Rural

New Zealand's Pork Import Challenge + Festive Ham Tips

"We're not asking for imports to be halted... but it should meet the same production standards as New Zealand," Kleiss stresses.

The amount of pork being imported into New Zealand is reportedly rising, with much of it from countries that permit pig farming practices which are illegal in Aotearoa and in some cases have herds affected by African Swine Fever.

Brent Kleiss, Chief Executive of NZ Pork, explains why nearly two-thirds of pork in the country comes from nations with lower welfare standards.

He says that local farmers face economic pressures as they produce high-quality pork, marked by the 100% NZ pork label. 

For those planning festive meals, Kleiss shares tips for preparing the perfect Christmas ham, recommending the New Zealand Bacon and Ham Awards as a guide to the best locally sourced hams.

Listen to the full chat between Brent Kleiss and Dominic George above.

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