August 25, 2025 • 7 mins
Alan Caughey of Wool Impact looks ahead to meeting over the next couple of days to discus the state of the wool industry.
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Speaker 1 (00:13):
Welcome back to the muster. Andy coy is Chief executive
of Wool Impact. There's a couple of meetings happening down
here in the South over the next couple of days
regarding the state of the wool industry. Andy, Welcome to
the muster. Good morning, the state of wool. How do
we fix it to be blunt?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
It's no mean task, it's a challenge. But WILL Impact
has been stood up by the government and five of
the meat companies and WILL works to restore the profitability
of the strong wall sector. So we're here as an
organization facilitating change and one of the fundamental things that
we're undertaking is moving us from our commodesty approach to
(00:55):
transacting WILL to segmenting it into market categories and connecting
with brands both on shore, domestically in New Zealand and internationally.
And so these road shows are an opportunity for growers
who you know, there's a lot of skepticism around there
around the future WILL, but we're actually very excited because
(01:17):
we've identified new market opportunities that are outside the normal
categories where wool is transacted. And what we're doing through
these four grower meetings is sharing with growers. What we
what's possible if we worked collectively together and look at
a values based supply chain, connecting with brands domestically and internationally,
(01:40):
back to growers and growth groups here in New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
You said, then facilitating change. Does that refer to the
story about New Zealand will overseas of the consumer.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
That's a part of it, But actually it's finding markets
that are relevant and appropriate for wool. What we've identified
through our market insights is that the world's wakening up
to the issues that are associated with human health associated
with microplastics and voc So there's a human human health
(02:13):
aspect and there's also environmental component of what synthetics are
doing to our environment. Now, we've identity specifically targeted the
commercial office centterials because that's where they're seeing up to
fifty percent of Americans have health and ailments that are
associated with the materials that they surround themselves and their offices.
(02:35):
So we have said, look, what is actually part of
a solution. You can create cleanness, safer, healthier work environments
and home environments by surrounding yourself with natural fibers, and
we believe wool is part of that solution. So we've
partnered with a company called Gentler and Ganster are the
world's largest architect and design agency, and they see will
(02:58):
as part of their solution to getting to carbon neck
carbon zero across their two billion square feet of office
spaces that they manage by twenty thirty. So for us,
we're aligning with gens in that commercial office environment looking
at flooring, acoustics and upholstery into a market that's completely
(03:20):
new to Wolf.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
So when you try to counterac synthetics, which is anywhere
and everywhere as far as clothing these days, is that
what we need to do to about greenhouse gases and
all the effects that are happening on the environment as such, Yes.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I think there's a max. We've got to look at
the positives. Well, you know people consumers are well in
form now around microplastics and health issues associated with synthetic materials,
and so we need to look at the positives and
look at this as a value proposition rather than a
cost Yes, well may cost a bit more, but also
(03:54):
that needs to be passed back to the growth and
what we're acknowledging. So we've got Minister Patterson coming along.
There's the Associate Minister for Agriculture, and he's going to
be talking around about the government policy of preferencing wall
and government buildings. Now, this was done first and foremost
to benefit the occupants in the buildings and have less
(04:16):
environmental impact, just reinforcing what I said before. But the
flow on benefit to that is that it's going to
bolster production opportunities for domestic manufacturing companies. And we're looking
at doubling a domestic consumption of stromble from fifteen thousand
tons to thirty thousand tons in the next five years.
(04:36):
And this is working with new and innovative companies that
have come into wool because they see it as a
natural fiber solution. The recourse of all that is that
you're going to have an increase in demanded value for
our strong wool.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
And do you think we can look at bipartisan agreement
in Parliament regarding will and government buildings. I mean it
sounds good in theory. Are we going to change in
governments and all of a sudd on the script can change.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
No, this is it's across all parties. All parties have
supported this bill we're now transacting. Kangora has placed their
first contract with Bremworth and that's going into nine hundred homes.
So this is happening, it's real, it's live. It was
introduced by the government in April, it was implemented on
(05:24):
the first of July, and we're transacting now.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
So to the cheven B final listening to this, who's
given up on cross crossbred war Endy, what would you
say to them?
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Hang far come and listen to our presentations because we've
got people coming along to these grow meetings with a
pathway from brands through the value chain, through to growers
explaining what they're doing to connect you as a farmer
to international markets and to these domestic brands. And these
(05:57):
are brands that are wanting to align with recognized growers
and they want traceability, transparency and they want to build relationships.
So coming back to your point earlier, Andy, there is
an opportunity to tell our New Zealand strongwold story. But
in addition to that, they're wanting product with real integrity.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
So those meetings over the next couple of days, Andy,
the times for them in the locations.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
The first two meetings are tomorrow in Southland. We're at
the Weimerhaker Community Center, from nine thirty to eleven thirty
and then in the Moster and Community Center from two
thirty to four point thirty. And then we've got two
more meetings on Thursday in Dale k Luther at nine
thirty and in Middle March at two thirty. So look
(06:46):
welcome people to come along. We're there to be challenged.
We want growers to leave feeling inspired that there's actually
a whole lot of investment and initiatives underway at the
moment that had been being being created and established in
support of the strong wall sector. So we're very positive,
but we want growers to come along and listen and
(07:09):
understand what we're presenting to help them justify their decision
for staying with wool.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Andy coy thanks very much for your time on the
Master this afternoon.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Thanks Andy.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Again, Andy Coy of will impact those meeting times again
tomorrow why Mahak Community Center at nine thirty in the morning,
mos Burn Community Center two thirty in the avo and
on Thursday bow Cloth at the Town and Country Club
at nine thirty a Middle March Community Center at two
thirty up next away to close burnd Station Grant Disaster.
(07:41):
McMaster
Welcome back to the muster. Andy coy is Chief executive
of Wool Impact. There's a couple of meetings happening down
here in the South over the next couple of days
regarding the state of the wool industry. Andy, Welcome to
the muster. Good morning, the state of wool. How do
we fix it to be blunt?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
It's no mean task, it's a challenge. But WILL Impact
has been stood up by the government and five of
the meat companies and WILL works to restore the profitability
of the strong wall sector. So we're here as an
organization facilitating change and one of the fundamental things that
we're undertaking is moving us from our commodesty approach to
(00:55):
transacting WILL to segmenting it into market categories and connecting
with brands both on shore, domestically in New Zealand and internationally.
And so these road shows are an opportunity for growers
who you know, there's a lot of skepticism around there
around the future WILL, but we're actually very excited because
(01:17):
we've identified new market opportunities that are outside the normal
categories where wool is transacted. And what we're doing through
these four grower meetings is sharing with growers. What we
what's possible if we worked collectively together and look at
a values based supply chain, connecting with brands domestically and internationally,
(01:40):
back to growers and growth groups here in New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
You said, then facilitating change. Does that refer to the
story about New Zealand will overseas of the consumer.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
That's a part of it, But actually it's finding markets
that are relevant and appropriate for wool. What we've identified
through our market insights is that the world's wakening up
to the issues that are associated with human health associated
with microplastics and voc So there's a human human health
(02:13):
aspect and there's also environmental component of what synthetics are
doing to our environment. Now, we've identity specifically targeted the
commercial office centterials because that's where they're seeing up to
fifty percent of Americans have health and ailments that are
associated with the materials that they surround themselves and their offices.
(02:35):
So we have said, look, what is actually part of
a solution. You can create cleanness, safer, healthier work environments
and home environments by surrounding yourself with natural fibers, and
we believe wool is part of that solution. So we've
partnered with a company called Gentler and Ganster are the
world's largest architect and design agency, and they see will
(02:58):
as part of their solution to getting to carbon neck
carbon zero across their two billion square feet of office
spaces that they manage by twenty thirty. So for us,
we're aligning with gens in that commercial office environment looking
at flooring, acoustics and upholstery into a market that's completely
(03:20):
new to Wolf.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
So when you try to counterac synthetics, which is anywhere
and everywhere as far as clothing these days, is that
what we need to do to about greenhouse gases and
all the effects that are happening on the environment as such, Yes.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I think there's a max. We've got to look at
the positives. Well, you know people consumers are well in
form now around microplastics and health issues associated with synthetic materials,
and so we need to look at the positives and
look at this as a value proposition rather than a
cost Yes, well may cost a bit more, but also
(03:54):
that needs to be passed back to the growth and
what we're acknowledging. So we've got Minister Patterson coming along.
There's the Associate Minister for Agriculture, and he's going to
be talking around about the government policy of preferencing wall
and government buildings. Now, this was done first and foremost
to benefit the occupants in the buildings and have less
(04:16):
environmental impact, just reinforcing what I said before. But the
flow on benefit to that is that it's going to
bolster production opportunities for domestic manufacturing companies. And we're looking
at doubling a domestic consumption of stromble from fifteen thousand
tons to thirty thousand tons in the next five years.
(04:36):
And this is working with new and innovative companies that
have come into wool because they see it as a
natural fiber solution. The recourse of all that is that
you're going to have an increase in demanded value for
our strong wool.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
And do you think we can look at bipartisan agreement
in Parliament regarding will and government buildings. I mean it
sounds good in theory. Are we going to change in
governments and all of a sudd on the script can change.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
No, this is it's across all parties. All parties have
supported this bill we're now transacting. Kangora has placed their
first contract with Bremworth and that's going into nine hundred homes.
So this is happening, it's real, it's live. It was
introduced by the government in April, it was implemented on
(05:24):
the first of July, and we're transacting now.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
So to the cheven B final listening to this, who's
given up on cross crossbred war Endy, what would you
say to them?
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Hang far come and listen to our presentations because we've
got people coming along to these grow meetings with a
pathway from brands through the value chain, through to growers
explaining what they're doing to connect you as a farmer
to international markets and to these domestic brands. And these
(05:57):
are brands that are wanting to align with recognized growers
and they want traceability, transparency and they want to build relationships.
So coming back to your point earlier, Andy, there is
an opportunity to tell our New Zealand strongwold story. But
in addition to that, they're wanting product with real integrity.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
So those meetings over the next couple of days, Andy,
the times for them in the locations.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
The first two meetings are tomorrow in Southland. We're at
the Weimerhaker Community Center, from nine thirty to eleven thirty
and then in the Moster and Community Center from two
thirty to four point thirty. And then we've got two
more meetings on Thursday in Dale k Luther at nine
thirty and in Middle March at two thirty. So look
(06:46):
welcome people to come along. We're there to be challenged.
We want growers to leave feeling inspired that there's actually
a whole lot of investment and initiatives underway at the
moment that had been being being created and established in
support of the strong wall sector. So we're very positive,
but we want growers to come along and listen and
(07:09):
understand what we're presenting to help them justify their decision
for staying with wool.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Andy coy thanks very much for your time on the
Master this afternoon.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Thanks Andy.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Again, Andy Coy of will impact those meeting times again
tomorrow why Mahak Community Center at nine thirty in the morning,
mos Burn Community Center two thirty in the avo and
on Thursday bow Cloth at the Town and Country Club
at nine thirty a Middle March Community Center at two
thirty up next away to close burnd Station Grant Disaster.
(07:41):
McMaster
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