1 August 2024
Before we dive into our main conference, I'd like to share some insights from a special leadership breakfast that took place earlier this morning.
We were honoured to have Minister for Regulation David Seymour and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard address our sectors leaders. Also present was Member for Parliament, Barbara Kuriger.
Minister Seymour delivered a keynote speech, outlining the government's commitment to reducing regulatory burdens while maintaining our high standards of safety and quality. We also heard key leadership insights from a range of sector leaders.
The highlight of the session was the announcement of the Terms of Reference for the upcoming Regulatory Review. In Ministers Seymour's words, "This review by the Ministry for Regulation will look at how we can speed up the process to get our farmers access to the sorts of safe, innovative products they need to remain competitive."
This review marks a significant step in our efforts to work with regulators to streamline processes and enhance competitiveness in our sector.
I wish to acknowledge the ministers for taking the time to speak to our industry leaders and for also getting out to the regions to listen to our members concerns and the opportunities to improve our sector and the wider economy.
We have common goals. To innovate and grow New Zealand; to reduce red tape as we maintain New Zealand's amazing farming and food safety reputation, which underpins our export success. The review aims to find a balance between efficient regulation and the need for access to new technologies and innovations that will keep our industry globally competitive. The regulator has an important role to play and they also need the latest science and tools for the job.
The announcement demonstrates the government's recognition of the challenges we face and their commitment to working with us to find solutions. Our world is changing, and innovation is key. This aligns perfectly with our conference theme of ‘Pioneering Future Pathways’.
We need the ability to pioneer innovation and to embrace new ideas. The review presents an excellent opportunity for members to contribute their expertise and experiences to shape a regulatory environment that supports innovation and growth while upholding our high standards.
As we proceed with our conference today, I encourage all of you to consider how we can best engage with this review process to ensure our industry's needs are met.
The dialogue initiated this morning between industry leaders and government ministers sets a positive tone for collaborative problem-solving, which we aim to continue throughout this conference and beyond.
Now lets get into the conference.
The past year, 2023/24, has been a pivotal reset period for both our organisation and the sector at large. There hasn't been a better time in to take stock of the changes, challenges, and opportunities before us.
In a year of significant change, with a completely new Government, new leadership, with a new Chief Executive, and a diverse range of members, we have been able to make significant progress on issues we’ve been working on for a very long time. As an association, we've covered an extensive list of members' needs over the past 12 months, despite being only a small team of three full time equivalent members.
Headwinds have been led by high interest rates but also included geopolitical uncertainty, cost of living and inflation pressures, hitting companies, farmers and communities alike. These pressures result in many of us questioning the value we get for the services we pay for. This question on value is relevant for every New Zealand business and particularly to membership organisations such as ours. Just like you, we have been working hard to ensure we can answer this question and a significant amount of the snapshots that Liz will present shortly and later at our AGM should reassure you all of the value you're receiving from your membership with us. Showing leadership on behalf of our members is front of mind and we continue to work incredibly hard on your behalf.
Looking ahead, we have set out three primary focus areas for our members this year:
Create value
Our first priority is to provide ongoing value to members.
With a new Chief Executive, we've first looked to our core, re-engaged across our membership to pinpoint what constitutes value and what matters most.
Unsurprisingly, regulatory issues remain the top priority. We've also delved into the future, focusing on leadership, sustainability, strategic partnerships, industry knowledge transfer and succession planning.
Support Regulation
Our second priority area is Regulation. With a new government in place, we've taken a solution-focused approach to engagement. Thinking about where we can help show leadership and help own and support on the issues present.
It's been a significant year for bringing solutions to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM). The fact that our regulators are joining us here today, and at our summer conference, is a testament to our strong relationships and our shared desire to work together.
We warmly welcome the new Ministry for Regulation team here today and look forward to supporting their review. We see this review as an opportunity to focus on what truly matters. It's not about shortcuts or sacrificing safety. It is about finding ways to work efficiently within our constraints as a small country. It’s also about being able to access the innovations that our global counterparts can, so we are able to compete on a level playing field and adapt in a changing marketplace.
Then the third, Engage and Educate through a untied Members Voice
Elevating the stories of our members and showcasing what we do for New Zealand. We can only do that with your support, and we appreciate all the time you have spent to help the team elevate our story. A story that supports and feeds our economy and communities. Our Emerging Leaders have played a critical role in this as well, our future leaders in agriculture. They are committed to their roles and share their stories and passion for our industry. We have a number of them here today, and some have put their hand up to help run our conferences and workshops for the first time here in Wellington. They are:
Conference M.C: Clinton Prince Timekeeper: Matt Denton-Giles
Workshop leads: Nicole Morris and Lisa Lunn
Supporting our workshop this afternoon: Susie Dalgety and Sarah Dewes
Thanks for stepping up and making this a more dynamic and insightful day.
Looking forward, it’s an exciting time for our industry with numerous opportunities to add value. The country needs us. Our industry is set to continue to make significant contributions to New Zealand's economic growth, sustainability efforts, and global competitiveness in the agri-food sector.
We're committed to fostering innovation, promoting sustainable practices, and ensuring that our regulatory environment supports rather than hinders progress. Our goal is to balance the need for rigorous safety standards with the imperative to bring new, effective products and technologies to market efficiently.
In conclusion, we are proud of what we've achieved this year, and really excited about the future. It’s a great time to be in agriculture. By working together - industry, regulators, and stakeholders - we can pioneer pathways that will lead to a more prosperous, sustainable, and innovative future for animal and plant health in New Zealand.
Thank you all for your continued support and engagement. Let's make the most of this conference to share ideas, forge new partnerships, and chart our course for the year ahead.
Now I would like to introduce our first speak who will open the conference the Lawrence Meredith.
