Public consultation has been launched on a review of the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001.
The Act regulated dairy giant Fonterra as the dominant player in the market to protect the long-term interests of all farmers, consumers and the wider economy.
In May, the Government began targeted consultation and it has now opened public consultation with a discussion document launched by Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor on an Outram dairy farm yesterday.
In a statement, Mr O'Connor said the country's biggest export sector must be "fit for the future''.
The review looks at open entry and exit obligations, the farm-gate milk price settings, contestability for farmers' milk, the risks and costs for the sector, and the incentives or disincentives for dairy to move to sustainable, higher-value production and processing.
"We need everyone with an interest in the success of the dairy sector to take part in a frank appraisal of the issues,'' Mr O'Connor said.
Public consultation will be open until the end of February
• Former Environmental Protection Authority chief scientist Jacqueline Rowarth has been elected by farmers to DairyNZ's board,
and the board has appointed communications specialist Jo Coughlan as a director.
