Developments

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 […]

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,” […]

The Ministry for Primary Industries is reminding plant enthusiasts to check importing rules after a North Canterbury man was sentenced to 180 hours community work for recklessly importing concealed seeds. Richard Paul Watson, of Medbury, had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of recklessly importing unauthorised goods in Christchurch District Court yesterday (17 Sept). He had already started community work to demonstrate his remorse. Mr Watson arranged for heirloom corn seeds to be sent from the United States to a relative in New Zealand concealed in hand-sewn pincushions to deliberately avoid the biosecurity system. MPI Border Clearance Services Manager Andrew Spelman says imports of untreated corn seeds can contain a range of unwanted insects, mites, fungi, bacteria and viruses that could have a negative impact on agriculture and the environment in New Zealand. “We go to great lengths at the border to protect New Zealand’s environment and agricultural economy, and some people go to great lengths to avoid these measures for their own interest. “We have biosecurity checks in place for a very good reason. Those who deliberately avoid these checks put peoples’ livelihoods and our environment at risk. If people are looking to import seeds or plants, have a chat to MPI, we’ll tell you how to do it safely.” The seeds were identified when the package went through an x-ray machine at Auckland Mail Centre. The declaration with the package listed the contents as pincushions with no mention of seeds or plant matter. The package was destined for a relative of Mr Watson’s. The relative told MPI investigators Mr Watson had used this method for importing seeds several times before. MPI’s mail inspection database showed packages to Mr Watson had been intercepted in the past the rules around importing seed had been explained to him. An inspection of […]

Being part of a TeenAg club at high school kept Northland teenager Sam Moscrip in school longer than he had intended, and it has opened him up to many new possibilities in the primary industries. The TeenAg club format has been developed by New Zealand Young Farmers as a way for younger people to get started with the movement. Young Farmers are taking a “pipeline” approach, explains NZYF chief executive Terry Copeland, developing a format to suit each age group around the Young Farmers set-up. New Zealand Young Farmers has existed for more than 80 years and is for people aged 16 to 31. This work was initially part of the 7-year Transforming the Dairy Value Chain Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) programme, which is co-funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries, and is now also being funded by another PGP programme, the Red Meat Profit Partnership. The overall aim is to help more young people understand the potential opportunities in the primary industries. Along with the TeenAg clubs for 13 to 18-year-olds, Young Farmers have set up AgriKids clubs for 8 to 13-year-olds. It has certainly worked for Sam. The Agriculture teacher at Kamo High School, Colleen Rushton, suggested that he and some Year 12 mates take part in a TeenAg regional final – a hands-on competition for teenagers interested in agriculture. They got into the top three and took part in the grand final event in Dunedin, where they placed in the top seven. Through this they found out about the TeenAg clubs and set one up at their school. It took off: “We got a pretty strong membership base pretty quickly: it grew to about 35 members within a month.” They made sure the club was “user friendly” for young people. “We streamlined meetings to keep them short […]

The top performers in New Zealand’s food industry have been announced, with 47 products developed by 39 primary food producers, food service providers and ingredient supply companies named as national finalists in the New Zealand Food Awards for 2015. Competition was particularly tough this year with entries up 40% compared to 2014, with almost 150 products from 79 food and beverage producers vying for an award. A broad range of entrants from niche operators to large scale producers will compete to take out the top spot in a number of categories including food safety, export, convenience and gourmet, as well as the ultimate accolade of the Massey University Supreme Award. Finalists in this year’s competition include Fonterra, Chef Series by Josh Emett and Whittaker’s, with a strong presence from Wellington, Nelson and Auckland food manufacturers. Massey University Assistant Vice-Chancellor – External Relations, Penelope Barr-Sellers, says the awards are a fantastic opportunity to showcase new initiatives in New Zealand food and beverage production and manufacturing. “Massey University is proud to own and organise the NZ Food Awards, supporting our biggest export sector by providing a forum to celebrate industry excellence and innovation,” she says. “With a long and proud history of driving innovation in agriculture and food, continuing to support the development and growth of these sectors is integral to what we do.” Judges at this year’s NZ Food Awards have been impressed with the level of innovation in entries across the sector this year. Food writer Nici Wickes and Auckland restauranteur Geoff Scott say the growth and quality of entries is a testament to New Zealand’s thriving food industry. “New Zealand’s food industry is going through a period of growth, with new ideas, new technology and new techniques emerging in the market. The innovation we’re seeing is fantastic for New […]

The two shareholder groups representing Silver Fern Farms and Alliance farmers have joined forces in a bid to encourage the two meat cooperatives to follow suit and work collaboratively. Each shareholder group has separately gained the 5 percent farmer support needed to call special meetings of their respective cooperatives to try and force the boards to investigate the benefits and risks of a merger, though dates have not yet been set for either. Alliance shareholder Jeff Grant said it is best to wait on the outcome of Silver Fern Farm’s current capital raising before holding either meeting. “If the capital raise changes the structure of the cooperative to be a non cooperative or in foreign ownership then it would be pointless having an SGM (special general meeting) at all,” he said. Silver Fern Farms suspended trading of its shares on the Unlisted exchange in late July while it tried to raise $100 million of new capital through investment bank Goldman Sachs. The company said today the capital raise process is continuing though it’s understood from meat industry sources an announcement could emerge by the end of the week. Grant said it seemed sensible to hold the Silver Fern Farms meeting first, followed by the Alliance one. He said the SFF board had indicated this will likely mean the SGMs will be held in late September or October but the timing is ultimately in the hands of the cooperative boards. Silver Fern Farms shareholder Allan Richardson said there remains an opportunity for the two groups to work together over the next couple of months to continue encouraging the two cooperatives to find a pathway forward for farmer shareholders which will give some confidence in the industry. Grant said the farmer feedback is that they want the two cooperative chairmen to take […]