Latest news with #SOS:SaveOurSheep
Scoop
12-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Wool Carpet Decision A ‘Parachute' For Farmers
Press Release – Federated Farmers 'Our wool industry is in major freefall, and this move from Kinga Ora is the parachute we desperately need,' Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Toby Williams says. Kāinga Ora's decision to use wool carpet in its social housing is a massive win for wool growers but won't be enough to save the industry on its own, Federated Farmers says. 'Our wool industry is in major freefall, and this move from Kāinga Ora is the parachute we desperately need,' Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Toby Williams says. 'This will slow our drop a bit but, in reality, what we really need now is an updraft to lift wool back up into being the number-one fibre globally. 'It's certainly a massive step in the right direction, though, and we're very pleased with the announcement yesterday.' Williams says Kāinga Ora is New Zealand's largest landlord, so its contract has the capability to soak up large volumes of wool, which in turn will help drive up prices. As well as transitioning to using wool carpet in its new social housing, Kāinga Ora will also use wool carpet in existing homes if the whole house needs recarpeting, such as when renovating older properties. The decision comes after a recent Request for Proposal (RFP) inviting both wool and nylon carpet providers to tender for the supply of carpet and underlay in its properties. 'Last year Federated Farmers slammed Kāinga Ora for initially deciding to categorically rule out using woollen carpets in its social housing,' Williams says. 'Our homegrown wool is an incredible product and it beggared belief that Kāinga Ora weren't even giving wool the chance to compete against nylon products. 'That was a total slap in the face for struggling Kiwi sheep farmers and rural communities, and we made it very clear it was a ridiculous, short-sighted decision. 'It's great they saw sense and allowed wool to have a crack – and even better that a wool provider has won the contract. 'It just goes to show that when wool is given a fair chance, it comes out on top as a natural, sustainable and renewable alternative to cheap and nasty plastic alternatives.' Williams says the decision is the result of a massive collaborative effort across the entire wool industry. 'Federated Farmers and other groups have been working really hard for years to get the Government engaged with, and listening to, wool growers. 'We recently launched our SOS: Save Our Sheep campaign to hammer home the message that we need urgent action if we're to keep our sheep and wool industry from collapsing entirely. 'Farmers are sick of woolly ideas – they want solid actions like this. 'It just shows that strong leadership from the Government can be a factor in restoring confidence to our embattled wool industry.' Williams says the housing agency's decision is also a big step forward for environmental sustainability. 'Using cheap, nasty plastic carpets might save a few bucks, but at what cost to the environment? 'If Kāinga Ora had picked a fossil fuel-derived synthetic carpet over a sustainable New Zealand-grown woollen product, just because it's cheaper, it would have been a disaster.' Williams says he's also really pleased that high-quality, sustainable Kiwi wool will be in the homes of some of New Zealand's most vulnerable tenants. Kāinga Ora will transition to using wool carpet in its new homes from 1 July 2025, when the supply arrangements come into effect.
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Wool Carpet Decision A ‘Parachute' For Farmers
Kāinga Ora's decision to use wool carpet in its social housing is a massive win for wool growers but won't be enough to save the industry on its own, Federated Farmers says. "Our wool industry is in major freefall, and this move from Kāinga Ora is the parachute we desperately need," Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Toby Williams says. "This will slow our drop a bit but, in reality, what we really need now is an updraft to lift wool back up into being the number-one fibre globally. "It's certainly a massive step in the right direction, though, and we're very pleased with the announcement yesterday." Williams says Kāinga Ora is New Zealand's largest landlord, so its contract has the capability to soak up large volumes of wool, which in turn will help drive up prices. As well as transitioning to using wool carpet in its new social housing, Kāinga Ora will also use wool carpet in existing homes if the whole house needs recarpeting, such as when renovating older properties. The decision comes after a recent Request for Proposal (RFP) inviting both wool and nylon carpet providers to tender for the supply of carpet and underlay in its properties. "Last year Federated Farmers slammed Kāinga Ora for initially deciding to categorically rule out using woollen carpets in its social housing," Williams says. "Our homegrown wool is an incredible product and it beggared belief that Kāinga Ora weren't even giving wool the chance to compete against nylon products. "That was a total slap in the face for struggling Kiwi sheep farmers and rural communities, and we made it very clear it was a ridiculous, short-sighted decision. "It's great they saw sense and allowed wool to have a crack - and even better that a wool provider has won the contract. "It just goes to show that when wool is given a fair chance, it comes out on top as a natural, sustainable and renewable alternative to cheap and nasty plastic alternatives." Williams says the decision is the result of a massive collaborative effort across the entire wool industry. "Federated Farmers and other groups have been working really hard for years to get the Government engaged with, and listening to, wool growers. "We recently launched our SOS: Save Our Sheep campaign to hammer home the message that we need urgent action if we're to keep our sheep and wool industry from collapsing entirely. "Farmers are sick of woolly ideas - they want solid actions like this. "It just shows that strong leadership from the Government can be a factor in restoring confidence to our embattled wool industry." Williams says the housing agency's decision is also a big step forward for environmental sustainability. "Using cheap, nasty plastic carpets might save a few bucks, but at what cost to the environment? "If Kāinga Ora had picked a fossil fuel-derived synthetic carpet over a sustainable New Zealand-grown woollen product, just because it's cheaper, it would have been a disaster." Williams says he's also really pleased that high-quality, sustainable Kiwi wool will be in the homes of some of New Zealand's most vulnerable tenants. Kāinga Ora will transition to using wool carpet in its new homes from 1 July 2025, when the supply arrangements come into effect.
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Federated Farmers Launches ‘SOS: Save Our Sheep' Campaign
Press Release – Federated Farmers In just one generation New Zealand has lost over two-thirds of our national flock, reducing from over 70 million sheep in 1982 to fewer than 25 million sheep today. Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, SOS: Save Our Sheep, calling for urgent action to halt the collapse of New Zealand's sheep industry. 'Once the backbone of New Zealand's economy, sheep are fast becoming an endangered species in this country,' Federated Farmers meat & wool chair Toby Williams says. 'Each year we're losing tens of thousands of hectares of productive farmland. Where sheep and lambs once grazed, pine trees are taking their place. 'Sheep farming is at a real crossroads. That's why farmers are sending out an urgent SOS to save our sheep – and the Government need to answer that call before it's too late.' In just one generation New Zealand has lost over two-thirds of our national flock, reducing from over 70 million sheep in 1982 to fewer than 25 million sheep today. Sheep numbers are rapidly plunging with almost a million sheep disappearing every year. 'If that trend continues, we're not going to have any sheep left in our country within two decades. We'll just have hills plastered in nothing but pine trees,' Williams says. 'That would be a huge loss for our country – not just for our economy, but for our cultural identity and rural communities too.' Williams says the number one driver of sheep farming's collapse is clear: carbon forestry. 'New Zealand's climate change policies are badly broken, and it's gotten to the point where food production and the viability of our rural communities are being threatened. 'The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is effectively subsidising pine trees to offset fossil fuel emissions, and that's pushing sheep farmers off the land, never to return. 'We're the only country in the world that allows 100% carbon offsetting through forestry within our ETS. 'Most other countries have recognised this as a significant risk and have quite rightly set policies to restrict it – so New Zealand is way out of step with international norms.' Between 2017 and 2024, 260,000 hectares of sheep and beef country were swallowed up by pines. 'That's not because forestry is necessarily a better use of the land, but because Government policy makes it more profitable to plant pine trees than to farm sheep,' Williams says. 'Climate policy is trumping food production. We're blindly sacrificing rural jobs, local processing infrastructure, and sustainable red meat exports at the altar of carbon offsetting. 'Unfortunately, the Government aren't doing enough to stop the relentless march of pine trees across productive farmland – and if they don't act soon, it will be too late.' Federated Farmers is now calling on the Government to urgently review the ETS and fix the rules to either limit or stop the offsetting of fossil fuel emissions with forestry. Williams says New Zealanders need to ask themselves a simple question: do we still value our sheep industry? 'Because if the answer is yes, we need to act now, and act fast, before it's too late.'
NZ Herald
26-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Far North news in brief: Northland councils skip water test comp; Save our Sheep
Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, SOS: Save Our Sheep, calling for urgent action to halt the collapse of New Zealand's sheep industry. In just one generation NZ has lost more than two-thirds of our national flock, reducing from over 70 million sheep in 1982 to fewer than 25 million sheep today, the federation said. Federated Farmers is now calling on the Government to urgently review the ETS and fix the rules to either limit or stop the offsetting of fossil fuel emissions with forestry. Scholarship applications Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) is calling for scholarship applications for the 2025 HortNZ Leadership Programme run in partnership with Rural Leaders. The initiative aims to equip emerging leaders in the sector with skills, tools and the confidence to lead change and innovation in horticulture. The programme, recently refreshed to reflect the changing demands of the sector, offers participants a practical, hands-on development experience. Applications are open now and close on Sunday, July 6. For more information and to apply, visit Most trusted charity New Zealanders have voted Hato Hone St John as one of the Most Trusted Charities for 2025, in the Reader's Digest annual Trusted Brand Awards for the 12th time. Hato Hone St John chief executive Peter Bradley says the recognition is deeply moving and a reflection of the trust New Zealanders place in the organisation during life's most critical moments. 'Being named one of NZ's Most Trusted Charities is incredibly humbling. It's not something we take for granted – it's a powerful reminder of the responsibility we continue to carry after 140 years of St John being alongside NZ communities,' he said.
NZ Herald
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Listen to The Country online: Save Our Sheep with Federated Farmers' Toby Williams
Today on The Country radio show, host Jamie Mackay catches up with Federated Farmers' meat and wool chairman Tobu Williams to talk about a new campaign called Save Our Sheep, aimed at halting the collapse of New Zealand's sheep industry. Also, be in to win a Stihl MZ182 chainsaw. On with the show: Toby Williams: Federated Farmers' meat and wool chairman launches a new campaign, SOS: Save Our Sheep, calling for urgent action to halt the collapse of New Zealand's sheep industry.
