Primary Industries Stories

Kiwi Stories

Primary Industries stories

BioTech New Zealand launches engineering biology group

The new group could help New Zealand researchers turn lab breakthroughs into medicines, materials and cleaner industrial processes faster.

By Mara Sugue • 4 min read • Last week

Robotics

Motueka kiwifruit growers boost automation amid labour woes

Labour shortages and export rule changes are pushing Motueka packhouses to automate more tasks as kiwifruit revenue is forecast to reach NZD $4.8 billion.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Last month

Agricultural Technology

Bovonic sales jump 50% as QuadSense expands overseas

Sales of QuadSense climbed more than 50 per cent in New Zealand as Bovonic prepares to scale the mastitis system in the UK and Ireland.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Fri, 21st Aug 2026

Supply Chain

Lyttelton Port announces $821m expansion

The upgrade will lift capacity for South Island exporters and add resilience, but customers will face higher charges at the port.

By RNZ • 5 min read • Mon, 17th Aug 2026

Agricultural Technology

New Zealand unveils nine industry-led school subjects

Students in Years 12 and 13 will gain school qualifications tied to jobs and training as the government seeks to ease skills shortages.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Tue, 11th Aug 2026

Robotics

Hawkes Bay gets storm ready and looking forward to major growth

Storm losses are accelerating investment in automation as Hawkes Bay orchards prepare to lift fruit throughput and exports amid rising demand.

By Staff Writer • 5 min read • Thu, 9th Jul 2026

Agricultural Technology

New Zealand needs to follow suit or risk being outbid and cut out of export sales

New rules in the EU could leave New Zealand growers outbid in export markets unless Parliament loosens gene-editing restrictions soon.

By Staff Writer • 3 min read • Sat, 4th Jul 2026

Agricultural Technology

Hectre wins two NZ Hi-Tech Awards for agritech innovation

The win underscores growing demand for imaging tools that cut fruit waste and help packhouses make faster, more accurate sorting decisions.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 3 min read • Wed, 3rd Jun 2026

Robotics

High tech operation attracts graduates to the packing shed

Automation in New Zealand packhouses is opening up graduate careers and strengthening the horticulture sector's resilience against global shocks.

By Staff Writer • 6 min read • Sat, 16th May 2026

Agricultural Technology

Aimer Farming wins NZD $600,000 for AI pasture tools

Government backing will help more than 10,000 farmers use AI pasture tools that speed grazing and feed decisions across New Zealand farms.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Wed, 6th May 2026

Software-as-a-Service

Christchurch AI platform Caitlyn shines at AWS re:Invent

Christchurch-built AI platform Caitlyn stars at AWS re:Invent, showcasing secure, explainable enterprise search for sensitive data.

By Kaleah Salmon • 4 min read • Thu, 18th Dec 2025

Agricultural Technology

Gene study could cut chemical use by 80% in NZ wine sector

Lincoln University's genomic study aims to cut chemical use in New Zealand vineyards by up to 80%, boosting sustainable wine production and reducing costs.

By Melvin Hipolito • 5 min read • Tue, 15th Jul 2025

Agricultural Technology

Agriculture sector ‘needs to up its game’

WorkSafe says a preventable quad bike rollover that killed a Tararua farmhand should spur stronger safety checks across agriculture.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Mon, 9th Jun 2025

Agricultural Technology

Region plagued with water restrictions investigates massive dam

A government grant will test whether Hawke's Bay can revive a controversial dam scheme after years of water shortages and legal setbacks.

By Linda Hall • 5 min read • Fri, 6th Dec 2024

Data Analytics

Waikato University & Company-X join forces on AI project

A partnership between the University of Waikato and Company-X aims to enhance research impact in transport and infrastructure, boosting decision-making efficiency.

By Catherine Knowles • 3 min read • Thu, 10th Oct 2024

Agricultural Technology

Property remains New Zealand’s largest industry

The sector now accounts for 15% of New Zealand's GDP, with 235,030 jobs and wider economic activity worth GBP £72 billion in 2022.

By Michael Curreen • 2 min read • Wed, 11th Sep 2024

Application Performance Monitoring

Onside unveils new biosecurity tech to protect NZ's primary sector

New Zealand's agri-tech firm Onside has rolled out a biosecurity app mapping 16,000 rural properties, enhancing monitoring and compliance across primary industries.

By Kaleah Salmon • 4 min read • Thu, 22nd Aug 2024