Two new State Owned Enterprises, Asure New Zealand Ltd and AgriQuality New Zealand Ltd, serving the food and agricultural sector begin trading from Sunday, 1st November, State Owned Enterprises Minister Tony Ryall said today.
Agriculture is the backbone of our economy.
The establishment of the two SOEs introduces competition into primary sector services with the aim of making them more cost-effective and responsive to customers. Asure New Zealand Ltd and AgriQuality New Zealand replace the existing MAF Quality Management. The two new SOEs were signalled in the Prime Minister's statement to Parliament in February as part of the Government's ongoing programme to improve services to the rural sector. Establishment boards were appointed in May to set up the new businesses. Asure New Zealand Ltd, headed by Chief Executive, Terry Pierson, provides front-line meat inspection services and other services to the meat processing industry.