New Zealand's Mainland Poultry Invests Millions of NZ Dollars to Upgrade Layer Farm

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 20, New Zealand company Mainland Poultry announced an investment plan of several million NZ dollars to upgrade its layer farm in Waikouaiti, Otago. The project will convert the existing caged facilities into barn-housed systems, while also adjusting the layout of its egg grading, packing, and distribution operations. The company also plans to build a new free-range layer farm in Ranfurly, Central Otago, and install new grading equipment at its Auckland egg processing facility.

The Waikouaiti farming site, located north of Dunedin, is where Mainland Poultry's existing egg production and feed processing facilities are situated. Under arrangements previously submitted by the company to the local community board, the Waikouaiti site will retain layer farming and feed production operations, while the existing egg grading, packing, and distribution functions will be relocated to Dunedin's industrial area. The new grading and packing center is scheduled to begin operations around Easter 2027; the existing grading equipment will be moved to Dunedin, and an automated grading system will be installed separately at the Auckland facility.

This facility investment is also part of the construction plan following Mainland Poultry's equity restructuring. On August 7, Land Information New Zealand approved Benedict Holdings' acquisition of all shares in Indus Valley Limited, a transaction involving approximately 237 hectares of freehold land and 663 hectares of leased land. The approved investment arrangement explicitly includes the new free-range layer farm in Ranfurly, the conversion of farming methods at Waikouaiti, and investment in egg grading equipment in Auckland. Benedict Holdings is owned by investment funds managed by Navis Capital Partners and Pacific Equity Partners.

Mainland Poultry had previously obtained approval in February 2025 to acquire approximately 126 hectares of land in Ranfurly for NZ$1.524 million; the land, previously used for sheep farming and wool production, will be converted into a free-range layer farm. This parcel, together with the Waikouaiti conversion, forms part of the company's farming facility investment layout.