New Zealand Pork chairman stands down

Although Ian Carter is no longer the chairman of New Zealand Pork, he remains committed to the industry. Photo: Central Rural Life Files

North Otago pig farmer Ian Carter has not been roasted for stepping down as chairman of New Zealand Pork.

Mr Carter, who farms at Waianakarua, took up the role in 2011 and was due to relinquish it next year. However, he stood down earlier this month.

Speaking to Central Rural Life on Friday, Mr Carter said some people had asked him why he made his decision, but most respected that he had ''done a few years''.

He believed not enough pig farmers supported NZ Pork's long-term strategy. They wanted to take a piecemeal approach to fixing issues, rather than an inclusive, bigger-picture approach.

''You've got to be consistent with your messaging, be available to the media, and be proactive,'' he said.

Because no New Zealand pork was exported, and imported pork accounted for about 60% of consumption here, he believed the Government and regulators had a responsibility to keep the locally produced meats available.

He was frustrated that ''country of origin'' labelling was not used to show consumers where pork came from.

The PigCare initiative launched during his tenure was one of its highlights, he said. Pork with that accreditation was grown in New Zealand under world-class welfare standards, free from added growth hormones and unneeded antibiotics, and compliant with food safety standards.

Pork's Born and Raised in New Zealand ''trustmark'' had also been adopted by other industries.

Mr Carter had not shied away from responding to animal activists' national campaigns that portrayed pig farms with cramped and unsanitary conditions. He had been interviewed on television and was such a strong advocate for pig farming that he was one of three farmers in the 2017 documentary feature film MEAT.

The director and a cameraman spent five days at Mr Carter's farm, staying with his family and filming everything he did in his working life.

''I was miked up for 12 hours a day.''

It was good fun, he told Central Rural Life just before the film premiered in Dunedin last year.

Working with the media was ''the most enjoyable part'' of his role as chairman, Mr Carter said.

His Ministry for Primary Industries contacts told him they were concerned about his retirement as the NZ Pork chairman, saying it was a loss to the industry.

However, Mr Carter said he was ''still very much in the industry, still passionate about it''.

He was continuing with some of his responsibilities during the transition period. No successor has been announced.

Central Rural Life