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The Spinoff
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Spinoff
Fonterra boss nabbed science and tech advisory role after texting PM
A Fonterra manager with no scientific background was announced as a member of the PM's science and technology advisory council in May. Documents released under the Official Information Act show she had sent Christopher Luxon a text message to tell him she was keen for the gig to 'support this national mission'. When the makeup of the prime minister's science, innovation and technology advisory council – designed to advise the government on where to direct scientific funding to ' drive economic growth' – was announced in May, some scientists expressed concern that half of the six members came from agriculture backgrounds and had no academic scientific experience. One of those was Komal Mistry-Mehta, chief innovation and brand officer at Fonterra, who, an Official Information Act request has now revealed, was appointed after she texted the prime minister to say she was keen to support the 'national mission'. The establishment of the science, innovation and technology advisory council was announced in January 2025, alongside some of the 'most significant science reforms in three decades '. Setting up the council was one of many recommendations made by the Science System Advisory Group, which was tasked with reviewing the science sector in May last year. The review recommended the group be made up of 'distinguished New Zealand scientists who are not institutional leaders, and individuals from the innovation sector and business'. In May 2025, the members of the advisory council were unveiled, including Sir Peter Gluckman, who led the science sector review, and John Roche, a dairy industry expert and former chief science adviser for the Ministry of Primary Industries, who was appointed deputy chair. Roche was also named as the prime minister's chief science adviser, ending a 310-day wait for a replacement for Dame Juliet Gerrard, who left the role in June 2024. Science, innovation and technology minister Shane Reti was appointed chair of the council, and $5.8m was set aside in the budget to fund its establishment and operation over the next five years. Half of the group's six members have backgrounds in dairy, though Roche is the only one with both agricultural and scientific expertise. Craig Piggott is the founder and head of Halter, an agri-tech company which develops smart-collars for cow and sheep herding, and before that he was working as a mechanical engineer for Rocket Lab, while Fonterra chief innovation and brand officer Komal Mistry-Mehta has held a number of high-level jobs at Fonterra, including heading the company's corporate venture branch, and has a background in law. Communications released to The Spinoff under the Official Information Act show that after the advisory council's establishment was announced on January 23, Mistry-Mehta texted Luxon on February 4 to let him know she was keen on securing a role within the council. 'I saw the recent Science & Technology changes and I think it's a positive step forward for New Zealand, and I'm a big believer in the laser focus on growth,' she wrote. 'As someone who is sharply focused on the commercialisation of R&D [research and development] globally, I wanted to reach out to let you know I would love to support this national mission on your council, or in whatever capacity that would be valuable.' Luxon replied eight days later, on the morning of February 12. 'That's awesome, Komal, thanks so much for stepping up,' he wrote back. Six minutes later, he forwarded Mistry-Mehta's text message to Reti, with the note: 'Komal leads Fonterra R&D. She won Young Exec of the Year a few years back.' A couple of months later, on May 8, the day after the council appointments were announced, Mistry-Mehta sent Luxon another text, telling him she was 'excited to get stuck into the council'. He replied 14 minutes later: 'You are going to be awesome, and thank you so much for stepping up for New Zealand.' Reuben Davidson, the Labour Party's science, innovation and technology spokesperson, told The Spinoff that there had been criticism from across the scientific community that the government's approach was 'all about the old economy'. 'A Fonterra appointment confirms that, with a healthy dose of cronyism,' he said. 'Is it about finding the best people for our boards, or just handing out roles to those people who can text the PM directly?' Davidson said. 'We shouldn't need to OIA text messages from the PM to find out how critical board appointments are being made.' The New Zealand Association of Scientists co-president Lucy Stewart told The Spinoff that prioritising the commercialisation of research and development (R&D) was like holding a marathon with short-distance runners, and having no one to complete the rest of the race. The association was 'incredibly concerned' that certain areas of science would be defunded because they were not seen as financially viable, she said, as was seen with humanities and social sciences being cut from Marsden Fund grant eligibility in December last year. The review that recommended the establishment of the advisory council emphasised the importance of science, innovation and technology beyond its role in economic growth. 'One of the current government's five key economic strategies is to exploit the research and innovation system,' it said. 'But the system has much broader roles to play in terms of national wellbeing, and in stewardship of the nation's physical, environmental, social and human assets.' New Zealand has historically been 'not very good' at commercialising R&D, Stewart said, but not for lack of care – 'there's lots of variants of science where it's not very straightforward [to make a profit]. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.' She said her main concern over Mistry-Mehta's appointment was that if Fonterra was interested in working on science research, they should be investing in it themselves. 'The board is clearly weighted and being asked to do work that leans in a particular direction,' Stewart said. 'They're supposed to set the direction, and if they start deprioritising things – even if it gets changed in the next few years – it's going to be really damaging, and the impacts could be long term.'
RNZ News
11-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Ministry of Primary Industries forecasts export revenue increase of 12% for food, fibre sector
The $59.9b predicted for 2024-2025 is $3b higher than was projected in the last SOPI released in December. Photo: AFP / William West New Zealand's food and fibre export revenue is expected to have reached $59.9b in the year ending June 2025, an increase of 12 percent from the previous year. Despite warnings that global trade tensions may affect New Zealand's overall export performance, the Ministry of Primary Industries has confidence the food and fibre sector is resilient enough to grow further, forecasting $65.7b 2029. MPI has released its latest State and Outlook of Primary Industries (SOPI) report, which takes a look at the state of the sector in the 2024/25 year. In the year to June 2025, dairy export revenue was forecast to have increased by 16 percent on the previous year to a record high of $27b, meat and wool 8 percent to $12.3b, horticulture 19 percent to $8.5b, forestry 9 percent to $6.3b and seafood 2 percent $2.2b. The increases are a rebound on the previous year's figures, which showed a 7 percent dip in 2023-24 on the year prior. Global dairy prices in general have been much higher this year due to weak global supply from key exporting regions like the US, and increased import demand from China. The same was said of meat and wool, with tighter global production and strong demand increasing the export revenue. Apples and pears were a large driver of the horticulture increase, due to increases in export volume and average price. The agriculture and forestry minister Todd McClay said the numbers reflected the hard work farmers had put in. "Farmers are innovating and they're becoming more productive, but also New Zealand's reputation around the world for high-quality, safe food is increasing," he said. The $59.9b predicted for 2024-2025 is $3b higher than was projected in the last SOPI released in December. MPI's director-general Ray Smith. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone In the report, MPI's director-general Ray Smith said tighter global production across dairy and meat, coupled with some favourable weather in New Zealand, had helped to improve export revenue. "It's an outstanding result that surpasses by $3 billion forecasts made in December and reflects the continuing strength and popularity of Kiwi products across the world," Smith said. Arable export revenue faced a small 1 percent decline to $340m, with processed food and other products also declining by 1 percent to $3.4b. The arable decline was due to weak ryegrass seed demand and a poor clover season, with the report predicting next season's exports were likely to remain flat amid market uncertainty. Overall, the report said the food and fibre sector was performing well despite "geopolitical turbulence, shifting trade policies and elevated uncertainty". While the forecasts are higher than last year's tracking in the short-term, MPI has revised longer-term forecasts downward. Forecast tracking in the June 2024 SOPI predicted that by 2028 export revenue would be $66.56b, but this year's predicts $64.32b by 2028. Tariffs were cited as a contributor to the ongoing trade uncertainty, though the report expected sectors would continue to grow despite that. "While this uncertainty may soften global demand and affect New Zealand's export performance, the food and fibre sector is generally more resilient than others, given its lower sensitivity to price fluctuations where commodities make up the bulk of our export revenue." Agriculture and forestry minister Todd McClay. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone An expected weakening in the NZD/USD exchange rate could also offset the effects of global volatility. However, the report acknowledged that uncertainty made it more difficult than usual to achieve a consensus in economic projections. "I think the modelling is probably on the gentler side. They're being cautious around this," McClay said. The government has set a goal of doubling the value of New Zealand's total exports by 2034. McClay, who is also the trade minister, remained optimistic. He pointed to trade deals like those with the EU, United Arab Emirates and Gulf Cooperation Council which had recently come into force or were going to in the near future, as well as ongoing negotiations with India. "I've got negotiators up there talking to them at the moment. If we can crack that market, there will be extra opportunity for Kiwis, not only in the first year but in the decades to come," he said. "As long as farmers keep producing high-quality, safe foods, as a government we'll keep working to open the doors for them." McClay said during recent visits to China, he had observed there was increased demand for ready meals, and that was an opportunity for New Zealand to explore further. "They're looking for quality, they like the New Zealand story. They want to know where their food comes from, and they're willing to pay more for it." China remains New Zealand's largest market by a significant margin, with 31 percent of all exports. The United States is second on 12 percent, with Australia, the EU and Japan rounding out the top 5. China led in dairy, horticulture, forestry and seafood exports. The United States led in meat and wool exports, the EU in arable and Australia in processed food and other products. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
06-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Council Sets Fees And Charges For The Coming Year
Press Release – Kaipara District Council Starting 1 July 2025 and phased in over three years, domestic food businesses will be charged a Domestic Food Business Levy that Kaipara District Council will collect on the behalf of Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI).Council has adopted new Fees and Charges for the 2025/2026 year at its May meeting. Every year Council reviews its fees and charges. Fees and charges are used to support the operation and maintenance of a variety of services provided to the community. They are set on a user-pays basis so that the costs passed onto ratepayers are kept to a minimum where possible. Some adjustments have been made to the proposed Fees and Charges, which was consulted on from Monday 7 April until Wednesday 7 May 2025. Some key changes for 2025-2026 include: General increase: Most fees not set by statute are to increase by 2.2 percent to account for current inflation, in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Dog fees: The permit fee for keeping more than two dogs in a residential area are set at $180 (this is a one-off fee per property reflecting actual costs to permit). The non-working dogs annual registration fee is set at $78, and working dogs annual registration fee is set at $51, an increase of 2.2 percent (CPI). Temporary road closures: Bond for temporary road closures is set at $6000 to $10,000 for high risk events and an introduction of a temporary road closure inspections fee of $897. Elected members agreed that these fees may be waived for charitable and not-for-profit events. Starting 1 July 2025 and phased in over three years, domestic food businesses will be charged a Domestic Food Business Levy that Kaipara District Council will collect on the behalf of Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI). Fees and Charges for 2025/2026 come into effect from Tuesday 1 July 2025. You can read the full Fees and Charges document at
Scoop
06-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Council Sets Fees And Charges For The Coming Year
Council has adopted new Fees and Charges for the 2025/2026 year at its May meeting. Every year Council reviews its fees and charges. Fees and charges are used to support the operation and maintenance of a variety of services provided to the community. They are set on a user-pays basis so that the costs passed onto ratepayers are kept to a minimum where possible. Some adjustments have been made to the proposed Fees and Charges, which was consulted on from Monday 7 April until Wednesday 7 May 2025. Some key changes for 2025-2026 include: General increase: Most fees not set by statute are to increase by 2.2 percent to account for current inflation, in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Dog fees: The permit fee for keeping more than two dogs in a residential area are set at $180 (this is a one-off fee per property reflecting actual costs to permit). The non-working dogs annual registration fee is set at $78, and working dogs annual registration fee is set at $51, an increase of 2.2 percent (CPI). Temporary road closures: Bond for temporary road closures is set at $6000 to $10,000 for high risk events and an introduction of a temporary road closure inspections fee of $897. Elected members agreed that these fees may be waived for charitable and not-for-profit events. Starting 1 July 2025 and phased in over three years, domestic food businesses will be charged a Domestic Food Business Levy that Kaipara District Council will collect on the behalf of Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI). Fees and Charges for 2025/2026 come into effect from Tuesday 1 July 2025. You can read the full Fees and Charges document at View the council discussion and decision on the Kaipara District Council YouTube channel (from 1:15:52).
Otago Daily Times
05-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Pest seaweed running rife in Fiordland sounds
A diver inspects a crop of pest plant Undaria which is causing issues in Fiordland. (file photo) The rapid spread of an invasive seaweed in Fiordland waters has forced a regional council to adjust how it deals with the is a fast-spreading pest that has established itself around the country over the past 30 years, including in Fiordland's Te Puaitaha/Breaksea Sound and Tamatea/Dusky Sound. Environment Southland has now revealed it is shifting away from large-scale control at those sites because it cannot contain it under existing budgets. Instead, it will target new infestations and concentrate on high-risk anchorages and moorings. 'This change will enable an increase of surveillance trips to high-risk areas and to act quickly if any new infestations are found - within existing budgets and resources,' council team leader marine Kathryn McLachlan said. The decision was made by a governance group which includes the council, the Ministry of Primary Industries and the Department of Conservation, with support from Fiordland Marine Guardians. The new approach had already been successful at Taiari/Chalky Inlet in 2019, with the area declared free of the pest last year, McLachlan said. Guardians chair Dr Rebecca McLeod said while the previous goal was to contain the plant to an area until eradication technology could be developed, it had now spread extensively throughout the two sounds. 'We appreciate that this incursion has now reached a size where efforts to reduce its spread and reduce the biomass are no longer effective.' The focus was now on containing Undaria within the two fiords and making sure new incursions were detected quickly, she said. Undaria competes with native species and travels by attaching onto ship hulls. Fiordland Marine Guardians urged operators entering Fiordland to check their hulls and gear were clean, and reminded that all vessels entering the region were required to hold a clean vessel pass from the council. The plant was not believed to have reached Fiordland until 2010, when a single mature plant was found in Te Puaitaha/Breaksea Sound. Environment Southland said it was also doing control work at Easy Harbour on Rakiura/Stewart Island. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
