Dairy sector tells next government to provide certainty and let farmers produce
August 15, 2026
Summarised by Centrist
DairyNZ has put six demands in front of the next government. Running through all of them is the same complaint. Farmers cannot invest confidently when regulation, environmental rules and infrastructure
priorities keep moving.
Chair Tracy Brown says dairy farmers need a policy that “rewards investment, encourages innovation” and allows them to continue producing world-class food.
DairyNZ’s priorities cover resource management and freshwater rules, properly funded biosecurity, workforce shortages, agricultural science, emissions technology and animal welfare.
The industry organisation says farmers have already spent heavily on planting, effluent systems, genetics, animal welfare and resilience. Its argument is that future policy should recognise those investments instead of repeatedly resetting the rules.
Biosecurity is one major concern. An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease or another serious livestock illness could shut export markets and inflict damage far beyond the farm gate. DairyNZ wants a properly resourced system capable of keeping threats out and responding quickly when incursions occur.
It also wants better access to workers and faster adoption of technology that could reduce emissions without forcing production offshore. That distinction matters. Shrinking New Zealand agriculture may lower emissions recorded here, but not necessarily global emissions if production shifts to less efficient countries.
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