Primary sector roadmap to boost export earnings

1 December – Māori primary sector plan

Manatū Ahua Matua (Ministry for Primary Industries), in partnership with Ngā Pouwhiro Taimatua (the Māori Primary Sector Forum) released a detailed plan to support the Māori food and fibre sector.

Māori primary sector plan – Rautaki mo te Taurikura – Embracing change for prosperity [PDF, 2.8 MB]

The way to a more sustainable economy

COVID-19 is a once-in-a-century public health crisis that has shaken societies and economies around the world. New Zealand will take time to recover from its impact.

As we restore our society and economy, we have an opportunity to rebuild better, in partnership with iwi/ Māori and industry. The food and fibres sector will be at the forefront of our export-led recovery and can lead the way to a more sustainable economy.

Our roadmap, Fit for a better world – accelerating our economic potential (released July 2020) sets out actions to bring together opportunities the Government considers will accelerate the productivity, sustainability, and inclusiveness of the primary sector, to deliver more value for all New Zealanders.

Fit for a better world – 2023 progress update [PDF, 7.1 MB]

Fit for a better world – 2022 progress update [PDF, 5.3 MB]

Fit for a better world – 2021 progress update [PDF, 2.8 MB]

Fit for a better world – accelerating our economic potential [PDF, 2.1 MB]

Working together to add value

Our roadmap will help ensure New Zealand rebuilds stronger and better, together.

It brings together actions, investment, and resources that will work together to accelerate the transformation we need. It spans all of the food and fibres sector and brings together significant opportunities to add value across the agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and marine, and forestry sectors.

The roadmap's themes

Our roadmap centres on 3 themes to boost productivity, sustainability, and inclusiveness.

Productivity: adding $44 billion in export earnings over the next decade (2020 to 2030) through a focus on creating value.
Sustainability: reducing our biogenic methane emissions to 10% below 2017 levels by 2030 and to between 24% and 47% below 2017 levels by 2050. Plus restoring New Zealand's freshwater environments to a healthy state within a generation.
Inclusiveness: employing 10% more New Zealanders in the food and fibre sector by 2030, and 10,000 more New Zealanders over the next four years.

How we will make the roadmap happen

We're working with the sector on rolling it out, including identifying how each of us can best contribute to its success. There is huge potential in this roadmap but it can only be achieved through a close partnership with government, industry, and Māori.

We've redirected existing funding to kick-start delivery of the roadmap in 2 areas:

using $11.6 million from the One Billion Trees Fund to invest in the 'Transforming Forestry and Wood Processing' initiative
bringing forward $84 million to upscale Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) to further boost innovation efforts.

Delivering the roadmap will need further funding in future years. Not all initiatives require – or are ready for – immediate funding.

Energy and momentum are building already to deliver the roadmap, with a number of sectors already working with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) on plans that support the delivery of the roadmap. These sectors include seafood, horticulture, and dairy.

Our roadmap is a response to both COVID-19 and the recommendations of the Primary Sector Council's vision and strategic outline. The roadmap shares its name with the council's vision – "Fit for a Better World".