Registrations have opened for the Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s (B+LNZ) Western North Island Showcase and Annual Meeting, held in New Plymouth, Taranaki on Thursday 26 March 2020. Join us for an exciting, full day programme of events to update farmers on key industry initiatives and issues. An invite will be sent to all farmers next week.
The overarching theme for the day will be “Positioning the Sector for the Future”. This is a great opportunity to gather and meet key influencers in New Zealand’s primary industry and discuss our rapidly changing sector, as well as get an in-depth look at some of our key initiatives taking place.
The formal Annual Meeting itself is on 26 March and will run from 11am at The Devon Hotel and Conference Centre at 390 Devon Street East, New Plymouth.
In addition to the formal Annual Meeting, the day will consist of the following:
- An update from the Market Development Team focused around collaboration across the sector highlighting key initiatives underway. Get an update on progress on Taste Pure Nature since it launched in California last year and plans for China this year, with examples of collaboration with the processing companies. Also hear a summary of B+LNZ’s latest report, ‘Shaping the Future of New Zealand’s Red Meat Sector’, and its significance for our sector.
- An update on major environment policies including climate change, water and biodiversity, their implications for sheep & beef farmers and what B+LNZ is doing on farmers behalf. We will also outline work B+LNZ is doing to prepare tools so farmers can meet these challenges.
- An update on the launch of the B+LNZ Farming Excellence Strategy, RMPP Action Network and outline of what B+LNZ is doing to support our dairy levy payers.
In the afternoon there will be a field trip to MataRata Downs – a family farm co owned and operated by the award-wining farming partners Jarred and Sarah Coogan and Sarah’s parents Bryan and Helen Hocken. MataRata Downs is last year’s Supreme Winner of the Taranaki Ballance Farm Environment Awards run by the New Zealand Farm and Environment Trust. You’ll hear how the family farm is progressing through its succession, see this highly productive and environmentally sustainable farm first-hand, and hear this family’s experience in engaging with the public and building our sector’s social licence to farm.
In the evening, commencing at 7pm there will be a fundraising event for the Taranaki Rural Support Trust, with a keynote speaker talking about ‘wellbeing’. More information and keynote speaker to be confirmed shortly.
This is an opportunity for levy payers to see how their money is being invested, to ask questions, be inspired, meet their representatives and learn more about their organisation that is 'By Farmers for Farmers'.
The family that co-owns MataRata Downs (L-R): Bryan and Helen Hocken, their daughter Sarah Coogan and Jarred Coogan with their three children at the back.