January 2023 update

It’s been a busy start to the year for the NZPork team with a number of policy and regulatory changes and research projects on the agenda.

We are continuing to discuss the draft code of welfare with NAWAC and the Ministry for Primary Industries and hope to see finalised proposals from NAWAC/MPI over the coming months so our farmers can have some certainty for their businesses.

NZPork remains concerned about the Government’s new National Policy Statement (NPS) on Highly Productive Land (HPL).

The NPS-HPL is intended to enhance protection for highly productive land from inappropriate subdivision, use, and development. However, it classifies indoor pig farming as an ‘inappropriate land use’ as they are deemed to not directly rely on the soil-resource of the land and allows a pathway for exceptions for urban use, but not rural.??

From our point of view, this doesn’t make sense and NZPork will continue to pressure the Government to make changes.

We would like to see indoor pig farming reclassified as an acceptable activity on highly productive land.?

Making this change would not contradict the intent of the policy – to protect highly productive land for food and fibre production. Not making this change could be incredibly damaging to the New Zealand pork industry.

Bio-security is a top priority for our sector this year. NZPork is focused on bio-security preparedness for food-and-mouth disease and concluding an Operational Agreement under the GIA.

We’re also excited to see the outcome of an eating quality project in the next few months.

Scientists at AgResearch are examining how factors such as gender and pH values impact the eating quality of pork.?

Using consumer testing, researchers are evaluating the attributes such as aroma, tenderness, juiciness, flavour and liking and overall perception of quality - and how likely Kiwis would be to purchase the pork.

The New Zealand pork industry aims to use the findings of the study to develop a quality mark for pork so Kiwis can be confident they’ll have a consistently excellent eating experience every time.