MPs to deliver party messages on meat industry

The meat industry will be discussed in a two-day conference run by Beef + Lamb .

Representatives from the major political parties will discuss their vision for the meat industry during the red meat sector conference in Dunedin this month.

The annual two-day conference is jointly organised by the Meat Industry Association and Beef and Lamb New Zealand.

It begins on Sunday, July 30 with a cocktail function and a political party forum featuring Richard Prosser (New Zealand First), Damien O'Connor (Labour), Eugenie Sage (Greens), David Seymour (Act New Zealand) and Ian McKelvie (National). The Maori Party has also been invited.

Speakers the following day include University of Auckland marketing senior lecturer Dr Michael Lee, on anti-consumption of meat and consumer resistance to meat, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan Wright, on environmental matters, and Rabobank's Blake Holgate, on maximising the value of the New Zealand red meat sector.

Entrepreneur and professional company director Melissa Clark-Reynolds will speak about opportunities in the sector.

A panel comprising Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade trade negotiations division divisional manager Clare Kelly, New Zealand Special Agricultural Trade Envoy Mike Petersen, and Ministry for Primary Industry deputy director-general/chief operations officer Roger Smith will discuss New Zealand's role in a disrupted trade environment to deliver opportunities for the meat sector.