Agriculture Minister Damian O’Connor confirmed the Wool Industry Working Group and Primary Sector Council reports are imminent.
“Soon, hopefully in the next 10 days,” he said.
“Post covid we are looking to make sure that both of those reports are appropriate given the new world we have moved into.”
In response to an Official Information Act request O’Connor’s office said the council has cost $874,193 since he formed it in April 2018 and the wool group $552,347 since July 2018.
The council is a committee of 15 agribusiness leaders chaired by former Zespri chief executive Lain Jager.
“I established the Primary Sector Council to provide fresh thinking and develop a vision to help NZ agriculture, food and fibre sector to navigate the unprecedented levels of change and opportunities it is facing,” O’Connor said.
“This is more important than ever as NZ recovers from covid-19.”
The 20-person wool group was formed after the Wool Industry Summit to form a plan to revitalise the wool industry.
“The wool sector is in a difficult place with export returns from wool dropping from $805 million in 2015 to $549m in 2019.
“Revitalising the sector to make more from the wool we produce will improve on-farm returns and contribute to regional economic success.”
The largest costs for the council were contractor fees of $415,266, member fees of $196,352 and travel costs at $166,165.
Contractor fees of $226,607 were the largest cost for the wool group followed by member fees at $113,470 and consultant fees which included research costs at $112,829.
