September 8, 2026 • 4 mins
The Chair of DairyNZ talks about calving in the Waikato, RMA reform, freshwater farm plans, and the 2027 Ahuwhenua Trophy.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Tracey Brown is the chair of Dairy NZ. She's famous,
amongst other things, for farming beside Hobbiton. Hey, carving in
the Waikato region where you're based, Tracey, must be just
about done and dusted. How's the season treating you?
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Yeah, we're fairly well through now, Jamie.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
It's been a bit cold, a few too many frosts
for our liking up here, but sun's shining today, so
that's good. And I think most people in the Waikato
have had a reasonable sort of carving, but you shout
out to other farmers in other regions where it's been
a bit tougher with flooding and some late snow and whatnot,
so thinking about them.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
How are the moisture levels ahead of this impending super
El Niño?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Well, we've actually had quite a bit of rain over
the last week. So, yeah, it's a bit of an
interesting one, isn't it? We're not quite sure how the
season's going to roll, but certainly people are thinking about,
you know, what they need to do in terms of
feed and any extra planning around that, thinking about it early,
which is good.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
The government says its RMA reforms will cut red tape
for farmers. Do you think it's got the balance right?
I was listening to Chloe the other day. She doesn't
certainly think they have, and Steve Abel.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Yeah, well, I think, you know, Dairy NZ and the
primary sector, we've had the opportunity to have, you know,
some input and get some feedback on behalf of farmers
into this whole process. And we think the direction on
where it's landing is pretty encouraging. Farmers have been telling
us they want less paperwork, less red tape, and they
(01:35):
want to get on with farming. So we've been, you know,
Dairy NZ's certainly been asking for more kind of practical
ways of dealing with some of these issues. But we
do acknowledge that we still want strong environmental outcomes, Jamie.
And We do think it's possible that we can have
good environmental and good economic outcomes that will benefit all
(01:56):
of New Zealand. So we do think these reforms are
on the right track to achieving both.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Is it ditto for freshwater farm plans?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Yeah, so I think farm plans have taken quite a
long time to land and it's been a bit controversial
and a lot of discussion. We've consistently said that they
should focus on the risks at an individual farm level,
and of course every farm is different. And we think
the changes that are being proposed will kind of allow
(02:27):
for that difference. It's important in the new regs that
food production is being recognised as being important. From dairy's perspective, Damie,
most dairy farms will already have farm plans. So one
of the things we've pushed hard for is recognition of
those existing farms and, you know, through your milk processes
(02:51):
so that there's less duplication. We think that's going to
land pretty well. There should be a few bit less
consenting and, you know, farm plans will be used to
manage some of those risks. So, yeah, we think that's
pretty good where that's all kind of going to roll out, hopefully.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
OK, let's just finish quickly on the Ahu Whenua Awards.
Maori Farming, or Maori Incorporated Farming, is a huge business.
in this country and the ahu whenua awards reflect excellence
in maori farming this year it was horticulture entries are
open now for next year i think it's dairy and
then they rotate to sheep and beef in 2028 so
(03:32):
dairy nz supporting this you're obviously encouraging people to enter.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Yeah, I'm delighted to be involved with it this year, Jamie.
It's a really great programme that really showcases best farming
practices across New Zealand. So it's not just sort of
components around production and profit, but it's also really highlights
strong leadership, good.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Governance and really....
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Guardians of land and fauna are taking a really long-term
view around that. And so there's valuable lessons for all
farmers in that awards programme, I think.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Tracey Brown, chair of Dairy NZ, farming beside Hobbiton there
in Matamata. Did you go over the hill or across
the plains, whatever it is? I'm not that good on
my Waikato geography. To Morrinsville, to the footy club for
that Q & A rural leaders debate?
Speaker 4 (04:24):
No, I was out of town that night, so I couldn't, Jamie.
But we have got the rural issues debate coming up
on Wednesday the 30th. That's in Waikato as well, at
the Mystery Creek Centre. There'll be several hundred farmers and
industry stakeholders there that's being hosted by fed farmers, dairy
and seed and beef and lamb. So looking forward to
seeing a few farmers along at that and hearing the
(04:45):
candidates debate the key issues.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Indeed. Rightio, Tracey. Thanks for your time. Good luck with
the end of carving.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Thanks, Jamie.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Nice to chat.
Tracey Brown is the chair of Dairy NZ. She's famous,
amongst other things, for farming beside Hobbiton. Hey, carving in
the Waikato region where you're based, Tracey, must be just
about done and dusted. How's the season treating you?
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Yeah, we're fairly well through now, Jamie.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
It's been a bit cold, a few too many frosts
for our liking up here, but sun's shining today, so
that's good. And I think most people in the Waikato
have had a reasonable sort of carving, but you shout
out to other farmers in other regions where it's been
a bit tougher with flooding and some late snow and whatnot,
so thinking about them.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
How are the moisture levels ahead of this impending super
El Niño?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Well, we've actually had quite a bit of rain over
the last week. So, yeah, it's a bit of an
interesting one, isn't it? We're not quite sure how the
season's going to roll, but certainly people are thinking about,
you know, what they need to do in terms of
feed and any extra planning around that, thinking about it early,
which is good.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
The government says its RMA reforms will cut red tape
for farmers. Do you think it's got the balance right?
I was listening to Chloe the other day. She doesn't
certainly think they have, and Steve Abel.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Yeah, well, I think, you know, Dairy NZ and the
primary sector, we've had the opportunity to have, you know,
some input and get some feedback on behalf of farmers
into this whole process. And we think the direction on
where it's landing is pretty encouraging. Farmers have been telling
us they want less paperwork, less red tape, and they
(01:35):
want to get on with farming. So we've been, you know,
Dairy NZ's certainly been asking for more kind of practical
ways of dealing with some of these issues. But we
do acknowledge that we still want strong environmental outcomes, Jamie.
And We do think it's possible that we can have
good environmental and good economic outcomes that will benefit all
(01:56):
of New Zealand. So we do think these reforms are
on the right track to achieving both.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Is it ditto for freshwater farm plans?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Yeah, so I think farm plans have taken quite a
long time to land and it's been a bit controversial
and a lot of discussion. We've consistently said that they
should focus on the risks at an individual farm level,
and of course every farm is different. And we think
the changes that are being proposed will kind of allow
(02:27):
for that difference. It's important in the new regs that
food production is being recognised as being important. From dairy's perspective, Damie,
most dairy farms will already have farm plans. So one
of the things we've pushed hard for is recognition of
those existing farms and, you know, through your milk processes
(02:51):
so that there's less duplication. We think that's going to
land pretty well. There should be a few bit less
consenting and, you know, farm plans will be used to
manage some of those risks. So, yeah, we think that's
pretty good where that's all kind of going to roll out, hopefully.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
OK, let's just finish quickly on the Ahu Whenua Awards.
Maori Farming, or Maori Incorporated Farming, is a huge business.
in this country and the ahu whenua awards reflect excellence
in maori farming this year it was horticulture entries are
open now for next year i think it's dairy and
then they rotate to sheep and beef in 2028 so
(03:32):
dairy nz supporting this you're obviously encouraging people to enter.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Yeah, I'm delighted to be involved with it this year, Jamie.
It's a really great programme that really showcases best farming
practices across New Zealand. So it's not just sort of
components around production and profit, but it's also really highlights
strong leadership, good.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Governance and really....
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Guardians of land and fauna are taking a really long-term
view around that. And so there's valuable lessons for all
farmers in that awards programme, I think.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Tracey Brown, chair of Dairy NZ, farming beside Hobbiton there
in Matamata. Did you go over the hill or across
the plains, whatever it is? I'm not that good on
my Waikato geography. To Morrinsville, to the footy club for
that Q & A rural leaders debate?
Speaker 4 (04:24):
No, I was out of town that night, so I couldn't, Jamie.
But we have got the rural issues debate coming up
on Wednesday the 30th. That's in Waikato as well, at
the Mystery Creek Centre. There'll be several hundred farmers and
industry stakeholders there that's being hosted by fed farmers, dairy
and seed and beef and lamb. So looking forward to
seeing a few farmers along at that and hearing the
(04:45):
candidates debate the key issues.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Indeed. Rightio, Tracey. Thanks for your time. Good luck with
the end of carving.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Thanks, Jamie.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Nice to chat.
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