MIA scholarships for red meat sector leaders of the future are now open

New Zealand’s red meat sector welcomes the new trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates

Next phase of NZ’s red meat sector country of origin campaign launched in China

Welcome to MIA

We’re the voice of New Zealand’s red meat processors, marketers and exporters.

Our members produce the world’s most nutritious, natural and delicious beef and lamb as well as a wide range of specialty ingredients and materials. 

As an incorporated society MIA represents sheep and beef processors and exporters that operate more than 60 processing plants throughout the country and employ over 25,000 people. 

The Association advocates on behalf of its members and provides advice on economic, trade policy, market access, sustainability and the environment, employment relations, business compliance costs and technical and regulatory issues facing the industry.


A snapshot of our sector

Our sector is New Zealand’s second largest goods exporter.

We account for nearly

5 percent of total employment

in New Zealand – that’s over 92,000 people.

On average the sector contributes income of

$3,300 per year

to every household in New Zealand.

New Zealand has

60 processing plants

across New Zealand, mostly in
the regions.

Nearly 40 percent of employees in processing plants are Māori and more than 15 percent of sheep and beef exports come from Māori farming interests.

The red meat sector generates

$12 billion in income per year, and is New Zealand’s second largest merchandise exporter.


Our main areas of focus

Trade – Protecting and growing market access for New Zealand’s red meat exports

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Regulatory – Refining and implementing the rules we operate under

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Innovation – Supporting technical and scientific advances in red meat production

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Sustainability – Ensuring our industry improves the environment we operate in

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People – Developing the most vital resource in our industry

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Biosecurity – Keeping New Zealand safe and our routes to market open

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Latest news


Red Meat Report

Read the latest update on activities being undertaken by the Meat Industry Association and Beef + Lamb NZ, and our perspectives on policy and industry developments. The report goes to Government officials and Members of Parliament, other industry stakeholders and farmers.

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Immigration: unlocking red meat value

Sustained labour shortages in the red meat processing sector is hampering some of New Zealand’s best-known companies from reaching their full potential, and is estimated to have reduced export revenue $600 million.

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Barriers to International Trade

New Zealand must evolve its trade strategy to capture more value from existing markets if the country is to increase exports and grow the economy, amid rising protectionism and geopolitical tensions according to our latest report