B+LNZ base ‘better support for farming community’

B+LNZ officially opened its Gisborne office on Wednesday in a short ceremony at 74 Grey Street, on the fifth floor of the former chief Post Office building. Selwyn Parata from Ngāti Porou, Sam McIvor from B+LNZ and Pene Brown from Te Aitanga a Māhaki shared the ribbon-cutting honours. Picture by Liam Clayton

Beef + Lamb New Zealand formally opened its first office in Gisborne on Wednesday afternooon,  “to be in the community with our farmers”,   said chief executive Sam McIvor.

It is situated on the fifth floor of the former Post Office building in Grey Street.

“The farming community in Tairāwhiti has wanted our presence here for some time,” Mr McIvor said.

“Our focus in agribusiness is on how we can improve productivity and profitability in Tairāwhiti farming, and nationally.

“Beef+Lamb NZ is by farmers, for farmers, and this office in Gisborne will mean we can better support you as a farming community.”

Mr McIvor said Tairāwhiti was the heart of Māori agribusiness, the heart of where Māori farming started.

It will be a working home for Māori agribusiness adviser Pania King and kaiāwhina whenua Māori Huia Cook, along with other B+LNZ staff who come to Gisborne.

“With Pania and Huia as B+LNZ staff based in Gisborne, farmers have a dedicated team and the office will become a meeting place and a facility that our farmers can use,”  Mr McIvor said.

“Pania and Huia have done some awesome mahi since the office opened its doors in early November.

“Having staff in the community also allows farmers voices and issues to be captured so that B+LNZ can best advocate on their behalf something that is massively important to our sheep and beef farmers and a core role for B+LNZ.

“Farmers raised with us at the office opening that the resilience of rural infrastructure and help in accessing government recovery support grants is still an issue so that’s something we’ll be taking up with the Government immediately,” Mr McIvor said.

Former chairman of Ngāti Porou rūnanganui, Selwyn Parata, blessed the new office and joined Te Aitanga a Mahaki chairman Pene Brown and Mr McIvor in cutting the ribbon to formally open the office.

Pania King said the B+LNZ Tairāwhiti team felt privileged to have received so much support.

“This has been a tough year for our farmers, and Huia and I look forward to doing more good mahi for them, in conjunction with other agencies.”

That mahi continues today with the B+LNZ- supported community day for the Ūawa community at Mangaheia Station, Tolaga Bay. It starts at 2.30pm. There will be a range of specialist speakers, along with some giveways to support local farmers, a barbecue and ice cream and coffee carts. There will also be a butchery demonstration.