UK minister to visit dairy company
Taupō ’s Miraka to show British politician its green business
Taupō dairy processing business Miraka, which has one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world, will host Britain’s Secretary of State for International Trade, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, during her first visit to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Miraka chairman Kingi Smiler said it was an honour for the company to host the senior minister.
“Minister Trevelyan is the most senior UK government minister to visit New Zealand in a very long time, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020,” Smiler said.
“We are delighted [she] is visiting our geothermally powered manufacturing plant to learn about our business and, in particular, how we apply Te Ao Māori principles in operating our business, engaging with people and exercising kaitiakitanga; caring for our taiao, the natural environment and resources, as best we can.”
Trevelyan arrived in the Taupō region on Saturday and was welcomed at a pōwhiri at Oruanui Marae, north of Taupō.
She signed the ground-breaking New Zealand-UK Free Trade Agreement in London in February together with New Zealand Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor.
The deal will offer opportunities for British and New Zealand companies and includes a Māori Trade and Economic Co-operation chapter that is designed to connect the UK and Mā ori-owned businesses, such as Miraka, and opens opportunities for innovative and climate-friendly trade and investment for both countries.
“The UK-NZ free trade deal is a gold standard agreement,” said British High Commissioner Iona Thomas.
“It is great for British and New Zealand consumers and businesses and offers significant investment opportunities for both countries.
“Trade between the UK and NZ was worth about $5.5 billion in 2019 and the FTA could boost this by hundreds of millions,” Thomas said.
Smiler says it is their hope the NZUK Free Trade Agreement will provide greater opportunities for Miraka and all New Zealand businesses to access and benefit from the trade and investment opportunities which are envisaged under the agreement.
As one of the largest Māori export businesses in Aotearoa, Miraka was pleased to have the opportunity to enter into dialogue on their turangawaewae with the UK Trade Minister during her brief three-day visit.
Miraka has 100 farmer suppliers within a 120km radius of its Mokai factory, which uses renewable “green” geothermal energy. The company is one of the largest businesses in the Taupō District, employing 145 staff from 13 different nationalities.
Miraka chief executive Karl Gradon, who started with the business in April, said last month that the
company is seeking new milk supply.
“We are preparing for new growth and looking ahead to the future as our business moves into food service areas and purpose-driven brands which value carbon reductions and organisations which champion values and people first,” Gradon said.
Taupō mayor David Trewavas was also delighted to have the UK Trade Minister visit the district.
“It will be an honour to have her visiting some of our marvellous producers and it shows our local businesses are doing a great job at managing the way they use our natural resources appropriately,” he said.
“Miraka is a shining example of that, not just in Taupō but for New Zealand as a whole.”