Business

Oceania Dairy Invites Applications for Annual Scholarship

Secondary school students within the Waimate and Waitaki Districts have been invited to apply for the Oceania Dairy Scholarship. The annual scholarship was launched last year and Dion Batchelor, a former Head Boy of Waimate High School, was selected as the inaugural recipient. The scholarship provides the successful applicant with an annual payment of $3,000 for up to three years, as well as the opportunity for paid work experience during study or training breaks. Oceania Dairy circulated application forms for the 2016 scholarship to the principals of all schools within the Districts this week. “The scholarship is an important part of our commitment to the communities in which we operate,” said Roger Usmar, General Manager of Oceania Dairy. “We are encouraging an organisational culture of investing in people and supporting local communities. “We can think of no better way of demonstrating that culture by supporting young people as they move from secondary school education to further education or training,” he said. The Oceania Scholarship is available to young people within the Waimate and Waitaki Districts who are completing their secondary schooling and about to move into further education or training next year. The scholarship targets education or training that can lead the recipient into a career in the dairy industry or that has the potential to enhance relations between New Zealand and China. Applications for the 2016 scholarship close on 30 November. The successful applicant will be announced before the end of the year. 2015 scholarship recipient Dion Batchelor is now preparing for his end-of-year exams towards a Bachelor of Commerce undergraduate degree at Otago University “The scholarship has relieved a huge financial burden as I fund my way through University,” he said. “It has also been great to begin to understand the operations of a successful global company as […]

Minerality mysteries remain

Ongoing wine research by Dr Wendy Parr of Lincoln University indicates that while minerality is not a figment of tasters’ sensorial imagination, the source of the perception remains a mystery, and the description should be used with caution in formal wine tasting and judging situations. ‘Minerality’ is used by wine professionals to describe the character of certain wines, with vague references made to wet stones, crushed rock and soil. Regarded variously as a taste, a smell, a trigeminal (mouth-feel) sensation, or all three, until now there’s been little agreement on what is actually meant by this common but enigmatic term, or whether it even exists. Intrigued by the lack of scientific knowledge and the plethora of anecdotal evidence around minerality, Dr Parr collaborated with scientists in France and at Plant and Food Research in New Zealand to investigate what the concept means in Sauvignon Blanc wines, and whether there are cultural differences in perceptions of minerality. Wine professionals from France and New Zealand experienced in the production and tasting of Sauvignon Blanc participated in two sensory studies carried out over two sessions, with wine samples served blind in opaque, standardised glasses in unique order for each participant. Participants evaluated the wines by palate (taste and mouth-feel) alone, smell alone and both palate and smell together. Minerality was perceived by both groups in all cases, and was consistently associated with several wine characteristics, for example citrus. There were more similarities in perception between the groups than differences, implying that wine professionals in France and New Zealand share a mental construct of the concept ‘mineral’, as experienced in Sauvignon Blanc wines. “The concept of minerality in wine is undoubtedly real,” Dr Parr says, “but the source of the perception is still unclear.” It has been variously attributed to acidity, sulphide reduction, and […]

New Zealand Merino’s market-making model pays dividends

The New Zealand Merino Company (NZM) has significantly lifted full-year profit and the dividend it will pay to its shareholders in 2014/15. NZM booked a $2.3 million net profit for the year, a 21% increase on the previous year. Shareholders, including 536 wool growers, will receive a total dividend of $1.15 million, up 23% on 2013/14. NZM chief executive John Brakenridge said the strong performance showed the company’s approach of value creation, as opposed to volume play, was a winning one. “Two decades ago fine wool was being dumped on the commodity market and sold at a discount to Australia. The growers knew they had a product that was undervalued and unrecognised. “So NZM was set up to maximise profitability and sustainability right across value chains; from market to grower. Key to this has been confronting volatility head on and establishing multi-year forward contracts that guarantee more stable prices for brands and growers alike.” By removing the boom-and-bust of commodity price cycles, NZM had generated more than $30 million in additional income for growers, across wool and meat programmes, in the past three years compared to returns via traditional commodity systems, said Mr Brakenridge. “This past year we’ve continued to grow our business through establishing new contracts with luxury and active apparel brands such as Loro Piana and Reda in Italy, New Zealand brand Icebreaker and Colorado-based SmartWool. “We’ve also extended our offering into strong wool, where we see excellent potential across the board through innovation. There’s great complementary between strong wool and our fine wool business. “It’s no good sitting back and waiting for the market to come to you. We want to shape it and secure exclusive deals with the world’s leading brands.” In April, NZM secured a two-year contract with Danish footwear firm Glerups to exclusively supply […]

DWN seals the deal with valuable business advisory partner

New Zealand’s largest provider of practical accounting and business advisory services to the rural sector, Crowe Horwath, has offered its support to the Dairy Women’s Network (DWN), signing on as a partner. Dairy Women’s Network is a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing education and support to dairy farming women. It has more than 7500 members throughout New Zealand. “We are excited to enter into this partnership because we see first-hand the significant contribution women make to New Zealand’s rural sector,” said Crowe Horwarth’s New Zealand head of agribusiness Neil McAra. “It is organisations such as DWN that provide vital support and development opportunities for women in agribusiness to grow and prosper. Many Crowe Horwath employees are already actively involved within the Network and it was their glowing endorsement which helped encourage the business towards signing on with DWN.” DWN chief executive Zelda de Villiers said it was heartening in difficult times in the dairy industry to see a collegiality between agribusinesses and non-profit organisations such as DWN. “We know that we offer our members an extremely valuable service, but it’s always nice to have that quality of service recognised by our partners. I think our members, and ultimately the wider industry will gain a lot of knowledge in making sound and smart business decisions from us working with Crowe Horwath in the future.” Crowe Horwath New Zealand is the largest provider of practical accounting, audit, tax and business advice to individuals and businesses. The company has a network of 24 offices throughout the country.

China still burns brightly for NZ agribusiness

“China is far from finished as a key driver of growth for the New Zealand agribusiness sector,” says Hayden Dillon, Head of Corporate Agribusiness for Crowe Horwath. Despite recent negative market commentary coming out of China, Dillon, who recently toured our largest trading partner with the BNZ’s Port to Plate tour, was optimistic for the future of New Zealand agribusiness, while acknowledging the challenges that go with doing business in China. “China is large, complex and changing faster than we can possibly understand. There is no simple headline or strategy to sum up this market, but there is also no doubt it is still the most valuable opportunity to New Zealand agribusiness,” said Dillon. In reference to reported drops in Chinese import numbers, Dillon points out it’s important to read between the lines and focus on the key numbers for New Zealand exporters. “While Chinese imports did drop year-on-year to August 2015 by 13.8%, food imports grew by up to 25%. This might be bad news for the likes of Prada, Audi and other luxury brands, but the story for New Zealand, who is exporting food and food technology, is very strong,” said Dillon. Dillon does not see this trend of rising food imports changing anytime soon. “It’s about feeding the dragon. China has a rapidly growing population with rising incomes and is far from reaching its satisfaction point in regards to food demand,” he said. The changing diets in China were explained to Dillon and his tour party of New Zealand agribusiness specialists by the Agricultural Development Bank of China. The Bank indicated growing demand for edible oil, meat and dairy will continue to increase, while rice consumption per capita will decrease. Dillon notes that China is also beginning to see demand increase for what it calls “green” products, […]

Food businesses asked to ‘have their say’ in new food safety rules

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is calling for input from food businesses and providers into new food safety rules. A consultation on Notices under the new Food Act 2014 has been released today. Notices give further detail about how the new Act will work on a practical level, says MPI’s Manager Food and Beverage Sally Johnston. “The new Food Act 2014 comes into force in March next year and we consulted on the regulations earlier this year. This consultation is another chance for food businesses and providers to have their say in how the law works in practice.” The proposed Notices apply to a wide range of food businesses that need to operate under a food control plan or national programme. This includes those serving food, such as restaurants and cafés, as well as those manufacturing, selling or importing food. The new Act recognises that different food activities involve different risks. Higher risk activities, such as preparing meals, will operate under a written food control plan, which identifies food safety risks and sets out steps to mitigate those risks. Lower risk activities, such as selling pre-packaged food, will operate under a national programme. They won’t need a written plan, but will need to follow requirements for producing safe and suitable food. While the Act itself forms the basis of the new law, what businesses must do to comply with the new Act are set out in Regulations and Notices. This consultation asks for feedback on practical areas of implementation, including templates for creating food control plans, requirements for ensuring food is safe and suitable, requirements for importers, and skills needed to evaluate and verify high risk processes, such as low acid canned food. “We encourage all those who will operate under the Food Act 2014, including food providers and […]

A big win for Rural Contractors NZ

Agricultural contractors around New Zealand will soon be able to bring in overseas workers much easier than in the past – following a deal struck between its national body and Immigration NZ. Rural Contractors NZ (RCNZ) president Steve Levet says his organisation has been working with Immigration New Zealand for a long time in an effort to resolve the problems around contractors bringing in overseas workers for the harvest season. “After many meetings and a lot of hard work by RCNZ – together with Immigration NZ – we believe have come up with a solution that will solve many of the problems that rural contractors currently experience every year and make it much easier to bring in overseas workers,” Mr Levet says. “Members who are registered with RCNZ will now be able to apply to bring in overseas workers under our umbrella, rather than go through all the hoops and hurdles they currently have to as individuals.” Steve Levet describes the new scheme as great news for the sector and believes it will streamline and simplify the whole process of bringing in overseas workers – rather than the current rigmarole agricultural contractors currently have to endure. The new scheme will see RCNZ applying for an Approval in Principle (AIP) on behalf of all members of the national body and contractors. Contractors will then be able to apply online for a visa for the person being recruited – without having to advertise, go to WINZ or any the other requirements currently causing so much difficulty. “As RCNZ will hold the AIP, there are a number of responsibilities placed on us and it will be important that all those contractors who wish to use this scheme comply with all these conditions and requirements,” Mr Levet explains. “For starters, there will need to […]

UC Davis researchers test a remote-controlled helicopter to spray pesticides on vineyards, which are normally sprayed using ground vehicles. Yamaha, who supplies Japanese rice farmers with flying sprayers, provided the helicopter for these tests. Photos taken at the UC Davis Oakville Station in Oakville, Ca. on May 7, 2013.

Unmanned helicopters to revolutionise agricultural industry

Yamaha Sky Division New Zealand represents the future of the agricultural industry. The introduction of the Yamaha RMAX unmanned helicopters will enable property owners, licensed operators and contractors to maintain the land and crops remotely, from the air, and without the hassles that come with more traditional farming methods. Weighing in at 99kg and at a total length of 3.63m and a height of 1.08m, each helicopter has a load capacity of 28kgs and runs on a 2 stroke, horizontally opposed 2-cylinder engine. The newest member of the Yamaha Sky Division is the ultimate piece of farm machinery for the 21st century. The versatility of this new technology means that operators can spray weeds, crops, or spread seed in a more cost effective and accurate manner. Because RMAX is completely airborne, terrain is no longer an issue. Spraying dangerous aquatic weeds or accessing uneven ground is all part of the package, and can be done in a time efficient way. Liquids and granules can be dispersed across a 400m range from the location of the operator, covering up to 2 acres in just 6 minutes depending on the target and payload. The Yamaha RMAX unmanned helicopter has become the first drone to be certified for flight in New Zealand under Part 102 of the Civil Aviation Rules. Coming into effect in August 2015, the new law establishes a framework for the safe operation of unmanned crafts in New Zealand. Yamaha Motor New Zealand received their operating certificate on the 1st August and wasted no time in conducting its first flight under the new CAA rule regime at its test site near Auckland. A high-performance Global Positioning System (GPS) combined with the Yamaha Attitude Control System makes operation incredibly simple. These sophisticated technologies, combined with a highly capable operator, ensure that […]

Woman on dairy farm (28 yrs) using technology

Business talent scouts looking for next superstar

Business talent scouts are looking for a startup with the potential to be New Zealand’s next global agritech superstar. Sprout, a national agritech business accelerator, is searching the country for eight budding entrepreneurs with embryonic agritech businesses for a new development programme. The chosen eight will receive a cash injection of $20,000 and be placed in a 20-week part time and remotely delivered programme that will see them flown around the country for mentoring from world-class business and technical experts. The programme will culminate in an opportunity to pitch for investment to a hand picked group of potential investors, business leaders and industry experts. Sprout Programme Manager James Bell-Booth says Sprout wants to grow businesses in their hometowns. “We’re looking for new businesses from around New Zealand that have big ideas but would benefit from the network, expertise and funding to grow globally. Those engaging in the programme have no need to move from their home locality. This initiative is about finding the next global stars, and boosting regional economies at the same time,” he says. Sprout is being supported and funded by a mix of public and private sector leaders in agritech and startup investment, including Callaghan Innovation, Massey University, Gallagher Group, Livestock Improvement Corporation, NZTE, Sir Stephen Tindall’s K1W1 fund, Enterprise Angels and Manawatu Investment Group. The Sprout accelerator programme was designed by BCC, a Palmerston North-based business incubator. Over the last two years BCC has helped establish four globally focused agritech startups, BioLumic, CalfSMART, CropX and Polybatics, which have raised in excess of $15 million in growth capital from New Zealand and overseas investors. Bell-Booth says lessons from those companies successful start up journeys have contributed to the Sprout programme. “Our focus is on helping entrepreneurs grow their startups from great ideas into investment-ready early stage companies,” […]

Waste audit eye-opener for NZ’s largest Iwi-owned fisheries company

Finding out what one day’s worth of waste from one of its sites was made up of was an eye opener for Aotearoa Fisheries. This has given the company considerable information about what waste it produces and what and how to divert material from the general waste stream that’s currently going to landfill to better uses. The waste audit, at its Lorne Street Wellington site, included the small offices at the site, as well as the processing and packing operations. Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd Group Manager of Human Resources and Corporate Affairs, Allyn Glaysher, was the first person to offer to put on personal protective gear and get his hands dirty helping Global Action Plan Oceania sort the waste. Over time all other Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd sites will also undergo waste audits, with specific waste management strategies to be developed for each of them, in line with developing an overall Waste Management and Minimisation Plan that is currently underway for the group. “We’re a large and diverse company with a huge range of processes that do generate waste, and while we’ll also be looking at cutting that down, the priority is making sure what we do generate goes to the best possible place to have the least impact on the environment,” says Mr Glaysher. Cardboard and clean plastic film made up the two largest categories of waste, and as a result of the Wellington site audit, in the office, under desk bins will be removed and larger, mixed recycling bins will be placed centrally to encourage recycling. Outside, recycling cages will also be introduced to reduce the material going into the general waste bin. Clean plastic film can also be recycled, and Mr Glaysher says he is currently looking at services to cater for this waste. In addition, the waste audit […]

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