Keeping Southland Opportunity in Southland Hands
As Southland attracts increasing investment and larger projects begin to emerge across the region, Southland-based agency Naked Creative is encouraging businesses to consider whether they are positioned to capitalise on the opportunities ahead. Here comes Tender Ready! The agency, which has long championed regional development and the success of Southland […]
Science reform: The missing link in NZ’s manufacturing productivity puzzle ?
The Problem We Have Been Ignoring By Sean Doherty, Manufacturing Commentator | NZ Industry Trends Ask any manufacturer about their biggest constraints and the answers are familiar: energy costs, skilled labour, margin pressure, and global competition from economies with far greater scale. What rarely comes up is New Zealand’s persistent […]
Strong quarter as manufacturing leads growth
New Zealand’s manufacturing sector was the single biggest driver of economic growth in the March 2026 quarter, growing 1.9 percent and powering the country’s start to 2026, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Cameron Brewer says. “Manufacturing was the largest contributor to economic growth in the March quarter. That tells you […]
Sustainability: Digital product passports and the MCI – a practical guide for manufacturers
From June issue, NZ Manufacturer magazine Manufacturers are being asked to answer harder questions about their products: What are they made from? Where did the materials come from? Can they be repaired, reused or recycled? And can those claims be verified? Digital product passports (DPPs) are emerging as a practical […]
Moving a food manufacturing business: Lessons from Old Country Food
From June issue NZ Manufacturer magazine Family-owned Auckland manufacturer Old Country Food is one of New Zealand’s largest Asian food producers, making more than two million steamed buns and about 15 million dumplings annually for supermarkets, hospitality businesses and specialty retailers across the country. Founded more than 35 years ago […]
Last month massive for the Manufacturing sector
-Hon. Cameron Brewer, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing I had the opportunity to attend and speak at the Hutt Valley Manufacturing and Innovation Expo, where I saw first-hand the breadth of activity and innovation underway in the region. Following this, visiting EMEX 2026 (Pictured)and speaking directly with exhibitors reinforced […]
Do you have a plan for after your exit ?
From June 2026 issue NZ Manufacturer magazine -Mike Warmington, Director, Platform 1 Having a plan for after you exit your business is just as important as the exit plan. You may have been in your business many years and it defines you. There has been structure to your life and […]
Q & A: Greg Balla, CEO, AoFrio
From June issue, NZ Manufacturer magazine. How is business? The business is in great shape and we’re genuinely optimistic about where we’re heading. In 2025, AoFrio’s revenue reached a record NZ$83.2 million, up 4.4% on the prior year with strong growth across our IoT business. We expect full-year 2026 […]
Alan Bollard on the changing rules of global trade
By EMA Head of Export and Manufacturing Simon Devoy From supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions to tariff disputes and shifting trade alliances, business disruption seems to arrive from all angles, often with little warning. For exporters and manufacturers, the challenge is constant. How should they respond? How should […]
Will the budget boost small firms? Not in the way we might think
Rod McNaughton, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau With the lid lifted on Budget 2026 many small and medium New Zealand businesses will be poring over the detail to see what it has in store for them. Many may come away disappointed. With the government having been upfront about its […]
Manufacturing excellence celebrated at annual awards
NZ Manufacturer Manufacturing awards presented during EMEX 2026. The people and businesses driving innovation, growth and resilience across New Zealand’s manufacturing sector have been recognised at the second annual Minister for Manufacturing Awards. “This year’s finalists have set the bar for excellence in modern New Zealand manufacturing,” says Minister for […]
Critical materials: the hidden supply chain risk for manufacturers
By Jim Goddin, Head of Circularity at thinkstep-nz The Iran crisis has exposed a hard truth for global business: supply chains are only as resilient as their weakest link. When conflict disrupts major trade routes, the effects spread quickly through the wider economy. The immediate shock may be geopolitical, […]
Listening harder in a noisier world
By EMA Head of Membership and Export Simon Devoy If there’s one thing Kiwi manufacturers and exporters don’t need in 2026, it’s more noise. Between tariffs, geopolitical tensions and the return of supply chain disruption, clarity is harder to find. That is why the ExportNZ DHL Export Barometer matters, and why more manufacturers and exporters need to contribute to it. The EMA supports ExportNZ’s work north of Taupō, connecting exporters across the Upper North Island into a national advocacy voice. That voice is only as strong as the evidence behind it. The Barometer is one of the clearest ways we can cut through uncertainty and influence the policy and support settings that shape global competitiveness. The 2025 results showed resilience under pressure. Nearly half of exporters increased export orders, and a further third held steady. That performance stands out given the backdrop. Beneath that headline, serious pressures remain. Logistics continues to be the number one constraint. Even as shipping costs remained high but relatively stable, 72 percent of exporters still cited shipping costs as a supply chain impact. With continued instability across key global trade routes, those costs are again under pressure. For manufacturers operating on tight margins, this directly affects competitiveness. At the same time, concern about global trade tensions has increased sharply. The proportion of exporters worried about escalating trade wars has more than doubled year on year. Tariffs, particularly in the United States, are adding complexity, even where the full impact is still unfolding. There is also clear opportunity in the data. Manufacturers and exporters are adapting by developing new products, strengthening their digital presence, and exploring new markets. The United Kingdom and Japan are gaining traction, while Australia and the United States remain core markets. These insights directly inform the EMA’s annual Global X Summit, which […]