Connecting at the Red Meat Sector Conference

New Zealand's red meat sector remains one of the country's most important export industries, generating billions of dollars in export earnings each year and making a significant contribution to regional economies, employment and New Zealand's global reputation for high-quality food production. With strong international demand and growing opportunities in key markets, the sector continues to play a critical role in supporting New Zealand's economic growth and prosperity.  

Each year, the Meat Industry Association brings together key people, businesses and partners from across New Zealand’s red meat industry for the Red Meat Sector Conference. It’s a great opportunity for the industry to come together, share insights and discuss the challenges, opportunities and priorities shaping the sector - while also catching up with familiar faces and making new connections.  

This year, we were proud to represent Hill Labs as a conference exhibitor, with our own trade stand. It was fantastic to have the opportunity to connect with customers face-to-face, meet others working across the industry, and hear firsthand about the issues that matter to our customers.  

The 2026 conference included a focus on this year’s election and also discussed was the fair-trade agreement now in place between New Zealand and India, opening up a market of over 700 million consumers for the Red Meat sector. There was a promising and optimistic energy at the conference, stemming from the growth potential expected for our Red Meat Sector over the coming years.    

For us, events like the Red Meat Sector Conference are about more than simply having a presence. They are an opportunity to listen, learn, and strengthen the relationships that underpin the work we do. As a provider of accredited meat testing services, supporting the industry through microbiology, chemistry and compliance testing, we're proud to play a small part in a sector that contributes so much to New Zealand. We look forward to continuing to work alongside our customers and industry partners.