1) In 2015, New Zealand Performance Beef Breeders (PBBNZ) focused on recapitalization and core business to better serve beef breeders. They sold property and improved profitability. 2) PBBNZ aims to generate annual surpluses and pay dividends to shareholders. Staff received training to improve skills. 3) PBBNZ provides services for 11 beef breeds and the wider beef sector, and plays a role in major events like Beef Expo to support the future of the industry.

1. Welcome to the year that was 2015 at New Zealand Performance Beef
Breeders.
2015 has had a large Recapitalisation and Core Business focus to bring
the Company back to its roots and servicing the Beef Breeder how it was
intended by its founders Richard Barnett – Hereford and Peter Matthews
Angus.
It was acknowledged in November 2014 after the Recapitalisation
Review by Chartered Accountant, Brent Dickins – Coombe Smith (PN) Ltd
there required a three pronged process.
1. PBBNZ sells the 250 shares it has in Beef Holding Ltd, being the
property of PBBNZ House in Feilding. This sale and purchase process
was completed in Sept 2015.
2. Retained Profitability – To establish a stable financial structure and
return to strong profitability. This year we have made our largest
profit in the history of the Company.
3. Paid up Capital – Further investment in PBBNZ. Something to
consider as we move the Company into a strong solvent position.
One strategic plan priority is for “PBBNZ to have a sustainable income
that generates an annual operating surplus and returns a dividend to the
Shareholders” The day PBBNZ is in a position to offer this dividend is the
day we as a Board and Management Team have succeeded in creating a
dynamic yet stable unique business for our members.
We are very pleased to announce an $8.00 rebate off the hourly rate for
our Shareholders. This in turn means the Societies can keep down their
fees to you, a win/win solution.
It has been a pleasure to get out from behind the desk this year to
network within industry and meet many of our fabulous members.
These trips out of office have included
• East Coast Hereford Herd Tour. I would like to extend my thanks to
Hereford NZ, Christine Reeves and Sid Hain for their organisation and
delivery of an exceptional tour.
• Perendale Sheep Conference in Waikato which I attended with our
SIL Registrar Barbara Beckett. PBBNZ has 85 flocks out of the national
basket of 608. We are always looking for more SIL recording so if you
are a beef breeder and also performance recording your sheep flock,
please consider PBBNZ as your bureau of choice.
• Beef Week Rockhampton – Australia. I led a tour party of 15 breeders
to Rockhampton from 3rd to 10th May 2015. If you have never been
to Beef Week I strongly recommend you add this to your bucket list.
It was both inspiring and energizing. The positivity and sheer power
of Australia’s Beef industry was quite something to observe. The
resources at their disposal were enormous.
Always an element of my role I enjoy is that of leading my team. I
am constantly in awe of their skills, professionalism and ability to pull
together, no matter what.
We have had our sad times this year as a team, with the loss of Craig
Martin our PBBNZ Chairman and Rob Wylie Angus Breed Manager who
worked with the team for 14 years. We have reflected and remembered
these great men with tears, laughter and the odd ‘sally-lunn’. We
remember them for their immense contributions to the Beef Industry
which will be felt for years to come.
All staff are cross-trained meaning they are the champion in their role
General Manager’s
Report for 2015

2. and have the ability to take over other roles. Most staff have 2-3 roles
within their scope. This is essential in such a unique business as PBBNZ
and ensures business units are effective and efficient.
Staff are currently attending training courses and up skilled, specific
to their rolls and what we perceive future roles could look like. These
training opportunities are identified from our December staff appraisals
and factored into the 2016 budget.
In October 2015 we welcomed Lisa Chase to our team as Communica-
tions and Marketing Manager. Lisa will assist us to put PBBNZ on the
Beef Industry radar. The sector is to learn just what PBBNZ is, and its
capabilities.
We have farewelled two staff this year. Sharyn Anderson – DNA and
Future Beef Coordinator and Brett Wilcock – IT Manager. This has
enabled current staff to step up into these positions, thus extending
their capabilities. I applaud their confidence within themselves to make
this move, at times out of their comfort zones. I am a firm believer that
when you are out of your comfort zone you are achieving your greatest
learning.
Pivot Design, our in-house Graphic and Web design studio has focused
their marketing campaign on the Commercial business outside of the
beef industry. This has seen Nathan our Web Designer complete 22
websites with 4 in progress. Check out this plethora of work on these
sites:
• The Mudder
• WRIG – Wairarapa Romney Improvement Group
• Mokairau Herefords
• JD’s Linen Shop
Pivot completed 118 bull sale catalogues up from 112 last year and the
majority of their business at 53.3% comes from our Beef Breeders, so
thank you for your commitment to this business unit.
Tags have seen a 20% increase over the year. We still have a lot of work
to do here with 306 of our total of 792 breeding members using PBBNZ
for tags. We do a range of tag brands for the range of farm animals.
Out of all our breeds our greatest supporter to PBBNZ tag purchases is
South Devon. 57% of their membership supports PBBNZ and we thank
them for their support.
The Team have been on tour with the Angus breeders discussing the
new DNA options available to the breeders. The PBBNZ team are here to
help and assist in processing and publishing results of the DNA samples.
Whilst the current process around DNA collection is unchanged, in
part, there are new added options now available through different DNA
typing via the University of Queensland.
PBBNZ is a unique agribusiness. It encompasses the 11 main beef
breeds. It encompasses the beef sector. It is unique to sit in a position
where strategic stakeholders at governance level are now engaged in
ensuring the beef sector of New Zealand grows. This is an exciting time
for the business, in terms of economic opportunities.
We are also mindful of the beef sector and growing the sector. The push
for more beef cows on hill country is one that PBBNZ fully supports, to
secure a strong beef sector long term.
A highlight of our calendar is always Beef Expo. PBBNZ played a pivotal
role in Te Pari Beef Expo 2015 handling the Administration, Accounting,
HR, and Management. This year through very generous support we
were able to be a Premier Sponsor and the Live Streaming Partner for
this pinnacle event.
We were able to bring a global audience to the event. Expo is New
Zealand’s largest beef focused event. The two day live television
channel covered the major events and announcements complete with
our PBBNZ branded interviews, social media coverage which brought
another marketing channel to the Te Pari Beef Expo 2015.
The net result of this was engagement, with an audience that would not
be otherwise part of the agricultural landscape, thus bridging the gap
between urban and rural.
PBBNZ certainly found value in this sponsorship. The data analysis of
this gave greater understanding to our audience, both urban and rural,
and the powerful position of the future of PBBNZ’s business.
Where does this leave PBBNZ in the future?
The uniqueness of PBBNZ is its place within the breed societies and
its position within the beef sector of New Zealand. Working with all
the breeds. Supporting them and a conduit of collectiveness and
collaboration of the breeds. It’s both challenging and yet rewarding. To
be able to give back to the beef sector via Future Beef, Beef Expo, Royal
A & P Show to name a few is testament of PBBNZ’s commitment to the
beef sector’s leaders of tomorrow, and a wise investment.
PBBNZ’s end of year strategy has been to engage with key primary
industry stakeholders at a level required in order to move the beef
sector forward to 2020. That can only be achieved in a collective
manner with the power of all the breeds together in a united space
right here at PBBNZ.
We look forward to 2016 and these challenges evolving amongst our
PBBNZ team and stakeholders to turn the beef sector into; exciting,
fresh, innovative and profitable opportunities that not only sees the
beef sector of New Zealand as an integral part of the New Zealand
economy, but one to be extremely proud of being a part of.
On behalf of PBBNZ Staff I wish our members and families a safe and
happy Christmas.
With Kind Regards
Caren Bailey
General Manager
Footnote:
Office Closure hours 12noon Wednesday 23rd December 2015 and
reopening at 8.00am Monday 11th January 2016.