Beef + Lamb New Zealand

1. Business / Trading Name: Beef + Lamb New Zealand Limited (commonly known as Beef + Lamb New Zealand or B+LNZ). B+LNZ is a farmer-owned industry organization representing New Zealand’s sheep and beef farmers. (Note: There is also a Beef + Lamb New Zealand Inc., a separate incorporated society focused on domestic marketing and promotion , but the primary entity for industry advocacy and levy funding is Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd.)

2. Company Number: 1345084 (NZ Companies Office registration number).

3. NZBN (NZ Business Number): 9429035893035.

4. Entity Type: New Zealand Limited Company (Ltd). Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd is registered as a limited company (incorporated 31 July 2003). It operates as an “industry-good” company funded by statutory levies, not a typical for-profit business. The organization’s constitution is filed and it has an annual return filing month of April.

5. Business Classification: B+LNZ’s activities fall under agricultural industry services and advocacy. It is described as “the farmer-owned industry organisation representing New Zealand’s sheep and beef farmers,” investing in on-farm research & development, farm management services, and marketing to improve returns for livestock farmers. In official records, it may be classified under the agriculture sector (e.g. ANZSIC code related to agricultural business associations).

6. Industry Category: Agriculture – Livestock (Sheep and Beef Cattle) Farming and Meat Industry. B+LNZ operates in the agricultural industry association category, specifically supporting the red meat sector (sheep meat and beef) within New Zealand. It represents farmers who collectively make up a major export industry (NZ’s red meat exports were NZ$11.4 billion in 2022).

7. Year Founded: 2003 (incorporation date 31 July 2003). Historical note: B+LNZ is the successor to earlier statutory producer boards. It was initially incorporated as “Single Organisation Limited” in 2003, then renamed Meat and Wool New Zealand Limited (19 Dec 2003). In 2010, after wool levies ended, it rebranded as Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd to reflect a focus on meat production. Beef + Lamb New Zealand Inc. (the marketing arm) has operated since 1997 in domestic promotion of the “Beef and Lamb” Quality Mark.

8. Addresses:

• Registered Office: Level 4, Wellington Chambers, 154 Featherston Street, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011, New Zealand.

• Address for Service: Level 4, 154 Featherston Street, Wellington 6011 (same as registered office).

• Postal Address: P.O. Box 121, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.

(B+LNZ’s headquarters are in Wellington to enable close contact with government. It also maintains regional staff throughout farming areas, but the Featherston St. office is the primary address.)

9. Website URL:

https://www.beeflambnz.com

(official Beef + Lamb New Zealand site).

• Additionally, B+LNZ operates related sites: B+LNZ Genetics (research arm) at blnzgenetics.com , Recipes.co.nz (domestic marketing/recipes) , and MakingMeatBetter.nz (sector sustainability info).

10. LinkedIn URL: The organization’s LinkedIn page is linkedin.com/company/beef-lamb-new-zealand/ (Beef + Lamb New Zealand on LinkedIn). (This page provides company updates and is used for recruitment and industry news.)

11. Company Hub NZ URL: https://www.companyhub.nz/companyDetails.cfm?nzbn=9429035893035

12. NZ Companies Office URL: https://app.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/1345084

13. Social Media URLs:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/NZBeefLamb (Twitter handle: @NZBeefLamb) – used for industry news and farmer updates.

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeefLambNZ (Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Facebook page – community outreach and campaign promotion).

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/nzbeeflamb – typically highlighting recipes, farmers, and sustainability stories.

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beeflambnz – hosts B+LNZ videos (farmer case studies, webinars, marketing campaigns).

(These platforms are used to promote B+LNZ’s messaging and engage both farmers and the public.)

14. Ultimate Holding Company: Meat and Wool Trust Limited is listed as the 100% ultimate holding entity of B+LNZ Ltd. All 1,000,000 issued shares of B+LNZ Ltd are held by Meat & Wool Trust Ltd. This trust was formed to hold industry assets on behalf of farmers after the dissolution of the former Meat Board/Wool Board structure. (The Trust ensures farmer control; effectively the sheep and beef farmers of NZ are the beneficiaries via this holding company.)

15. Key Shareholders: Meat and Wool Trust Limited – 100% (holds all shares). There are 1,000,000 shares issued, all owned by that single shareholder entity. Individual farmers do not hold shares directly; instead, their interests are represented collectively through the trust. There are no other shareholders; thus, no private or corporate ownership stake outside the farmer community via the trust.

16. Leadership:

• Chairperson: Kate Acland – elected Chair of Beef + Lamb New Zealand in April 2023. She is the first woman to hold this role, a sheep and beef farmer from Mid Canterbury. (Acland succeeded former Chair Andrew Morrison in 2023 after he lost a board re-election.)

• Chief Executive: Alan Thomson – appointed CEO effective 4 November 2024. Thomson has a background in agribusiness (ex-Hitachi agritech director) and returned from Australia to lead B+LNZ. He succeeded longtime CEO Sam McIvor, who led B+LNZ from 2016–2024. McIvor resigned in 2024 to head another agriculture entity (OSPRI).

• Board of Directors: The board is farmer-dominated. Current farmer-directors (as of 2025) include Kate Acland, Philip Weir, Andrew Stewart, Patrick Crawshaw, Geoffrey Young, Nicky Hyslop, Peter Conley, Alex Guilleux, Hazel Cairns-Willemsen, Warwick Tauwhare-George (Board members are elected from regions by levy-paying farmers; e.g. Geoffrey Young won the 2023 election in the Southern South Island electorate, unseating Andrew Morrison.)

• Senior Management: Under the CEO, key executives include General Managers overseeing areas like Policy & Advocacy, Sector Capability (farmer extension), Market Development, Finance, etc. (For example, Nick Beeby was GM of Market Development and later became CEO of the NZ Meat Board.) B+LNZ’s leadership often overlaps with the statutory New Zealand Meat Board (the Chair and CEO of B+LNZ typically also serve as Chair and CEO of the Meat Board ).

17. Staff: Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd has a professional staff carrying out its programs. Staff size is in the range of ~80–100 employees (the company’s LinkedIn reports “51-200 people” ). Staff are spread across: policy and advocacy advisors (engaging with government on regulations), agricultural scientists and analysts (research and farm extension services), regional field officers (working with farmers on programs), marketing and communications personnel, and corporate services. The organization’s ethos is “By farmers, for farmers,” but it employs experienced professionals to advance farmers’ interests. Many staff have deep agricultural sector expertise; for instance, former CEO Sam McIvor spent 17 years at B+LNZ , and others have backgrounds in agri-science or agribusiness.

17.a. Staff with Previous Government Roles: There is a notable “revolving door” aspect in some cases, though less pronounced than lobbying firms. Examples:

• Several B+LNZ policy staff and advisors have worked in government departments or ministries related to agriculture. (E.g. a Senior Policy Advisor might be a former Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) official, bringing insider knowledge.)

• Board members and leaders have been appointed to government bodies: Andrew Morrison (former Chair) was a government appointee on the board of AgResearch (a Crown Research Institute) and served as NZ’s representative on international forums. Mike Petersen, a past Chairman (2011–2017), was subsequently appointed the NZ Special Agricultural Trade Envoy by the government, effectively acting as a diplomat for NZ agriculture. His transition from industry chair to a government envoy role exemplifies the close ties between B+LNZ leadership and government policy circles.

• Nick Beeby, B+LNZ’s former market development GM, was appointed acting CEO of the NZ Meat Board (a quasi-government role managing export quotas) , a position often in tandem with B+LNZ.

In summary, B+LNZ’s staff and governance frequently include individuals who have held roles in government agencies, ministerial advisory positions, or Crown entities. This can enhance B+LNZ’s connectivity within policy networks, but also raises questions of influence (see Part Two).

18. Past Employees: Notable former executives and staff of B+LNZ include:

• Sam McIvor (CEO 2016–2024) – now CEO of OSPRI (an agriculture health agency). McIvor’s long tenure and subsequent move to another primary sector leadership role reflects B+LNZ’s reputation as a training ground for industry leaders.

• Dr. Scott Champion (CEO 2008–2015) – led B+LNZ through its early post-rebranding years; after leaving, he took roles in agritech and consulting.

• Mike Petersen (Chairman 2011–2017) – post-B+LNZ became NZ Agriculture Trade Envoy, representing NZ in trade negotiations.

• Andrew Morrison (Chairman 2018–2023) – a Southland farmer who was voted off the board in 2023 amid farmer dissatisfaction. He remains influential in agriculture, joining boards like AgResearch.

• Rod Slater (CEO of Beef + Lamb NZ Inc.) – though not an “employee” of the Ltd company, he led the domestic marketing arm for decades, famous for promotional campaigns (he retired in 2018).

19. Clients / Members: N/A (Not a consulting firm). B+LNZ does not have “clients” in the commercial sense; instead, its “clients” are effectively its levy-paying farmer members and the wider sheep and beef sector it represents. All New Zealand sheep and beef farmers who pay compulsory levies are stakeholders of B+LNZ. In effect, 11,000+ commercial sheep and beef farming operations (and tens of thousands of people employed on those farms) rely on B+LNZ to advocate for their interests. The organization also collaborates with meat processors and exporters on industry-good initiatives, but those companies are not clients per se (some contribute funding to specific programs). In summary: B+LNZ’s constituency is the sheep and beef farming community of NZ, rather than external customers.

19.a. Industries/Sectors Represented: B+LNZ represents the livestock agriculture sector, specifically:

• Sheep farming sector: Producers of lamb and mutton (New Zealand has ~23 million sheep, with ~23,400 sheep and beef farms in total). B+LNZ speaks for sheep farmers on wool (historically) and meat issues.

• Beef cattle farming sector: Producers of beef cattle and calves. B+LNZ covers beef breeding, finishing, and dairy-beef operations.

• Red Meat Processing & Export industry (indirectly): While meat processing companies have their own association (Meat Industry Association), B+LNZ often partners with them. The health of processing/exporting is intertwined with farmer interests, so B+LNZ’s advocacy extends to trade policies affecting meat exporters.

• Rural economy & pastoral agriculture: More broadly, B+LNZ represents pastoral land use interests, often aligning with the dairy sector on common issues (e.g. opposing overly restrictive environmental rules). It also represents NZ in global forums for beef and sheep meat producers. For instance, B+LNZ is a member of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and the Global Sheep Producers Forum, connecting NZ’s sector internationally.

20. Publicly Disclosed Engagements: Because New Zealand lacks a formal lobbying register, B+LNZ’s engagements with officials are not comprehensively listed publicly. However, known engagements include:

• Ministerial Meetings: B+LNZ regularly meets with government ministers and agencies. (E.g. In late 2019, B+LNZ leaders met with Ministers regarding the Essential Freshwater regulatory proposals. Internal government briefings noted B+LNZ’s positions, indicating direct consultations.) B+LNZ’s chair and CEO often sit at the table in sector policy discussions; for instance, they were part of the He Waka Eke Noa partnership meetings with Ministers on climate policy from 2019–2022.

• Select Committee Submissions: B+LNZ frequently submits on legislation. Notably, it made submissions on the Zero Carbon Bill (2019) arguing methane targets were too high , on water reform bills, on biodiversity policy, etc. These submissions are public record on Parliament’s website.

• Official Working Groups: B+LNZ is often appointed to government working groups or advisory panels. For example, it was a core member of the He Waka Eke Noa Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership, which worked alongside officials to design agricultural emissions policy. B+LNZ also participates in groups on trade negotiations (advising MFAT on market access needs) and biosecurity response committees (with MPI for incursions).

• Transparency disclosures: Some engagement details surface via Official Information Act (OIA) releases. In 2023, it was revealed through OIA emails that farming groups (including B+LNZ) were in “frequent communication” with ministers, “advocating for environmental rule changes.”. These communications – hundreds of pages of emails – underscore regular behind-the-scenes lobbying on regulations like freshwater and climate rules.

• Public Consultations: B+LNZ often publicizes its involvement in consultations – e.g. hosting farmer meetings on government proposals and then conveying consolidated feedback to Wellington. It discloses high-level outcomes (like press releases: “B+LNZ lodges Climate Change Commission submission” announcing its formal input on methane targets ).

• International Delegations: B+LNZ takes part in trade missions and international forums in an advocacy role. For instance, B+LNZ reps have attended UN Climate COP conferences and WTO ministerials as part of NZ delegations or industry observer teams (in 2022 B+LNZ attended COP27 to voice the sector’s perspective ). These engagements are sometimes noted in annual reports or media if significant.

Overall, while exact meeting logs are not comprehensively public, B+LNZ’s influence operations are evidenced by its visible submissions, partnership roles, and the acknowledgement by officials that B+LNZ is a key stakeholder routinely consulted on policy decisions.

21. Affiliations: B+LNZ is intertwined with various organizations and coalitions:

• New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB): A statutory body managing meat export quotas and industry funds. B+LNZ and NZMB share leadership and work closely (the B+LNZ Chair is typically also Meat Board Chair, and until 2024 the same CEO served both). NZMB provides grants to B+LNZ (NZ$900k–1.4m annually) to support industry-good projects.

• Meat Industry Association (MIA): Represents meat processors/exporters. B+LNZ collaborates with MIA on trade policy and market access lobbying as the unified “Meat Sector.” They issue joint statements on trade deals and coordinate on issues like Brexit or halal regulations.

• Federated Farmers: A lobby representing farmers across all sectors. B+LNZ often partners with “Fed Farmers” on political advocacy. For example, B+LNZ, DairyNZ, and Federated Farmers made a joint submission on methane targets in 2023. They also collectively push back on policies seen as harmful to pastoral farming. However, there can be tactical differences (Fed Farmers is an outspoken lobby, whereas B+LNZ sometimes takes a more negotiated approach as an industry-good body).

• DairyNZ: The dairy sector levy board. There is alignment on many environmental and climate issues. B+LNZ and DairyNZ were co-founders of He Waka Eke Noa and often issue joint proposals to government. They also share research initiatives where cattle and sheep issues overlap (e.g. greenhouse gas mitigation research).

• Government Agencies: B+LNZ is an “affiliate” in the sense of partnership with agencies like MPI (Ministry for Primary Industries) and MBIE. It co-funds research with government (like MBIE funding for B+LNZ Genetics) and works with MPI on extension programs (e.g. farming excellence and environmental stewardship programs).

• International Bodies: B+LNZ is a member of the International Beef Alliance and Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, and engages with the International Meat Secretariat. It partners with counterparts like Meat & Livestock Australia, the US National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Beef + Lamb UK, etc., to share information and sometimes to present a united front in trade or climate negotiations.

• Research Institutions: Affiliations with AgResearch, Lincoln and Massey Universities (through funding research chairs or projects), and with industry research consortia (e.g. the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium, where B+LNZ is a founding partner tackling agricultural emissions).

• Commodity Levies Act: As it derives authority from this Act, B+LNZ is affiliated with the regulatory framework that requires it to periodically seek farmer mandate via referenda to continue levy collection. (Its existence depends on farmer approval votes every six years or so – an affiliation with the democratic process of industry self-governance.)

22. Sponsorships / Collaborations: B+LNZ engages in sponsorships and collaborative initiatives that serve its strategic interests:

• Industry Events: It sponsors major agricultural events like regional A&P (Agricultural and Pastoral) Shows, the national Fieldays at Mystery Creek (usually as an exhibitor/partner), and conferences on farming. It often has branded pavilions or seminars promoting its programs (e.g. environment or genetics).

• B+LNZ Awards: It organizes the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards (inaugurated 2021) to celebrate farming innovation and excellence. This event, sponsored by B+LNZ with industry partners, raises its profile and rewards farmers and researchers aligned with its goals.

• Ambassador Chefs and Athletes: Through B+LNZ Inc (the marketing arm), it has long sponsored the “Iron Maidens” campaign – top female athletes (like Olympians Lisa Carrington, Sarah Walker) as ambassadors promoting red meat for nutrition. Similarly, B+LNZ Inc appoints Beef + Lamb Ambassador Chefs (renowned NZ chefs who champion beef and lamb in cuisine). These are marketing collaborations to boost domestic consumption and public image.

• Health and Nutrition Initiatives: Collaborations with Nutritionists and Health NGOs (though sometimes controversial). For instance, B+LNZ Inc works with organizations to promote the role of red meat in a balanced diet, sponsoring research or events in the nutrition space.

• Community Sponsorships: The Beef + Lamb NZ Community Fund provides small sponsorships to rural community events (e.g. school fundraisers, sports tournaments with a “meat raffle”). This grassroots sponsorship builds goodwill among the farming communities.

• International Promotion: B+LNZ collaborates with NZ Trade & Enterprise and exporter groups on marketing campaigns abroad. E.g. a joint effort with Silver Fern Farms to launch NZ beef boxes in the US, co-branded with B+LNZ to leverage NZ grass-fed branding (a form of public-private collaboration). It also co-funds Taste Pure Nature, a global origin brand promoting NZ red meat as a premium, sustainable product.

• Research Collaborations: B+LNZ co-sponsors research programs (like greenhouse gas mitigation trials, regenerative agriculture studies) with Crown Research Institutes and universities. These collaborations often involve matching funds from government and industry.

• Environmental Programs: It partners with conservation or sustainability groups on certain projects (for instance, collaborating with regional councils on catchment water quality projects, or supporting the QEII National Trust in encouraging farmers to covenant native bush on farms). While B+LNZ’s main aim is to ensure regulations are workable, it also strategically collaborates to show proactive environmental stewardship.

23. Events (Organized or Hosted):

• Annual Meeting / AGM: B+LNZ holds an Annual Meeting for levy payers, which rotates regions. This doubles as a mini-conference with updates on advocacy and industry issues. (E.g. the 2023 AGM in New Plymouth saw robust farmer debate on climate policy.)

• Farmer Workshops and Roadshows: B+LNZ regularly runs events like “Farmers’ Council Roadshows” or Environment Roadshows to discuss upcoming regulations (e.g. Essential Freshwater, climate targets) and collect feedback. These events, while educational, also serve lobbying by galvanizing farmer input that B+LNZ takes to Wellington.

• Field Days and Demonstrations: Through its Farming Excellence program, B+LNZ hosts on-farm field days (e.g. showcasing a farm doing great environmental work or new tech). Politicians and regulators are sometimes invited to these to see farmers’ efforts first-hand, indirectly lobbying for lighter regulation by showing progress.

• “Open Farms” Day: B+LNZ sponsors Open Farm events where farmers invite the public onto farms nationwide. This PR event (run annually) is meant to build urban understanding – indirectly supporting B+LNZ’s lobbying by improving agriculture’s public image (“social license”).

• Conferences: B+LNZ convenes or co-hosts industry conferences on specific topics. For example, it launched an annual Red Meat Sector Conference in partnership with MIA, bringing together farmers, processors, policymakers and international experts. Likewise, events like the Environment Strategy launch in 2018 had B+LNZ chair Andrew Morrison giving keynote speeches outlining the sector’s position.

• Political Engagements: B+LNZ occasionally organizes farmer delegations to Parliament (e.g. to present petitions or meet MPs on key issues). These may not be public “events” in the conventional sense, but orchestrated engagements – for instance, a “Barbecue at Parliament” event where farmers and MPs mingle over NZ beef and lamb, sponsored by B+LNZ to informally lobby. (Hypothetical example to illustrate approach.)

24. Political Donations: None (no public record of donations). Beef + Lamb New Zealand, as a levy-funded quasi-public entity, does not donate to political parties or candidates. There are no disclosed political donations from B+LNZ in NZ’s electoral returns. The organization’s influencing is done via advocacy and relationships, not via direct funding of politics. (This contrasts with some industry groups overseas; in NZ, it would be highly controversial for a levy body to give to parties, and likely against its internal policies.) Individual farmers and meat companies certainly donate to parties of their choice, but B+LNZ itself stays non-partisan in terms of financial contributions. Its influence is exerted through lobbying efforts, not campaign finance.

25. Controversies: Beef + Lamb New Zealand has faced several controversies, particularly around its advocacy on environmental and climate issues:

• Climate Policy Backlash (He Waka Eke Noa & Emissions Pricing): B+LNZ’s role in negotiating a farm-level emissions pricing scheme was contentious. In 2022–2023, some farmers accused B+LNZ of being too acquiescent to government plans to price agricultural greenhouse gases, while environmental critics said B+LNZ was obstructing ambitious climate action. This came to a head at B+LNZ’s 2023 AGM, where angry farmers passed votes of no confidence and unseated Chairman Andrew Morrison. The controversy revealed a split – with B+LNZ criticized by farmers for not blocking emissions taxes, and by others for delaying them. Indeed, a 2024 analysis noted farming lobby groups effectively “vetoed a price on agricultural emissions”, demonstrating their political clout in stalling such measures.

• Misrepresentation of Science: In October 2023, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (Simon Upton) publicly admonished B+LNZ (along with DairyNZ and Fed Farmers) for misleading use of scientific research on methane. Upton wrote to these groups accusing them of claiming “new science” showed easier targets, when in fact their commissioned study did not support that claim. He noted the lobby groups “had buried the most relevant conclusion” of the research – the part supporting stronger action on farm emissions. This controversy, covered widely in media, cast B+LNZ as willing to cherry-pick science to argue against strict methane reductions, drawing criticism for undermining honest debate.

• “Fart Tax” and Levy Conflicts: Historically, B+LNZ’s predecessor (Meat & Wool NZ) was involved in the 2003 “fart tax” debate, where a proposed ruminant emissions levy was fiercely opposed by farmers. Although Federated Farmers led that protest, the industry board was caught between supporting research funding and farmer anger. The government backed down, a win attributed to farmer lobbying – a narrative that still colors B+LNZ’s reputation as a powerful lobby. This controversy set the stage for today’s climate battles, suggesting little progress in two decades on pricing emissions.

• Environmental Regulation Fights: B+LNZ has been at the forefront of opposing certain water and biodiversity regulations, which has drawn fire from environmentalists. For example, during the Essential Freshwater reforms (2019–2020), B+LNZ publicly supported water quality goals but privately argued the rules would “penalise low emitters” (hill country sheep & beef) and could devastate sheep/beef farming by causing “a 68% reduction” in drystock farming in some regions. Conservation groups accused B+LNZ of exaggeration and resisting necessary change, while some urban media portrayed the organization as an obstacle to cleaner rivers. Conversely, some farmers felt B+LNZ didn’t fight hard enough (since tough new freshwater standards did proceed). This tension – being seen as too obstructionist by one side and too compromising by the other – is a recurring controversy for B+LNZ.

• Industry Image Campaigns: B+LNZ Inc’s promotional campaigns occasionally spark controversy, e.g. advertisements implying red meat is essential for health have been challenged by health activists as biased. Also, partnerships like one with Girls’ Skate NZ to promote iron intake , while well-intentioned, draw skepticism over an industry body influencing nutrition messaging. These are minor compared to the policy controversies, but contribute to debate on industry influence on public perception.

• Governance and Spending: There have been farmer grievances about how B+LNZ spends levy money and its governance transparency. For instance, a group of farmers in 2021–22 campaigned to withhold levy payments as a protest, arguing B+LNZ was not representing their interests (especially on climate policy). While participation in any “levy boycott” was limited, it signaled dissent. Additionally, when farmer incomes plunged in 2023, B+LNZ faced calls to trim its own spending (salaries, travel) – though no major scandal of financial mismanagement has emerged, occasional media commentary questions the high pay of industry CEOs versus farm returns, etc.

• UAE COP28 Boycott Call: In 2023, some human rights advocates questioned B+LNZ’s planned attendance at the COP28 climate summit in UAE, arguing it would “undermine” climate justice (given UAE’s fossil ties and human rights issues). This was a minor controversy, more reflecting activists’ pressure on all participants rather than B+LNZ specifically – but it shows B+LNZ can also be a target of global civil society critique due to its stance of defending pastoral agriculture at climate forums.

Overall, B+LNZ’s most significant controversies center on the “hidden influence” vs public interest dichotomy – critics accuse it of putting sector profits ahead of the environment or science, while some farmers accuse it of not being aggressive enough in the political arena. These controversies underscore the delicate line B+LNZ walks as both an advocate and a quasi-public body (see Part Two for deeper analysis).

26. Other Information of Note:

• Structure and Funding Mechanism: B+LNZ is funded by a compulsory levy on livestock farmers (currently $5.20 per cattle and $0.75 per sheep slaughtered) , collected under the Commodity Levies Act. This means it must periodically win a farmer referendum to renew the levy. The levy model makes B+LNZ accountable to farmers (who can vote it out of existence), distinguishing it from a private lobby firm. The last levy vote in 2021 saw farmers renew the levy mandate (albeit with some dissent).

• Dual Entities – Ltd vs Inc: Beef + Lamb New Zealand Inc. is the domestic marketing arm (responsible for the iconic “Beef + Lamb” brand, Quality Mark, and promotion campaigns in NZ). It is funded by voluntary processor/retail contributions and a portion of farmer levy. B+LNZ Ltd (the company) handles policy, research, and overseas market development. The two entities share branding and often coordinate, but have separate boards and funding. This can cause confusion; however, most lobbying and political activity is driven by the Ltd arm.

• Historical Legacy: B+LNZ inherited roles from the New Zealand Meat Board (est. 1922) and Wool Board, which historically had regulatory powers. In the early 2000s, reforms split off the levy-based industry-good functions (creating Meat & Wool NZ, now B+LNZ) while the Meat Board retained trade administration. B+LNZ thus carries a quasi-public legacy – for example, it took over funding of meat research that was once a government function. This legacy means B+LNZ sometimes blurs public-private lines: it manages farmer funds but works closely with government (leading to the “regulatory capture” concerns noted in Part Two).

• Ultimate Ownership – Meat & Wool Trust: The Meat and Wool New Zealand Trust (often just called the Meat & Wool Trust) was established in 2007 using reserves from the winding up of the Wool Board. It owns B+LNZ Ltd and provides funding grants for wool industry initiatives and meat industry good projects. The Trust’s existence is notable because it underscores that B+LNZ is not investor-owned but rather held in trust for farmers. Trust trustees are often former industry leaders. The Trust arrangement aims to ensure that if B+LNZ were ever wound up, its assets benefit farmers (e.g. via the Trust) and not private individuals.

• International Trade Involvement: B+LNZ plays a significant role in trade advocacy. It helped secure key market access over years (e.g. defending NZ’s sheepmeat quota into the EU and UK post-Brexit). It also sometimes funds promotional campaigns in emerging markets (for example, opening an office in China – Beef + Lamb New Zealand (Shanghai) Ltd was a subsidiary set up in 2012 to promote NZ red meat in China , though it was later closed in 2015 ).

• Regulatory Compliance: While not a government body, B+LNZ operates with a degree of transparency: it publishes annual reports and financials, is subject to audit, and must consult levy payers. However, it is not subject to the Official Information Act (being a private company), which means its internal communications with government are not automatically public – a point relevant to the “hidden lobbying” discussion.

• Relationship with Māori Agribusiness: A note is that a growing share of sheep and beef land is owned or operated by Māori incorporations and iwi. B+LNZ has recognized this, establishing a Māori Advisory Group to ensure Māori farmer interests are represented. This is important given Treaty partnership expectations in NZ policy – B+LNZ must navigate not only farmer-government relations, but also work alongside Māori agribusiness leaders (some of whom may have direct lines to government as well).

Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz