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Jamie Gray
Business Reporter

Business reporter, NZ Herald

We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.

Check out Jamie’s latest content
Strong demand driving NZ primary exports to record high
The Country

Strong demand driving NZ primary exports to record high

11 Jun 06:00 PM
ASB offers $150,000 interest-free loans for farm solar systems
The Country

ASB offers $150,000 interest-free loans for farm solar systems

09 Jun 11:51 PM

Farmers could expect to get payback from as early as the sixth year of generation.

NZAS to ramp up production early as hydro storage improves
The Country

NZAS to ramp up production early as hydro storage improves

02 Jun 10:40 PM

Higher lake levels mean the smelter can ramp up production earlier than expected.

Premium
$15b boost to NZ economy: Fonterra sets milk price forecast and earnings
The Country

$15b boost to NZ economy: Fonterra sets milk price forecast and earnings

28 May 09:15 PM

Fonterra forecasts a milk price range of $8-$11 per kg for the 2025/26 season.

Premium
A2 Milk silent on A$350m acquisition talk
The Country

A2 Milk silent on A$350m acquisition talk

27 May 12:37 AM

Australian media report says the company will soon make a move for manufacturing assets.

'Surpassed a significant milestone': Zespri hits $5b in kiwifruit sales
The Country

'Surpassed a significant milestone': Zespri hits $5b in kiwifruit sales

21 May 09:53 PM

Zespri sold a record 220.9 million trays, up from 164.2 million in 2023-24.

Premium
Dairy prices end NZ season on a flat note, will they stay high in 2026?
The Country

Dairy prices end NZ season on a flat note, will they stay high in 2026?

20 May 11:58 PM

The Global Dairy Trade auction ends flat as prices support Fonterra's $10/kg forecast.

Premium
Stock Takes: 'Unlikely to impact' - analyst downplays Fonterra-Bega legal dispute
The Country

Stock Takes: 'Unlikely to impact' - analyst downplays Fonterra-Bega legal dispute

15 May 09:00 PM

Analyst says risks in Fonterra-Bega legal tangle have been overstated.

Premium
Why Bremworth is returning to synthetic carpets after three years
The Country

Why Bremworth is returning to synthetic carpets after three years

09 May 12:56 AM

Bremworth will make synthetic carpets again, reversing a 2020 decision.

Premium
Stock Takes: Rain not enough to stop dry weather from hurting NZ power company earnings
The Country

Stock Takes: Rain not enough to stop dry weather from hurting NZ power company earnings

01 May 07:00 PM

Mercury, Meridian and Manawa are likely to be hit hardest by the earlier drought.

'Milestone' solar farm: Genesis powers 13,000 homes with new site
The Country

'Milestone' solar farm: Genesis powers 13,000 homes with new site

29 Apr 12:00 AM

Genesis says its new solar farm will produce enough power to supply Ashburton.

Premium
Fonterra says NSW court decision will not change Mainland sale plans
The Country

Fonterra says NSW court decision will not change Mainland sale plans

28 Apr 05:13 AM

Fonterra says plans to divest its global consumer businesses are unchanged.

US tariffs to hit Delegat Group's 2025 earnings
The Country

US tariffs to hit Delegat Group's 2025 earnings

27 Apr 10:23 PM

The wine company has lowered its earnings outlook due to a 10% tariff.

Premium
'Our planning laws are a mess': Top CEO on 'whims and fancies' stopping big projects
The Country

'Our planning laws are a mess': Top CEO on 'whims and fancies' stopping big projects

26 Apr 12:00 AM

Mike Fuge says that is not appropriate when we have such an important job ahead

Premium
Chicken exports normalising after flu outbreak – MPI
The Country

Chicken exports normalising after flu outbreak – MPI

20 Apr 07:00 PM

Chicken exports are getting back to normal, MPI says.

Premium
Stock Takes: Who’s lining up to buy Fonterra’s Mainland and how much is it worth?
The Country

Stock Takes: Who’s lining up to buy Fonterra’s Mainland and how much is it worth?

16 Apr 09:00 PM

Fonterra's Mainland sale process continues despite a turbulent sharemarket.

Premium
NZ hydro-power generation gets a boost
The Country

NZ hydro-power generation gets a boost

06 Apr 08:46 PM

Much-needed rain has taken some pressure off the national electricity grid.

Premium
Kiwi electric fence maker Gallagher takes full control of European unit
The Country

Kiwi electric fence maker Gallagher takes full control of European unit

03 Apr 10:00 PM

Gallahger Group has taken full control of Gallagher Europe to further expand the business.

Contact to appeal $230m Southland wind farm denial
The Country

Contact to appeal $230m Southland wind farm denial

26 Mar 09:13 PM

Contact will reapply for consent to build a 330MW wind farm near Wyndham, in Southland.

Meridian says Ruakākā solar farm will power half of Northland’s homes
The Country

Meridian says Ruakākā solar farm will power half of Northland’s homes

24 Mar 08:32 PM

Meridian Energy will proceed with its planned $226m solar farm near Whangārei.

Synlait returns to profit, beats forecast
The Country

Synlait returns to profit, beats forecast

23 Mar 08:34 PM

Synlait has beaten its first-half earnings forecast after going into the red last year.

Premium
S&P says Fonterra’s balance sheet can handle Mainland sale
The Country

S&P says Fonterra’s balance sheet can handle Mainland sale

21 Mar 01:55 AM

Fonterra's balance sheet will offset the impact of its planned sale Mainland, S&P says.

Premium
Stock Takes: Is gold a good bet?
The Country

Stock Takes: Is gold a good bet?

20 Mar 04:00 PM

Gold has hit a record high this week but is it a good investment?

Premium
Dairy farmers set for bumper earnings in 2025
The Country

Dairy farmers set for bumper earnings in 2025

20 Mar 04:09 AM

Farmers look set to receive a high milk price and dividend from Fonterra this year.

Fonterra’s first-half profit climbs to $729m
The Country

Fonterra’s first-half profit climbs to $729m

19 Mar 08:15 PM

Fonterra raises first half profit, dividend, keeps $10/kg milk price forecast

Premium
Contact’s rejected wind farm project will delay NZ energy transition, industry body warns
The Country

Contact’s rejected wind farm project will delay NZ energy transition, industry body warns

19 Mar 02:00 AM

The proposed wind farm was declined for being in an area of 'outstanding natural feature'.

Premium
Economy in line for $10 billion boost if farmgate milk price stays high
The Country

Economy in line for $10 billion boost if farmgate milk price stays high

18 Mar 02:31 AM

A back-to-back $10/kg milk price would put money in farmers' back pockets.

Premium
Hydro lake levels are at record lows, but that could quickly change
The Country

Hydro lake levels are at record lows, but that could quickly change

17 Mar 06:00 PM

Severe wind and rain forecast for the central and southern parts of the country this week.

Premium
Stock Takes: A trade sale for Mainland?
The Country

Stock Takes: A trade sale for Mainland?

13 Mar 04:00 PM

Australia’s Bega Group is a potential buyer due to existing Fonterra ties.

Fonterra reshuffles top management before sale
The Country

Fonterra reshuffles top management before sale

11 Mar 08:27 PM

The dairy co-op is preparing to divest its consumer business.

Premium
Market close: Dairy helps drive NZ stocks higher
The Country

Market close: Dairy helps drive NZ stocks higher

10 Mar 05:26 AM

NZ stocks close almost one percent higher after a late buying surge.

Premium
Why Fonterra’s latest outlook means big gains for dairy farmers
The Country

Why Fonterra’s latest outlook means big gains for dairy farmers

10 Mar 02:46 AM

Fonterra raised its 2025 earnings guidance to 55-75 cents per share.

Premium
Stock Takes: 25% tariffs loom leaving NZ market uneasy as trade uncertainties grow
The Country

Stock Takes: 25% tariffs loom leaving NZ market uneasy as trade uncertainties grow

06 Mar 04:00 PM

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare under pressure as analyst forecasts $100m in additional costs.

Premium
Will NZ farmgate milk prices hold?
The Country

Will NZ farmgate milk prices hold?

05 Mar 03:53 AM

Expectations of a $10/kg-plus milk price remain in place despite weak dairy auction.

Premium
Cashed-up a2 Milk beats market, pays maiden dividend
The Country

Cashed-up a2 Milk beats market, pays maiden dividend

17 Feb 01:46 AM

A2 Milk has surprised the market with a strong first-half performance.

A2 Milk first-half net profit up 7.6%, sets 8.5¢ dividend
The Country

A2 Milk first-half net profit up 7.6%, sets 8.5¢ dividend

16 Feb 08:06 PM

A2 Milk beats market expectations, ends half with net cash position of more than $1b.

Premium
Stock Takes: Will NZ corporate earnings offer green shoots for the economy?
The Country

Stock Takes: Will NZ corporate earnings offer green shoots for the economy?

13 Feb 04:00 PM

The reporting season gets fully underway next week. Will there be green shoots?

Premium
Westpac picks record $10.30/kg milk price for 2024/25
The Country

Westpac picks record $10.30/kg milk price for 2024/25

10 Feb 11:39 PM

Westpac said global dairy prices have generally held their ground.

Premium
Will a $10/kg milk price hinder Fonterra’s plan to sell consumer business?
The Country

Will a $10/kg milk price hinder Fonterra’s plan to sell consumer business?

09 Feb 04:00 PM

Fonterra's prices might be going up to $10 a kilo at the farm gate.

Premium
Trump trade wars: What impact tariffs will have on Kiwi businesses
The Country

Trump trade wars: What impact tariffs will have on Kiwi businesses

03 Feb 03:57 AM

New Zealand will feel the indirect impact of America's policy on world trade, experts say.

Premium
Stock Takes: Better times ahead for NZX-listed dairy companies?
The Country

Stock Takes: Better times ahead for NZX-listed dairy companies?

30 Jan 04:00 PM

Synlait is back in action after a terrible 2024, while trade tension overhangs FPH.

Work to start on NZ's biggest solar farm in 2025
The Country

Work to start on NZ's biggest solar farm in 2025

29 Jan 05:00 PM

It would create enough power to supply the equivalent of about 35,000 homes.

Premium
Where it all began: The origins of forestry, NZ’s third-largest export
The Country

Where it all began: The origins of forestry, NZ’s third-largest export

29 Jan 04:00 PM

Kaingaroa lies at the heart of New Zealand's forestry sector.

Premium
Down but not out: Fonterra's biggest business opportunity
The Country

Down but not out: Fonterra's biggest business opportunity

26 Jan 04:00 PM

Fonterra's Teh-han Chow says China remains the land of opportunity for Fonterra.

Premium
Tall Timber: NZ’s biggest 20 forestry companies
The Country

Tall Timber: NZ’s biggest 20 forestry companies

22 Jan 04:00 PM

Who are the companies behind New Zealand's third biggest export trade?

Premium
Dairy farmers forecast to get $4 billion boost from 'dream combo' of factors
The Country

Dairy farmers forecast to get $4 billion boost from 'dream combo' of factors

21 Jan 03:57 AM

December saw the highest milk solids collected for the month since December 2020.

Return to growth: MPI sees big lift in exports in 2025
The Country

Return to growth: MPI sees big lift in exports in 2025

11 Dec 05:00 PM

MPI expects to see a rebound in New Zealand's primary sector exports in 2025.

Fonterra upgrades milk price forecast to a record $10/kg
The Country

Fonterra upgrades milk price forecast to a record $10/kg

04 Dec 09:21 PM

Fonterra has upgraded its milk price to a mid-point of $10/kg.

NZX milk futures surpass $10/kg on China demand
Dairy

NZX milk futures surpass $10/kg on China demand

27 Nov 04:01 AM

'The market has improved, and it’s favourable for New Zealand.'

Premium
China's dairy boom is fading: What it means for Fonterra
The Country

China's dairy boom is fading: What it means for Fonterra

26 Nov 02:31 AM

Sales at the top three dairy companies have dropped by 9-13% in the first half of 2024.

What Trump 2.0 could mean for NZ agriculture
live
The Country

What Trump 2.0 could mean for NZ agriculture

24 Nov 10:51 PM

Rabobank says US President-elect Donald Trump's return could disrupt world trade.

Premium
Cashed up a2 Milk still looking for acquisitions
The Country

Cashed up a2 Milk still looking for acquisitions

22 Nov 04:40 AM

Acquisitions are still on a2 Milk's radar screen, despite the company's dividend plans.

Premium
A2 Milk rallies sharply on dividend news
The Country

A2 Milk rallies sharply on dividend news

21 Nov 08:27 PM

Concerns about China cast a shadow over share price.

Premium
Westpac predicts $10/kg milk price after another strong auction
The Country

Westpac predicts $10/kg milk price after another strong auction

20 Nov 02:37 AM

'We could end up with an extra $4b added to incomes.'

Premium
AgriZeroNZ says climate change solutions for agriculture will endure
The Country

AgriZeroNZ says climate change solutions for agriculture will endure

19 Nov 04:00 PM

Climate change initiatives for agriculture will go the distance, Wayne McNee says.

Premium
Stock Takes: Why a2 is out of favour, and a role reversal for Fonterra
The Country

Stock Takes: Why a2 is out of favour, and a role reversal for Fonterra

14 Nov 04:00 PM

Private equity is seen as a likely buyer for Fonterra's consumer business.

Premium
BNZ makes a case for $10/kg milk price
The Country

BNZ makes a case for $10/kg milk price

13 Nov 02:45 AM

BNZ says factors are building towards a $10/kg milkprice from Fonterra.

Premium
NZ farmers face better outlook, but China still a risk – RBNZ
The Country

NZ farmers face better outlook, but China still a risk – RBNZ

04 Nov 10:39 PM

Sentiment in the agriculture sector has improved since mid-2023.

NZ apple and pear revenue hits $2 billion
The Country

NZ apple and pear revenue hits $2 billion

22 Oct 04:00 PM

Future growth dependent on supportive economic and regulatory conditions.

Premium
Trap maker unleashes AI in the war against possums
The Country

Trap maker unleashes AI in the war against possums

22 Oct 02:20 AM

The AI-powered traps can accurately distinguish between target and non-target species.

Premium
Why Grant Watson is leaving Synlait
The Country

Why Grant Watson is leaving Synlait

21 Oct 03:17 AM

Grant Watson explains why he is leaving a newly recapitalised Synlait Milk.

Synlait CEO resigns after restructure
The Country

Synlait CEO resigns after restructure

20 Oct 08:26 PM

Grant Watson has resigned from newly-restructured Synlait Milk.

Hundreds of jobs to go as Timaru meatworks closure confirmed
The Country

Hundreds of jobs to go as Timaru meatworks closure confirmed

17 Oct 09:21 PM

Alliance has closed its Smithfield plant, and Australian recruiters are already in town.

Premium
NZ dairy farmers better-placed as season hits its peak
The Country

NZ dairy farmers better-placed as season hits its peak

16 Oct 02:36 AM

Increased dairy production and better milk prices have boosted on-farm earnings.

Premium
Stock Takes: Fonterra on a roll? Contact's play for Manawa
The Country

Stock Takes: Fonterra on a roll? Contact's play for Manawa

10 Oct 04:00 PM

Fonterra’s shares and units have performed strongly over the past 12 months.

Premium
Hydro reversal: Lake Pūkaki makes up for lost water
The Country

Hydro reversal: Lake Pūkaki makes up for lost water

08 Oct 04:00 PM

Favourable power generating conditions have put downward pressure on prices.

Premium
Stock Takes: A2 Milk's next move, Sir John Key's US lawsuit moves forward
The Country

Stock Takes: A2 Milk's next move, Sir John Key's US lawsuit moves forward

03 Oct 04:00 PM

Plus, Thames Water has a credibility issue with its debt crisis.

Premium
Will a clean slate change Synlait's fortunes?
The Country

Will a clean slate change Synlait's fortunes?

30 Sep 04:42 AM

Despite major repairs to its balance sheet, Synlait Milk still faces challenges.

Greenpeace takes Fonterra to task over grass-fed claims
The Country

Greenpeace takes Fonterra to task over grass-fed claims

29 Sep 10:32 PM

Greenpeace says it plans to sue Fonterra over Anchor's grass-fed claims.

Synlait plunges deeply into the red
The Country

Synlait plunges deeply into the red

29 Sep 08:26 PM

Newly restructured Synlait Milk's result hard to swallow, but follows unprecedented year.

'Gut-wrenching, heartbreaking': 600 Timaru workers face losing their jobs
The Country

'Gut-wrenching, heartbreaking': 600 Timaru workers face losing their jobs

27 Sep 01:06 AM

Alliance Group plans to shut its South Canterbury freezing works by the end of this year.

Premium
Cream of the crop: NZ's 10 largest dairy farmers revealed
The Country

Cream of the crop: NZ's 10 largest dairy farmers revealed

25 Sep 05:00 PM

After a tumultuous decade, some new names have emerged as NZ's biggest dairy farmers.

Meridian gets go-ahead for Northland solar farm
The Country

Meridian gets go-ahead for Northland solar farm

25 Sep 03:02 AM

Meridian has been granted resource consent for 120-megawatt solar farm.

Premium
Synlait's make-or-break meeting
The Country

Synlait's make-or-break meeting

16 Sep 05:00 PM

$217m plan goes before shareholders tomorrow.

Meridian says South Island hydro levels now at above-average levels
The Country

Meridian says South Island hydro levels now at above-average levels

10 Sep 12:02 AM

South Island lakes are looking healthier after sinking to seriously low levels last month.

'No further action': Takeovers Panel ruling on Synlait
The Country

'No further action': Takeovers Panel ruling on Synlait

05 Sep 09:38 PM

The panel will take no action over the Bright Dairy, a2 Milk plan for Synlait.

Synlait lifts 2024/25 milk price to $8.60/kg
The Country

Synlait lifts 2024/25 milk price to $8.60/kg

04 Sep 09:46 PM

The dairy and infant formula maker is in the middle of a $217.8m capital raise.

Premium
NZ Rural Land resumes dividends after profit boost
The Country

NZ Rural Land resumes dividends after profit boost

01 Sep 05:00 PM

Revaluations have boosted NZ Rural Land's first half profit.

Premium
A sign of things to come? Fonterra to spend $75m on high-protein nutrition
The Country

A sign of things to come? Fonterra to spend $75m on high-protein nutrition

28 Aug 02:11 AM

The high-value protein industry is projected to grow by $16b over the next four years.

Synlait co-founder John Penno lodges complaint over recapitalisation plan
The Country

Synlait co-founder John Penno lodges complaint over recapitalisation plan

27 Aug 10:47 PM

Former chairman John Penno has pushed back on Synlait's recapitalisation plan.

Premium
NZ Shareholders' Association says Synlait deal a 'dead rat' for minorities
The Country

NZ Shareholders' Association says Synlait deal a 'dead rat' for minorities

26 Aug 12:43 AM

The Shareholders' Association says the Synlait recapitalisation plan will hit minorities.

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