Primary industries
New Zealand is one of the world’s most efficient agricultural economies, thanks to a lot of good science and more than a little Kiwi ingenuity.
Ngā Umanga Ahuwhenua
Kei mua noa atu te pai o Aotearoa i waenga i ngā ohaoha ahuwhenua o te ao, ko te take e pērā ana ko te pai o ngā pūtaiao me te koi o te hinengaro o te hunga Kiwi.
New Zealand primary industries
We’re still a leading producer of sheep, dairy and beef products but in recent years other primary industries have taken off. Sustainably managed forestry and wood processing are among our largest and fastest growing industries.
Growing agritech
New Zealand’s pastoral farming extends over 13.5 million hectares. That’s more than 80% of the occupied land area and nearly half of the total land area. Our livestock is mainly raised on pasture in free-range open fields, so we’re less dependent than other countries on grain feeding and energy-intensive housing during the cooler months. Year round, Kiwi farmers are at the forefront of moves to make their industry easier on the environment.
Fine forestry
Our forestry industry is moving away from large volume, low margin commodity exports to high value wood-based products, which are better placed to find niche export markets less vulnerable to price pressures.
High energy economy
New Zealand is positively brimming with natural energy sources. Our extreme geography and dramatic climate provide the ingredients for large-scale hydropower production. Sitting on the Pacific Ring of Fire, we have access to geothermal energy and our wind resources are plentiful.
As a nation we’re resourceful and our extensive farming and forestry industries are no exception, providing biomass for heat generation, electricity and biofuels.
And then there are our rich mineral and petroleum resources - only a small proportion of which have been tapped to date.
Primary industry events
Visit the following primary industry showcase events in 2011:
| Agritech events | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Agritech Field Day - includes a model dairy and organic farms |
Canterbury | 9 Sept 2011 |
| Agritech Field Days - includes a mini Field Day in Mystery Creek, a Tokanui model dairy farm open day and a visit to Innovation Waikato |
Waikato | 22 – 23 Sept 2011 |
| Poverty Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Show | Gisborne | 4 - 15 Oct 2011 |
| Forestry events | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Kawerau Woodfest and National Woodskills Competition | Kawerau and Rotorua | 2 - 4 Sept 2011 |
| Forest Industries Show | Rotorua | 5 - 7 Sept 2011 |
Find out more
To find out about business opportunities in the primary industries sector join the NZ 2011 Business Club
Green note
New Zealand is leading the Global Research Alliance of climate change research into agriculture and food production. The New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre is a key contributor to this research.
