DINZ chatted with Jamie Ward, who is leaving AgResearch in early December after almost 28 years to take up a position with Fish & Game, overseeing their Central Otago district as Operations Manager. In addition to managerial work, the job will include biodiversity, habitat improvement and stakeholder engagement. He will be based in Wanaka.

It has been a busy month for visiting delegations, with two delegations, one from the German Parliament and one from Hanpure, South Korea’s largest importer of New Zealand velvet, visiting farms in the North and South islands, respectively.

On 1 November, NIWA released its seasonal climate outlook for Nov – Jan 2025, predicting a slightly above 50 percent chance of a La Niña developing, though current predictions are for a phase with shorter and weaker than normal La Niña thresholds. 

With the return of a Trump administration, uncertainty looms over U.S. trade policies, including the risk of new tariffs on imported goods.

Uncertainty around market access of New Zealand frozen velvet and China-led stockpiling, followed by the cheaper selling of product by a large-scale importer, has created headwinds this velvet selling season, but the future is positive, says Tony Cochrane, DINZ board velvet and co-products representative and PGG Wrightson national deer and velvet manager.

Meet and Greet: Damon Paling | Industry News: A leader to many, Fair game, Zooming in on elk, Stag sale calendar 2024/25 | DINZ News: RAP seeks input, Advance Parties facilitators gather at High Peak | Venison: New chapter, No quarter spared | NZDFA: Diverse lineup, Tick talk | On Farm: Hunkering down for good, Livestock contracts help cashflow lease | Animal Health: A look ahead to fawning | Recipe: Venison Cornish pasties