News

We are pleased to announce a new raw milk testing service ahead of this year’s dairy season, expanding our support for New Zealand’s dairy sector with independent laboratory services for raw milk collection and analysis. The new service encompasses raw milk composition, quality and chemistry testing, delivered from a purpose-built raw milk testing laboratory established at our Hamilton site.

Senior Verifier, Paul Sweetman, comes with extensive experience in risk management programme (RMP) auditing and food safety compliance across the dairy and honey sectors. He specialises in conducting independent audits, supporting regulatory compliance, and providing practical guidance to help businesses strengthen their systems and ensure product safety and integrity.

Fieldays is now upon us and it's great to be connecting with farmers, growers and industry professionals from across New Zealand. Events like Fieldays are a great opportunity for our team to get out from behind the desk, hear directly from the sector, and continue building strong relationships within the agricultural community.

Hill Labs is a key service provider to Zespri and the kiwifruit industry, providing time-critical sampling and maturity testing services seven days a week. Zespri has strict maturity criteria that all orchards must pass before harvest to ensure consumers receive the best quality kiwifruit expected from the Zespri brand.

Lisa Bullock is a Senior Technologist – Microbiology, with 14 years’ experience across laboratory roles. She specialises in developing and validating testing methods and providing technical support, with a focus on microbiological testing in the food and environmental sectors, helping ensure the safety of food and water.

For New Zealand’s onion industry, export success relies on more than growing a high‑quality crop. With around 80% of onions produced for international markets, the ability to consistently meet residue, assurance, and regulatory requirements is essential to maintaining market access and enabling smooth trade.