Everybody’s talking about…

It is looking increasingly hopeful that we will be able to have a bang-up Christmas with at least our New Zealand whānau, but warnings have arrived that pandemic-related supply chain issues could affect one of the most common sights on Kiwi Christmas tables: the ham.

In a usual year, most of us would be eating an imported ham for Christmas lunch. About 85 per cent of ham consumed in New Zealand originates overseas, but it’s not always clear to the casual shopper. Bizarrely, under current rules, imported pork doesn’t have to be labelled with its country of origin, and may even say “made in New Zealand from local and imported ingredients” (the local ingredient is likely to be the water injected into the ham).

Buying a New Zealand ham, made from pig farmed here, is worth it because it supports local businesses and boosts our economy. A lot of the pork that comes from overseas is produced using pig-farming practices that are banned in New Zealand for welfare reasons.

According to industry body, NZ Pork, our farmed pigs are among the healthiest in the world. Imported pig products could come from countries infected with diseases such as African swine fever or porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome.

New Zealand’s pig farming practices may not be perfect, but they are better than many other countries. Welfare is monitored by independent auditors at PigCare – look for the “100 per cent New Zealand pork” and “born and raised in New Zealand PigCare” labels to ensure you are buying local products raised according to high ethical standards.

It is easy to reach for a foreign, and often cheaper, ham when they are the most common on supermarket shelves. But here, perhaps, is a small sliver of a silver lining behind the pandemic: with supply of imported ham down, it will be easier to go for a New Zealand one, supporting local farmers and farming, and making Christmas that much merrier.