8 Jul 2013

Biggest rural lender calls for meat industry action

7:15 am on 8 July 2013

The country's biggest rural lender, the ANZ bank, says the meat industry runs the risk of being left behind in the country's economic recovery.

ANZ's commercial and agribusiness head, Graham Turley, says while dairy and other sectors are moving ahead, the meat industry - once the country's biggest export earner - is still stuck in its fragmented ways and is in danger of becoming an insignificant player.

He says the red-meat sector conference under way in Auckland on Monday is a chance for its leaders to build on farmer and meat company initiatives to reform the industry.

Mr Turley says he hopes leaders at the conference will come up with a vision and work together to attract new investment.

He says farmer and meat company discussions on the industry's future show they recognise the issues, but they need to be working together instead of in two camps as they currently are.

ANZ is the main sponsor of the conference.