Consumers, rather than politicians or regulation will determine the future of New Zealand farming, according to ANZ New Zealand.

“Demand for safe, high quality agricultural products from the growing economies of China, India and Asia will increasingly determine what agricultural products are produced by New Zealand and how we produce them, says ANZ’s managing director commercial and agri, Graham Turley.

“Supplying these markets will be the lifeblood of the New Zealand economy for the foreseeable future. It is crucial that the focus of the farming sector now is producing the right products at the right price and getting them to those markets.”

Turley’s comments were made to coincide with National Fieldays 2012, for which ANZ New Zealand was a strategic partner. The event was held at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton (12-15 June 2012). Over half of New Zealand’s farmers bank with either ANZ or the National Bank, the bank says.

Nearly 128,300 visitors attended the 44th New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays this year. Organisers say 40 percent more people went through the gate on the final Saturday, compared to the previous year. “Overall attendance was a nine percent improvement on the 2011 event, leaving exhibitors and organisers exultant with the four days effort.”