NZ Engine

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Coubroughs know their decisions today will determine the years to come.

Brett, whose grandparents originally bought the 76-hectare dairy farm near Tirau in 1907, runs the property with his two children Tim and Linda.

Succession has been relatively straightforward for the family.

“We’re all on the same page – we want robotics to milk the cows for us,” Linda told Country Life. “And that’s always been the plan.”

Follow Country Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart or wherever you get your podcasts.

Linda said it was an “honour” coming back to the multi-generational farm, despite not initially planning to come back as a farmer, and she hopes they’re leaving it in a better way for the next generation.

“Everything you do for the land is such a longterm goal,” she said.

“Our input now is changing what’s going to happen down the line which is a whole different way of thinking. And all our different backgrounds help bring up different things and what we want from that.”

Dad Brett always planned on being a farmer but “got sidetracked” with electrical engineering, a qualification which saw him travel all around the world for various projects. It’s come in handy back on the farm too where he is chief innovator and inventor.

He said it was nice to be farming.

“It’s a different style of life.Whereas I had to deal with customers or clients and now my clients are the cows and they’re much easier to deal with.”

Like Linda, it’s also taught him the value of taking a longer view.

“We come to the conclusion that you’re actually planning for over a year ahead all the time. It’s something I’ve never really thought about.

“You’re setting yourself up for the season ahead by what you’re doing now.”

One of the ways the family has tried to prepare for their future is investing in wearable technology and automation on-farm.

“Dad’s an extraordinaire in creating things and adjusting things and automating as much as we can,” Linda said.

“Our shed, it’s push a button and it does everything.”

Automation in the cowshed includes automated drafting gates, cup removers, systems cleaning, and calf feeders.

“It’s set up now for a one person operation – we still milk with two people – but it can be done,” Brett said.

Eight years ago they also invested in AllFlex’s cow collars to help with heat cycling

“We’re quite unique in that we’re one of the few smaller herds that has cow collars on.”

The data they get from the cow collars has helped improve animal welfare and each year the technology gets better.

Some things the father and daughter still prefer to do the old-school way, like shifting stock themselves on foot or in the side-by-side.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The overseas investment offer to rescue red meat processor Alliance Group has gotten even sweeter.

Irish company Dawn Meats has increased its proposed investment from $250 million to $270m, following stronger-than-expected year-end results from Alliance.

Dawn Meats’ proposed 65 percent stake in Alliance remained unchanged despite the higher investment.

Alliance chair Mark Wynne said as part of negotiations in July, the co-op had to commit to a year-end profit and net debt target.

The co-op’s unaudited profit projection of $18m to $24m was above target prompting the extra cash, which would be distributed through a dividend.

“So we both agreed on $250 million for 65 percent, but agreed a mechanism that said if there’s a variance in favour of Alliance, Dawn will top up.

“And if there’s a variance in favour of Dawn, in other words, we underperform on our target, then Alliance will top up Dawn.”

Over the last two weeks Alliance representatives had travelled the country talking with shareholders about the proposal.

‘Please vote’

Wynne said there had been some honest and tough conversations.

“[I’m] still pretty nervous.

“We’ve got four and a bit days so we have a special general meeting in Invercargill on Monday, on the 20th and the meeting will open at 11am, voting will close 11:45.

“And then Elections NZ and KPMG will go away and count and verify, and announce the result the following day.

“So our key message to everyone is please consider the proposal and the alternative that you see fit, vote accordingly, but the main thing is please vote.”

He said they’d been upfront about Alliance’s finances, with $188m in debt due by 19 December.

Wynne said after exploring all options over the past two years, only Dawn Meats met the scale and timing needed.

Shareholders were making a decision Wynne called a once-in-a-generation choice for farmers.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wattie’s New Zealand is further reducing fruit and vegetable crops it sources from its home of Hawke’s Bay, citing an ongoing struggle against cheaper imports.

Growers of key crops beetroot, corn and tomatoes will be affected by its recent crop intake review.

Just last month, it announced it would reduce production of its canned peaches.

A spokesperson for the brand, owned by food giant Kraft-Heinz of the United States, said it carried out these reviews each year to respond to market demand, increased competition from imported goods and rising input costs.

“In recent years, Wattie’s has seen a reduction in demand for home-grown canned fruit products and has not been able to recover to the levels it saw prior to the cyclone,” she said.

“Our desire, of course, is for Kiwis to return to the Wattie’s locally grown favourites, but until such time as we see an increase in demand, we are forced to adjust our intake, which has impacted crops such as peaches, beetroot, tomatoes and corn.”

She said it contacted affected growers directly, many of them had been partners for years.

“We recognise this is a difficult time for them and their businesses and are committed to helping them through this transition phase.”

• Are you affected by the change? Let us know monique.steele@rnz.co.nz

The decision to reduce peach production garnered upset among New Zealand consumers online.

However, the company had already warned the government that alleged dumping of cheaper imports from countries like China into the New Zealand market would affect local production.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment confirmed it was investigating these claims after Heinz Wattie’s filed an application in July into alleged product dumping.

“MBIE is currently progressing step 1 of the [trade remedy] investigation in accordance with its standard process, with input from participating stakeholders,” it said.

It was working to compile preliminary findings, essential facts and conclusions report for the applicant by 7 November.

And the findings would be presented to the Minister for Commerce and Consumer Affairs for decision, by 31 January.

“MBIE is also considering a request from [Heinz Watties] for provisional measures during the course of the investigation, in line with statutory provisions.”

It followed an earlier investigation several years prior.

Anti-dumping duties on preserved peaches from China were lifted in 2017.

Newsroom reported that Stats NZ data included in the Heinz application showed Chinese peach import volumes increased from 300,000 kilograms a quarter in 2018, to a peak of just below 831,000 kilograms in the final quarter of 2024.

Read more:

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

On a state-owned farm near Taupō, the first creamy-coloured calves of a new dairy-beef crossbreed are frolicking.

Called the Synergizer, the calves are the result of combining genetics from a Nebraskan breed developed in the 1970s, known as the Stabilizer, with that of the French Charolais from which the calves take their distinctive colouring.

It’s been a collaborative project between Pāmu, formerly Landcorp, and the farmer-owned co-operative Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) to develop a dairy-beef product that will benefit dairy farmers, calf rearers, beef finishers and processors

LIC chief executive David Chin said it was an exciting partnership with the genetics providing a long term gain and a “better animal all round”.

The breeding programme focussed on key traits including short gestation, ease of calving and rearing, strong growth and meat quality.

“What the diary farmer really looks for in beef animals, or beef bulls putting over their dairy cows, is an easily identifiable animal so the coat colour is very important,” Chin said.

“The coat colour is coming through from the Charolais. But calving easy, easy to rear, good live weight gains that’s coming through from the Stabilizer.”

Chin said the launch of Synergizer marked an important milestone in the co-operative’s dairy-beef journey.

“Backed by world-class science, robust data and rigourous progeny testing, Synergizer has been developed to deliver a reliable, profitable and sustainable option for dairy-beef systems.”

A recent Rabobank report found dairy-beef had a potential value of more than $1.2 billion each year.

Pāmu chief executive Mark Leslie said Synergizer was also excited about the potential of the collaborative project.

“By combining genetics expertise, farming knowledge, and a shared vision, we’re creating a solution that will deliver long-term benefits across the entire dairy-beef value chain and build resilience, productivity and sustainability for future generations of farmers.”

About 350 first-cross beef on dairy calves were born this year.

The first frozen semen inseminations will be available in limited quantities from spring next year, with more available from spring 2027.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Farmers have welcomed the government’s new “science-based” biogenic methane targets for 2050.

It’s dropped the reduction target for biogenic methane from 24 to 47 percent below 2017 levels by 2050, to 14 to 24 percent – saying it reflects the findings of the independent Methane Science Review released in 2024.

Agriculture and Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay said the government had worked closely with industry and accepted a range of advice to determine a “practical target”.

“We’ve accepted a range of advice and worked closely with industry to agree a practical target that protects food production whilst substantially reducing New Zealand’s farm emissions.”

Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford said the new targets were backed by science and had landed in a “solid” place.

He said the targets set under the previous government had felt “political[ly] and ideologically driven”.

“I think what’s important to understand is just how far off the last lot of targets were,” he said.

“So, 24 to 47 percent was going to put well over 20 percent of sheep and beef farms out of business, 6 or 7 percent of dairy farms. It was literally going to destroy rural communities.”

Langford also welcomed confirmation there would be no tax on agricultural emissions like methane.

“This is a major step forward and will be a huge relief for farming families who have had the threat of a massive tax hanging over our heads threatening the viability of our businesses.

“A methane tax would have achieved the opposite of its intent – forcing the closure of Kiwi farms, driving production to less efficient countries, and increasing global emissions.”

However, Langford said the changes don’t mean farmers are being let off the hook – farmers were already working hard to reduce their methane emissions and had made huge improvements in the last decade.

A dairy farmer himself, he said he had faced huge pressure from processors to improve.

However, last week Nestlé, announced it was withdrawing from an international partnership aimed at reducing dairy emissions.

Langford said this was more a reflection of the cost-of-living pressures facing consumers.

He said a growing range of technologies to better calculate and reduce emissions on farm would only help farmers further improve.

Beef and Lamb chairperson Kate Acland also welcomed the new targets which she felt better reflected the science, but said it would still be a stretch for the agriculture sector to achieve.

“The previous targets were arbitrarily based on ranges used in an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report that explicitly stated those ranges should not be used to set national targets.

“The revised targets better reflect the science around the different warming impact of short- and long-lived gases. Methane should only be asked to do what is expected of other gases, which is to achieve no additional warming.”

Acland said New Zealand’s red meat was already among the most climate-efficient in the world.

“While our sector has made significant progress on reducing warming emissions, the revised targets, particularly the upper end of the range, will still be very challenging. This is by no means letting agriculture off the hook.”

It was important to avoid stock number reductions seen in recent years, which Acland said was being driven by afforestation caused by New Zealand’s ETS settings.

She said it was important to work towards reducing methane by investing in efficiencies on-farm, genetic improvements and tools and technologies that could help farmers.

Acland said tax on agricultural methane emissions being ruled out was especially welcome news for the sector

“Emissions from our sector are already coming down – the threat of a price was draining confidence from the rural sector and was just not justified.”

Victoria University of Wellington Professor James Renwick said the government’s decision was “disappointing” as it represented a “major step backwards in ambition and in climate action”, but he was not surprised.

“The climate is currently changing rapidly and we need to be doing all we can to slow the warming and avoid catastrophic impacts from extremes and from tipping points crossed.

“Yes, carbon dioxide emission reductions are the number one target, and we must get to zero as soon as possible.

“But methane emissions are the next most important, and emissions reductions there would quickly translate into reductions in atmospheric concentrations (because of the short lifetime of methane in the atmosphere), providing a cooling effect in the short-medium term.”

Professor Renwick said the idea of ‘no additional warming’ seemed to influenced the scientific advice to Government.

“This approach goes easy on the agriculture sector and in no way does it represent our ‘highest possible ambition’ as laid out in Article 4 of the Paris Agreement, to which New Zealand is a signatory.”

He said this was likely to concern some trading partners.

Others like Canterbury University’s Associate Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry Laura Revell said biogenic methane emissions in New Zealand had “largely stabilised so far this century”.

Revell, who was part of the independent methane science review, said the group had modelled the methane cuts needed to ensure no additional warming relative to 2017 levels.

She said they found the level of cuts needed depends on global methane emissions.

“Because atmospheric methane concentrations are continuing to increase – driven largely by emissions from other countries – steeper cuts to New Zealand’s emissions alone would have little impact on total atmospheric heating.

“If the rest of the world makes steep cuts to methane emissions, then New Zealand would need to make steeper cuts too to ensure the no additional warming target is met. Periodic reviews of the target seem sensible.”

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Many rural communities are clearing away fallen trees, debris and repairing fences in wind battered regions, following yesterday’s storm.

Katie Wyeth, a Federated Farmers spokesperson for Wairarapa, said many farmers hadn’t even had time to clean up the damage from wind and rain earlier in the week, before yesterday’s extreme weather.

Follow updates with RNZ’s blog

Wyeth said the conditions created havoc.

“We lost I think at least five, and these are big old man poplar trees, big trees that came down, and one in particular that’s blocked off our main track accessway to one side of the farm, pulled up half the track and blocked a culvert,” she said.

“And then the main damage after that is just falling branches and things onto all our fence lines, particularly the waterways.

“A tree came down over a power line to our pump shed, so we’ve got no power or water to one side of that farm.”

Wyeth said falling trees killed several of their sheep.

Despite the damage and livestock deaths, she said most farmers will just roll up their sleeves and do what needs to be done.

“Probably be clearing trees, I imagine. There’ll be a lot of chainsaws running red hot over the next few days, week or so,” she said.

“There might be people having to get diggers and stuff in to clean up some damage.

“Generally, most of the people, farmers I’ve spoke to, it’s fairly typical, they’ll say, oh, … we’re not too bad compared to some people, but everyone says that, right? And they just get on with starting to get it cleared up.”

Wyeth said it was one extreme to the other for different parts of the Wairarapa region – with some farmers sloshing around in mud, while others needed more rain.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

South Island farmers are working to keep farms running amid power outages, road closures and damaging winds – with all eyes on rising rivers.

Follow updates on RNZ’s blog

Severe gale northwesterlies are lashing parts of the east coast on Thursday, particularly Canterbury, while MetService has issued heavy rain warnings for already-sodden areas Fiorldland and Westland.

Slips and surface flooding have hit the roading network, with multiple road closures across the West Coast and inland into upper South Island state highways including SH6 and SH8.

State-owned farming enterprise Pāmu Farms has 130 staff working in 24 largely dairy farms in the upper South Island across Canterbury, West Coast and Marlborough.

The area’s general manager, Cam Walker said teams had been busy preparing for today’s weather by moving stock out of high risk areas in advance and giving them extra feed.

He said fortunately they were still able to get milk tankers in, despite many road closures.

“It’s definitely a wild ol’ spring at the moment,” he said.

“Luckily yeah there have been some road closures, but there has been a path to get through to all the farms, so there have been a few detours in place and things, but luckily no disruptions to milk.

“We have had a few power outages, but the team’s done a good job preparing for that with generators and things to keep milking going.”

All eyes on rising rivers

Walker said staff were watching rising rivers closely, particularly in Canterbury and Marlborough.

“Well, everyone’s got concerns at the moment. Definitely the gale force winds across the Canterbury region’s a big focus for us today. The rivers are up through there with the West Coast rain spilling into the headwaters,” he said.

“Teams are managing infrastructure like pivots downwind… and watch out for any flying debris and stay away from trees and all of that sort of stuff.”

He said Molesworth Station got 40 millimetres of rainfall yesterday with more forecast, and the area’s rivers were very high.

“They’re keeping a close eye on [river] levels up there. Hanmer, the Waiau is bank to bank, so flood protection is doing a good job across our farms there, but there is a little bit spilling over into paddocks there, nothing too major.

“It’s sort of everywhere at the moment to be honest in our region.”

‘Trying’ conditions on the wet West Coast

Walker, based on the West Coast, said it was a wet spring there already, ahead of today’s forecast rain.

“It’s been a wet ol’ time across the coast over spring, and we’ve had 500-odd millimetres over the last month already, and with more rain over the last 24 hours and obviously more on the forecast, it’s been pretty trying conditions,” he said.

“But the team’s doing a good job and the focus is obviously on safety first for our people and they’re out there looking after the animals at the moment.”

Bad weather came at an already busy time for the dairy farms in the midst of mating.

Walker said mating was in full swing, so farmers were ensuring stock were well fed after a tough few weeks from the rain.

“I guess it’s just around making good decisions around what jobs can wait for better weather conditions, but things like mating are absolutely still happening and the teams are just making sure cows are in sheltered paddocks and feeding a little bit more feed just to get the cows through.

“But luckily it’s a norwest flow with this rain so it is relatively warm out there, but certainly the animals are feeling it from a month of pretty wet conditions across the coast, that’s for sure.”

Walker said fortunately feed levels were good due to the warm weather that had come with the storms.

Pāmu Farms has hundreds of farms scattered across Aotearoa.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Environmental lawyers say they remain concerned about the risks posed by glyphosate-based products, the most commonly used herbicide in Aotearoa, despite a rejection in the High Court.

Last week, the High Court dismissed the Environmental Law Initiative’s (ELI) challenge of the Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) decision not to reassess glyphosate, the main ingredient in weedkillers like Roundup.

The court found the EPA was lawful in its decision, following ELI’s request for a reassessment of the chemical in September 2023.

The herbicidal ingredient was first introduced into Aotearoa in the 1970s, and has been commonly used by councils and others for weed management ever since, featuring in dozens of products sold in stores.

The ELI cited reports in its call for reassessment that showed negative effects of the chemical’s use on human health, including “probable” carcinogenic qualities, and to the environment.

It would be reviewing the judgement that was made on 17 October.

Director of legal and research Dr Matt Hall said it was not seeking a ban, but a full risk reassessment to ensure the proper precautions could be taken to protect people and the environment.

He said the group was still concerned that it had never undergone a comprehensive risk assessment.

“While we didn’t receive the key outcome we sought, we remain concerned that glyphosate and glyphosate-containing herbicides have never undergone a comprehensive risk assessment in Aotearoa New Zealand,” he said.

“Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the country, and we are amongst the most permissive regulators of it globally.”

However, the EPA’s manager of hazardous substances re-assessments, Dr Shaun Presow said glyphosate was probably one of the world’s most studied chemicals, but not all pieces of research were up to international standards of reliability and trust.

“Glyphosate is a very old chemical, so it’s not been reassessed under the current legislation, the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms or HSNO [Act],” he said.

“There hasn’t been any need to do a reassessment because we haven’t seen that new compelling information come through that would require us to have a look at those controls and to change them.”

Read more:

No fines or recalls for food with illegal levels of potentially harmful agrichemicals in last five years

Environmental group at odds with regulator over herbicide Roundup

Japan warns it will block NZ honey shipments if glyphosate limits breached

‘Safe to use’

He said the EPA considered glyphosate-based products safe to use, as long as people followed instructions to their use.

“We consider it safe to use as long as people read the label, follow the instructions, that’s the most important thing.

“And if anything new does come down the pipeline, then we’ll act as necessary.”

Since 1990, ACC accepted 395 claims for injuries involving Roundup, paying out $875,000, and a further 20 claims for glyphosate, paying a further $6241, RNZ reported in January.

It was banned in countries like Vietnam or heavily restricted in others, such as the European Union where it was prohibited on crops pre-harvest and banned for consumer use in Germany and France.

A reassessment was carried out in the European Union between 2019-2023, which found there was no scientific or legal justification for a ban.

However, the European Commission wanted more detailed data from authors of a report that suggested carcinogenicity of the chemical in its 2023 decision.

Presow said the EPA did not believe a consumer ban was warranted with the information available on it at this time.

“The finding of the court, the decision that was made stands, and so there’s no plan to look at glyphosate in the near future.”

Presow said users must read the label, wear personal protective gear like gloves and goggles and use it only during calm, dry weather.

EPA guidelines also urged users to keep the chemical away from streams, lakes, ponds, and far away from children and pets when it was being sprayed.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

MPs deliberating controversial changes to pig welfare rules will have less time to scrutinise new rules.

The Animal Welfare Amendment (Regulations of Management of Pigs) Bill proposed to keep farrow crates, but gave pig farmers 10 years to adapt to slightly tougher restrictions.

The bill passed its first reading in the house with the two-week submission process closing at 5pm Thursday.

Farrowing crates -which were used to prevent a sow crushing her piglets, but were so small a sow cannot turn around -were due to be banned from December 18 under changes brought in by the previous Labour government.

The Primary Production Select Committee had originally planned to report back on the bill in February, but had now brought this forward to November 20.

In a statement, the committee said it had decided “by majority” to shorten the process to prevent a “legislative gap” when current regulations expire on December 18.

After this date the pork industry would have been at risk of prosecution if it used farrowing crates.

The Labour Party and Green Party both voted against shortening the time frame.

Greens animal welfare spokesperson Steve Abel, a committee member, said it was likely the bill would have to be passed under urgency.

“This is totally avoidable. This is an example of a minister who has delayed and delayed and delayed, and now is doing the bidding of the pork industry.”

Labour Animal Welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack also had concerns about the truncated process.

“Labour consulted on changes to pig animal welfare rules in 2022 and had put in place a transition process to end the use of farrowing crates in December this year. Instead of supporting the transition process and improved animal welfare for pigs, the Minister has chosen to delay changes to standards for a further 10 years, and then, only make minor improvements to welfare standards.

“Given the significant change in approach to pig welfare from this government and the high public interest, Labour believes the Bill should go through a full select committee process to ensure proper scrutiny before final decisions are made.”

The SPCA, which had said it was left “blindsided” by the reforms after not being consulted, was also unhappy.

“There was only a two week consultation process which is incredibly short for a select committee, so we have grave concerns about this just being rushed through and purely being a tick box exercise,” SPCA chief scientific sdvisor Arnja Dale said.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Ingka Investments, the parent company of furniture giant Ikea, has bought 10,000 hectares of production forestry in Northland from Greenheart Group.

It takes the company’s investment in the country’s forestland to nearly 30,000 hectares, worth about $616 million. This includes nine existing forestry blocks planted in mostly pinus radiata, and an additional 3000ha of indigenous forest, most of which will be dedicated to biodiversity conservation and other environmental purposes.

It comes as Ikea plans to open its first New Zealand store in Auckland in December.

Forestland acquisition manager Simon Honour said its main focus was production forestry as opposed to carbon farming, and had hopes of using the timber for Ikea products.

“Obviously wood is an essential part of the Ikea identity and our ultimate goal is to get that wood into the Ikea supply chain.”

He said it would focus on domestic processing and was working to develop relationships with local sawmills and traders, though he did not rule out looking to develop their own further down the track.

Honour said most of the forestland was not eligible for carbon units.

Where blocks are registered under the Emissions Trading Scheme, or ETS, he said this helped quantify how many units are being sequestered and the carbon units are not traded.

“We have no focus on carbon whatsoever, and we have a pure timber focus.”

Overseas Investment Office figures from last year show Ingka Investments had bought about 19,200ha of farmland to turn into rotational pine forests.

Some of the more prominent sales included Huiarua Station and Matanui Station in the Gisborne region, with a combined area of just over 6000ha.

Honour acknowledged much of the land purchased by Ingka Investments since 2021 was farmland converted to forestry.

“Even from the start, if we could buy forests we would have. Unfortunately they don’t come up for sale that often.

“We wanted to get established in New Zealand and at that time, back in 2021, acquiring farms was a way to do that.”

He said there were “pros and cons” to establishing new forestry blocks.

“Creating forests from the start where you can set your riparian zones, your set back from waterways right from the start does have some benefits.”

He would not rule out purchasing future farms for conversion, but said it was not Ingka’s focus for now.

“We would much rather procure existing forests because it just fits with our values better.”

He said the strategic acquisition underscored Ingka Investments’ long-term commitment to responsible forest management, sustainable land stewardship and regional economic development.

Addressing farmer concerns about the risk of fire and pests on forestland, Honour said management plans were in place for both.

Planned restoration projects focused on indigenous reforestation, and enhancement of existing native vegetation will be complemented by ongoing pest-control programs designed to safeguard biodiversity, improve forest health, and support the long-term success of restoration efforts.

While pinus radiata will remain the dominant commercial species due to its proven performance, future replanting cycles will selectively introduce alternative species where appropriate.

This diversification strategy will strengthen ecosystem resilience, support biodiversity, and improve overall forest health.

The Northland forests were certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and would remain so.

Honour said a commercial production forest contributed to regional employment and he hoped to grow the number of Northland jobs.

Local forestry company, Northland Forest Managers, would continue daily operations. Manager Neil Geerkens said he looked forward to the partnership.

“Together, we will maintain sustainable harvesting practices, enhance biodiversity conservation and ensure continued community access, delivering enduring environmental, social, and economic benefits for the region.”

The acquisition was subject to OIO approval, and shareholder and regulatory approvals by Greenheart Group.

Kelvin Meredith, Ingka Investments’ forestland country manager New Zealand, said it was committed to responsible forest management, including restoring natural landscapes, supporting biodiversity and collaborating with local communities to create meaningful, lasting impact.

“People value recreational access to these forests, and we’re committed to ensuring these opportunities continue.”

The Kauri Coast Mountain Bike Park, located at Baylys Forest and operated by the Kaipara Cycling Club, will continue to be free to access by the public, subject to seasonal safety restrictions.

Seasonal beehives located on parts of the estate, operated in consultation with the landowner, will also remain in place to support local apiarists and contribute to biodiversity across the forest landscape.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand