NZIFST Newsletter - Nibbles # 450, October 15th, 2025

In this issue:

• Brand Refresh Update
• NZIFST Events Calendar 
• Other Industry Events coming up
• Food New Zealand's latest issue link
• NZIFST Head Office Notes 
  • The Food Industry Consultants Directory is live!
  • Are you a food and beverage label expert - FSANZ needs your help.
  • Best of luck to all the finalists at the New Zealand Food Awards tomorrow.
• NZ Food Safety News 
  • MPI launch their new Exporter Help webpage
• Food Standards News
  • including a link to the FSANZ Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey
• Latest Job Vacancies

Next Nibbles Date: October 28th, 2025

Central Branch presents a FED Talk - It's Cheese, but Not as We Know It - China Cheese Consumption on Oct 23rd from 5.15pm in Palmerston North, Wellington & Online. Click here for more details and to register

Waikato Branch ask you to Save the Date for their End of Year Branch Dinner on Nov 13th at the Windows Restaurant at Wintec in Hamilton. Click here for more details and to register.

Auckland Branch asks you to Save the Date for their End of Year Branch Dinner on Nov 20th at a to be confirmed location in Auckland. Details to come.

Last chance to register for the EHEDG New Zealand Advanced Hygienic Design Course being held on Nov 2nd - 6th in Christchurch. Click here for more details.

20th NZOZ Sensory Symposium is being hosted by AIFST in Melbourne, Australia - 10 - 12th February 2026. NZIFST Members can access the discount code for this event here. Click here to register and find out more.

Other Food Industry Events

21 Oct	Listeria Workshop - Lincoln University
18 Nov	NZFSSRC - Industry Futures Forum - Food safety risks in a changing world

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Scholarship Round Now Open MIA is now accepting applications for both undergraduate and post-graduate study scholarships in the 2026 academic year. Applications close on Wednesday 26th November 2026 Click here for more information and to apply

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NZIFST Members can attend AIFST Webinars at the AIFST Member Price. 
If you are an NZIFST member, you can find the discount codes here. 

23 Oct - 4 Dec: Food Science Fundamentals

11 Nov - 9 Dec: Sharon Natoli: Speaking with Confidence & Growing Your Influence - A Short Course for Aspiring Female Leaders in Food Science

10 - 12 Feb 26: 20th NZOZ Sensory and Consumer Science Symposium

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The New Zealand Association of Scientists (NZAS) invites you to be a part of a survey of Scientists and Technologists

The aim of this survey is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the science and technology environment in New Zealand.

For the purpose of this survey, "scientists and technologists" include all those who have trained in the physical, chemical, biological, engineering, mathematical, social and health sciences and who are (or have previously been) involved in research related activities. This includes research support and administration roles.

Click here for more information and to participate.

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Do you have a food industry related event you would like to advertise with us?
Contact the NZIFST Executive Manager to find more about costs and discounts by offering discounts to NZIFST Members.

Food New Zealand Latest Issue

Oct/Nov 2025 READ IT NOW ON ISSUU Featuring in the October/November issue Who were crowned the Champions of Ice cream?  NZ Ice Cream and Gelato Awards 2025 In Focus:  Ingredients Enviro friendly packaging for your next picnic Conference 2026  Call for Abstracts

Food Industry Consultants Directory - Now Live! We have been working with the team at Gecco to get the Food Industry Consultants Directory onto the new website in a format that is searchable by keywords, business name, and area serviced. Click on the banana phone to see who is currently listed, and pass on the details to anyone you know who needs advice on a wide variety of food related projects. If you would like to advertise your consulting services with on the directory click here for more details.

Are you a food and beverage labelling expert?

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has started a new project (W1172) to update estimates of government-mandated costs of changing food and drink labels. These updated cost estimates will support FSANZ in assessing the costs of proposed regulatory changes.

The expert group is expected to operate from late October 2025 through to the beginning of May 2026 (with a break over Christmas), primarily via email and video conference. An initial video meeting will occur in November 2025, depending on the availability of participants.

• Approved experts will be invited to participate in several rounds of a survey where they will be asked to provide quantitative estimates of label change costs.
• Participants will be asked not to disclose costs for any individual business. All estimates should reflect general, industry-wide averages.
• Panelists will be paid a flat fee for their time.

If you have a good handle on the costs associated with label changes, you might be the right fit for the group of experts FSANZ is looking for to advise on any proposed changes.

Please email Mark Jones at FSANZ to be considered for the panel. All applications need to be approved before participation.

Have you got something to crow about? Launched a new product? Been nominated for an award? Let us know, so we can share your news and celebrate with you!
		We wish all the finalists in the New Zealand Food Awards the very best going into tomorrow evening's gala dinner. We look forward to hearing all about it later next week

Having issues with the website?  We all know that new systems have the habit of not quite working as they should. If you are having any issues with anything in the new system/on the website, click on the Having Issues? link in the Quick Links on the front page (see the image to the left), and this will take you to some How to Guides, and a form to let us know what your issue is.  We will do our best to get your issue fixed as quickly as possible.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has launched a new web page to help exporters of innovative food and fibre products build strong support networks and take their ideas to market. Explore it here: Support for exporting innovative food and fibre products. Whether you're starting out or scaling up, this page is designed to connect you with the right people and tools to move forward. It lists some key organisations that can help you with your ideas, as well as MPI support programmes and funding that may be available.

MPI Consultations, Legislation, Standards and Reviews.

If you are interested in what MPI is currently working on, check here for Consultations, and here for Legislation, Standards and Reviews.

To hear more about food importer responsibilities, upcoming changes to imported food requirements, current events such as recalls related to imported foods and future webinars, you can subscribe to the quarterly Food importer news by visiting this page: Food importer news | NZ Government (mpi.govt.nz) or the actual link: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/import/food/food-importer-news/

Job Vacancies - Food Industry Professionals Wanted

Automation & Controls Engineer			People & Culture Manager
Auckland	Permanent/Full time		Canterbury	Permanent/Full time
Drive efficiency and add value in a dynamic high-speed, high-volume food production facility with a strong focus on Siemens automation systems.			Shape the people strategy for a growing agricultural business. Balance career opportunity and lifestyle

Vine Manager			Add your job here
Auckland	Permanent/Full time
Grow your leadership and operational skills in a well established, growing, supportive orchard with real career development and strong team culture.			Do you have a job in the food industry that you would like to advertise on our website and in Nibbles. Click here for more details.