Primary Industry Jobs

Primary industries in New Zealand are a broad mix of small businesses and larger enterprises which produce, process and move more goods around New Zealand and export to more countries across the globe than ever before. New Zealand’s primary industries generate billions of dollars each year in exports.

 

Primary industries of importance to New Zealand include:

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• Agriculture – Dairy and Meat & Wool

• Forestry

• Horticulture – including viticulture

• Seafood – including aquaculture and fishing
   

People rely on primary industries and these industries are affected by some of the world's most pressing problems, such as:

Biosecurity risks
Animal welfare
Food safety
Effects of climate change

People working in primary industries help feed, shelter, and clothe the world. Primary Industries have always been important to New Zealand, and now generate over $36 billion a year in exports. New Zealand primary industry exports reached $38.1 billion in the year ended June 2017, an increase of 2.4% over the previous year.

 

The Ministry for Primary Industries manages and regulates the above industries as well as three systems that are very important to this sector: biosecurity, animal welfare, and food safety.

Non-renewable natural resources such as coal, oil, gas and minerals like gold and iron are also primary industries in New Zealand but these are managed by a different government agency known as New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals.

New Zealand’s primary sectors continue to be the predominant source of wealth generation for the country, dominating our exports and technology development.

While the primary sectors’ productivity has continuously outperformed New Zealand’s wider economy, there are considerable job opportunities for participants to improve their skills, products and profitability.