Bird Netting Suppliers in New Zealand: A Buyer’s Guide

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• Understand local conditions? Start with the Regional Guide ·
• Considering direct import? Go to the Import Guide

Introduction

New Zealand orchardists and vineyard operators face a persistent, region-specific bird pressure problem. Hawke’s Bay apple growers deal with Common Starlings and Blackbirds from bud burst through harvest. Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc producers watch Silvereyes swarm the canopy in the final three weeks before vintage — exactly when sugar content is highest and every punctured berry risks botrytis spread. Central Otago Pinot Noir and cherry growers face similar timing pressure in a shorter growing window. The question is not whether to net, but which supplier structure — local distributor, direct import, or a hybrid — fits your scale, timeline, and budget.

This guide covers ten suppliers currently active in the New Zealand market, followed by a section on direct import from China for commercial-scale buyers. Use the links below to jump to what matters most to you. For a global comparison of bird netting types and systems, see our global bird netting supplier guide.

• NZ Supplier Directory (10 companies)
• Considering Direct Import from China
• How to Decide

Why NZ Orchards and Vineyards Need Bird Netting

Bird damage in New Zealand horticulture is documented extensively by MPI and industry bodies. Research from the Marlborough region found vineyards losing an average of 8–15% of harvest value to birds in unprotected rows — and that figure climbs sharply in blocks adjacent to shelter belts or waterways where starlings and blackbirds congregate. Physical exclusion netting remains the most reliable intervention: scaring devices habituate quickly, and chemical deterrents are constrained by MPI residue rules near harvest.

The main pest species by region:

NZ Bird Netting Supplier Directory

Smarter Imports Ltd (SmartNet)

• Location: Nelson, New Zealand
• Company type: NZ-designed integrated orchard protection system manufacturer
• Background: Third-generation Nelson apple grower, 85+ years family orchard history; SmartNet developed after a 2020 hailstorm destroyed 90% of the founder’s crop
• Track record: 70+ hectares of NZ apple orchards protected
• Main product: SmartNet — integrated canopy netting providing simultaneous hail, bird, sunburn, and wind damage protection

Smarter Imports is the only New Zealand company building an integrated orchard protection system designed by growers, for NZ conditions. The key engineering distinction: SmartNet is built to release hail load as it accumulates, preventing the structural collapse that has failed other canopy systems. Crystal-clear netting diffuses harsh sunlight to reduce sunburn, while the stable canopy environment improves spray coverage and reduces wind rub. Bird protection is built in by design — the continuous overhead canopy excludes Starlings, Blackbirds, and Silvereyes at the structural level. For Nelson apple growers facing simultaneous hail and bird pressure, SmartNet installs onto existing trellis using custom steel extensions — no full rebuild required.

✅ Best for: Nelson and Marlborough apple growers wanting a single system addressing hail, bird, sunburn, and wind simultaneously; operations that have experienced structural canopy failures under hail load; farms with existing trellis infrastructure needing a retrofit solution.

⚠️ Not ideal for: Vineyard row-by-row drape netting applications; small blocks under 2 ha where the full canopy system investment is disproportionate; buyers whose only requirement is bird exclusion without hail protection.

Premium Horticultural Imports NZ Ltd (PHI)

• Location: New Zealand
• Company type: NZ grower-owned horticultural netting importer and supplier
• Owned and operated by: NZ orchard growers with 65 hectares of their own orchard — all products used on their own farm before being offered to other growers
• Main products: Fixed Hail Net, Drape Net (also providing bird exclusion as part of the system)

Premium Horticultural Imports operates on a simple principle: every product they sell is tested first in their own 65-hectare orchard. This grower-to-grower model means spec selection is driven by what actually works under NZ orchard conditions rather than catalogue listings. Both their Fixed Hail Net and Drape Net systems provide bird exclusion as part of the protective canopy — a meaningful advantage over dedicated bird-netting-only products that offer no hail protection. Products can be customised to meet the specific needs of your farm.

✅ Best for: NZ apple, pear, and stone fruit growers who want products field-validated on a 65 ha NZ orchard; operations that want to combine bird and hail protection in one system; growers who value direct supplier relationships with fellow NZ farmers.

⚠️ Not ideal for: Vineyard-specific drape netting applications; buyers needing large ex-stock quantities for urgent delivery; operations requiring fine Silvereye-exclusion mesh specifications confirmed in advance.

Empak

• Location: Nationwide, New Zealand
• Company type: NZ market leader in viticulture netting supply
• Experience: 15+ years supplying the NZ viticulture industry
• Main products: Zonenet™, Vineside Net, Single and Multi-Row Netting, Hex Net Lockout; made-to-order available

Empak is New Zealand’s market leader in vineyard bird netting. Their HDPE monofilament product range — knitted in triangle, diamond, square, and hexagonal aperture configurations — spans the full spectrum from single-row drapery to whole-block permanent overhead systems. Made-to-order capabilities allow Marlborough growers to specify exact aperture for Silvereye exclusion (≤14mm) without being limited to stock widths. On-site measure-and-quote service is available nationally.

✅ Best for: Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay vineyards needing specialist viticulture netting with local technical support; growers who need made-to-order Silvereye-exclusion aperture specifications; operations that want the established NZ market leader with proven vineyard supply track record.

⚠️ Not ideal for: Apple orchard integrated hail+bird systems; buyers prioritising lowest-cost commodity netting over specialist specification.

Cosio Industries

• Location: Canterbury, New Zealand
• Experience: 20+ years supplying NZ vineyard netting
• Main product: Ultravine vineyard bird netting — 10-year pro-rata UV warranty, knitted HDPE, reinforced edges, centre marker band
• Available widths: 5m–20m, white and black, 16mm diamond and hexagonal mesh; ex-stock

Cosio Industries has supplied NZ vineyard netting for over 20 years. Their Ultravine range — held ex-stock across standard widths (5m–20m) in both diamond and hex configurations — is engineered for commercial viticulture: 10-year pro-rata UV warranty, reinforced edges, and a centre marker band for easy row identification during installation and replacement. The canterbury location gives good access to Marlborough, Central Otago, and the Canterbury wine regions.

✅ Best for: Canterbury, Marlborough, and Central Otago buyers needing ex-stock vineyard netting with documented UV warranty; operations that need specific widths (up to 20m) without custom lead times.

⚠️ Not ideal for: North Island buyers at distance from Canterbury stock; buyers needing widths above 20m or Silvereye-exclusion mesh below 14mm aperture.

PolyNet

• Location: Christ Church, South Island
• Company type: Supplier
• Year founded: 1988
• The number of employees: 50-100
• Main product: Shade net, bird net, Olive netting, Mikroclima, Insect Mesh
• Other products: Fiberglass Rods, Accessories

Polynet Products Limited distributes knitted polyethylene and extruded polypropylene mesh netting products for use in orchards, farms, and gardens. Polynet bird fencing delivers excellent performance at an affordable price, helping you keep your fruit harvest free of unwanted visitors. Their strong, knitted polypropylene netting acts as a protective fence, deterring birds from eating your fruit or spreading disease to your vines. Polynets are very versatile. You can reduce the size of gaps using clips to connect sections or extend another section of netting over the top.

✅ Best for: South Island orchardists and lifestyle growers needing affordable drape-style netting with flexible sizing options.
⚠️ Not ideal for: Large commercial blocks requiring high-volume supply on short notice; buyers needing dedicated technical installation support.

Ritex

• Location: Nelson
• Company type: Importer and Distributor
• Year founded: 1988
• The number of employees: 10-50
• Main product: Bird protection netting, shade cloth, hail and frost netting, and planter bags
• Other products: Scaffolding, woven produce bags

Ritex is one of the world’s leading suppliers of high-quality products for protecting plants in agriculture. Ritex supplies agricultural textiles including fabrics and products for Viticulture, Horticulture, and Agricultural improvement. This product range is also available to growers, nurseries, and gardens to nurture and protect the plants and crops. Ritex Supplies a wide range of bird protection netting, which is used to prevent birds from damaging crops. They offer bird control netting made of 100% Polyethylene Monofilament netting of Diamond configuration and also Hexamesh netting.

✅ Best for: Nelson and Marlborough viticulture and horticulture operations needing a full range of HDPE monofilament netting with local expertise and low minimum order quantities.
⚠️ Not ideal for: North Island buyers who prefer local support; very large single-order volumes where a direct-import price comparison is warranted.

NetMaster

• Location: Auckland
• Company type: Supplier
• Year founded: 1976
• The number of employees: 50-100
• Main product: Bird netting, Bug netting, Hail netting, Knitted windbreak, shade cloth, Vineyard netting
• Other products: Weed mat, construction netting,

Netmaster has been in the wishbone business for over 40 years. Netmaster provides a range of nets and barriers to meet your requirements. They supply a variety of netting for diverse purposes from gardens and orchards to construction sites. Most of their nets are sourced from factories overseas by companies that can deliver to the production standards that are required for the New Zealand weather conditions.

✅ Best for: Auckland-region orchard and garden operations needing a long-established specialist netting company with offices in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, and Christchurch.
⚠️ Not ideal for: Very large commercial volumes needing custom specifications; South Island buyers who need local stock without freight delays.

Drape Net

• Location: Nashdale
• Company type: Manufacturer, Supplier
• Year founded: 2005
• The number of employees: 10-50
• Main product: Anti-Bird netting, Anti-Hail Netting, Anti-bee Netting,
• Other products: Netting Accessories

Drape Net creates a durable, protective layer of netting that can be draped over crops to protect them from birds, hail, wind, and other elements. Drape Net is very adaptable, portable, and cost-effective; it can easily be moved and stored. This innovative net will keep your most sensitive crops covered when you need it most, with no wasted time or expense. Unlike other netting alternatives, Drape Net’s simple open weave provides excellent airflow and light transmission without blocking views.

✅ Best for: Growers who need flexible, portable drape solutions for mixed orchards or trial blocks; operations where quick deployment and reuse across multiple rows matters.
⚠️ Not ideal for: Permanent structural netting installations; buyers requiring fine mesh sizes for Silvereye control.

Easytek

• Location: Christchurch
• Company type: Supplier
• Year founded: 2001
• The number of employees: 10-50
• Main product: Bird controls, garden supplies, Nettings
• Other products: Home and Garden Accessories

For years, EasyTek has worked with some of the biggest names in plant care to ensure their products meet the highest standards. They stock everything you need for indoor and outdoor plant maintenance. EasyTek brings the latest, environmentally-friendly solutions from trusted world leaders to the New Zealand market. These products will enable growers to protect their crops against pests like birds and have been developed to enable quick and easy installation on a range of plant structures.

✅ Best for: Christchurch-based growers and nurseries looking for a broad home-and-garden supply range with bird netting as part of a larger order.
⚠️ Not ideal for: Commercial orchardists needing specialist netting with technical specifications; large-volume buyers.

Direct Import from China: For Large-Volume Buyers Only

This option is not for everyone. If your order is 20,000 m² or above, you hold a valid import licence, and your timeline allows 3 months from order to delivery — direct factory sourcing from China changes the economics of your project entirely.

EyouAgro (Shanghai, est. 1996) manufactures knitted HDPE bird netting — including fine-mesh Silvereye-exclusion grades (8–14mm aperture) — on 8 production lines from 100% virgin resin with UV stabilizer, supplying B2B direct to NZ commercial importers. For buyers managing their own import process, this means factory-direct pricing with no NZ distribution margin, and access to specifications and batch volumes that no NZ stocking supplier maintains at scale.

Three things local suppliers structurally cannot match:

• Custom mesh and row width — manufacture to your exact vineyard or orchard row width; no trimming waste, no seams at stress points.
• Full-volume batch consistency — 20,000–50,000 m² from one production run. No spec variation mid-project, no colour mismatch when you reorder in year 3.
• Net + hardware in one shipment — netting, clips, support wire, and attachment cords specified and shipped together. One customs entry, everything arrives together.

Not right for you if: delivery needed in 2–3 weeks, order below 5,000 m², or no import licence in place. The local suppliers listed above will serve those situations faster.

Contact info@eyouagro.com with your target species, mesh size, row width, and total area. We’ll send a factory spec sheet, SGS certificate, and full landed cost breakdown.

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How to Choose the Bird Netting Suppliers?

When you are looking for bird netting suppliers, it is important to consider a few key factors.

1. Quality: When it comes to bird netting, you need to ensure it’s of good quality. The last thing you want is for your bird netting system to break down and not work properly. There are a lot of different bird netting suppliers out there, so do your research and make sure you choose one that offers high-quality products.
2. Price: bird netting can be expensive, so you want to make sure you find a supplier that offers competitive prices. There are many bird netting suppliers, so take your time and compare prices before making a decision.
3. Location: You also want to make sure you choose a bird netting supplier close to you. This way, you can be sure they will deliver the products on time and without any problems.
4. Customer Service: Last but not least, you want to ensure the bird netting supplier offers good customer service. This way, if you have any questions or problems, you can be sure someone will be there to help.

How to Decide: A Practical Framework

The right bird netting supplier for your NZ operation depends on two variables that matter more than brand preference: how quickly you need it, and how large your coverage area is.

• Under 2 ha, needed within 4 weeks: Use a local NZ supplier with stock — Ritex (Nelson/Marlborough), Netmaster (Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch), Cosio Industries, or Empak. Speed and local expertise outweigh cost savings at this scale.
• 2–5 ha, standard timeline: Get quotes from both local suppliers and at least one direct-import option. The cost difference may justify the import lead time, depending on your season timing.
• 5 ha or more, 60+ days lead time: Direct import from a Chinese manufacturer becomes financially meaningful. Request samples, UV certificates, and production references before committing. Factor in customs broker fees and MPI inspection time.
• Marlborough/Central Otago vineyard: Silvereye pressure requires 14×14mm or finer aperture netting. Confirm this specification with any supplier before ordering — not all stock items meet this threshold.

No single supplier on this list is the right answer for every operation. The suppliers that fit your situation depend on your region, crop, scale, and timing — not on who has the most compelling website copy.

FAQ: Bird Netting in New Zealand

What mesh size do I need to keep Silvereyes out of my Marlborough vineyard?

Silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis) have a body width of approximately 18–20mm and a bill length of around 10mm. To exclude them reliably, you need netting with an aperture (hole size) of 14mm or smaller in diamond or hexagonal configuration. Many standard vineyard drape nets sold in NZ have 20–25mm apertures — sufficient to deter Starlings and Blackbirds but not Silvereyes. Before purchasing, confirm the exact aperture measurement (not just the mesh size designation) with the supplier. In Marlborough, where Silvereye pressure during pre-vintage is well-documented, this specification detail is critical.

How do I choose between single-row drape netting and whole-block overhead netting?

Single-row drape nets are lower cost per hectare and faster to apply — practical for vineyards where bird pressure is moderate and the netting is removed after each season. Whole-block overhead systems (permanent structure with netting that retracts) have a higher upfront cost but reduce annual labour significantly and provide more consistent exclusion. In NZ, most Marlborough and Central Otago vineyards under 5 ha use drape nets; larger blocks and higher-value blocks are increasingly moving to permanent overhead systems. Discuss with your installer which system suits your vine spacing and trellis configuration.

What is the import process for buying bird netting directly from China?

The standard process: request samples and UV test certificates, confirm specifications in writing, pay a 30% T/T deposit, allow 30–40 days production, then 20–25 days ocean freight to Auckland or Tauranga (Port Nelson or Lyttelton for South Island). At arrival, MPI biosecurity inspection and NZ Customs clearance adds 3–5 working days. HDPE agricultural netting (HS 5608.19) enters New Zealand duty-free under the NZ–China FTA; 15% GST on the CIF value applies and is recoverable if GST-registered. Budget for a licensed NZ customs broker — their fee (typically NZD 300–600 per shipment) is a worthwhile cost for first-time importers navigating MPI requirements.

Which NZ suppliers carry stock for urgent orders?

For urgent supply (within 1–2 weeks), local NZ suppliers with confirmed stock are the only practical option. Ritex (Nelson), Netmaster (Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch), Cosio Industries (Canterbury), and Empak (nationwide) all maintain ex-stock of standard vineyard and orchard netting. Before placing an urgent order, call ahead to confirm the specific aperture size, roll width, and quantity are in stock — particularly for Silvereye-exclusion specifications which are less commonly stocked.

How long does HDPE bird netting last in NZ conditions?

Commercial-grade knitted HDPE bird netting with proper UV stabilisation (HALS-based, typically 2–3% UV additive) has a rated lifespan of 8–15 years in NZ conditions depending on UV exposure intensity, physical handling, and storage between seasons. South Island and inland NZ sites with high UV index can degrade netting faster than coastal North Island sites. Ask suppliers for the UV stabiliser percentage and warranty terms in writing. Netting stored without UV exposure between seasons (shed storage, not left on the vine) will reach the upper end of its rated lifespan. Budget for replacement on a 10-year cycle in financial planning.

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