and environment.

“The new laboratory will be high security and state of the art. It will continue the critical work of responding to disease outbreaks, protecting public health and providing international trade assurances about New Zealand’s animal disease status.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has welcomed a report by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) showing the Ministry for Primary Industries has made very good progress in biosecurity responses and preparedness.

“This is a follow-up report to an initial audit in February 2013 and shows MPI has made very good ongoing progress, which is shown by the fact no further recommendations have been made.

Farmers and growers are being urged to prepare now for the possible impact of El Nino conditions this summer, says Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.

“The Ministry for Primary Industries has published a brochure today with practical advice on how farmers can prepare for possible drier weather this summer.

“While every El Nino is different and the impacts on New Zealand can be hard to predict, it often means drier conditions in the north and east, with cooler temperatures and more rain in the west.