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

Quick navigation: Looking for a supplier? Jump to the Supplier Directory · 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 bird pressure problem that is both persistent and region-specific. 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:

• 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

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 provides excellent performance at an affordable price, helping you keep your fruit harvest free from attacks by 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 main suppliers in the world that provides high-quality products to protect 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.

Bunnings

• Location: Avondale
• Company type: Supplier
• Year founded: 1952
• The number of employees: 10-50
• Main product: Bird netting and  Protection Supplies
• Other products: Plumbing accessories

Thanks to Bunnings, it’s easier than ever to protect your garden from pesky bugs. Their bird nettings and covers provide an easy, economical solution to keep your crops safe. Made from durable polyester mesh, these covers keep the birds out while allowing air and water to reach the plant below. Made in New Zealand using only the finest materials, Bunning’s covers are both waterproof and breathable.

✅ Best for: Home gardeners and lifestyle block owners needing small quantities of light-duty netting available immediately from a local store.
⚠️ Not ideal for: Commercial orchards or vineyards needing UV-stabilised HDPE with technical specifications; bulk buyers.

GrowShop

• Location: Christchurch
• Company type: Supplier
• Year founded: 2015
• The number of employees: 10-50
• Main product: garden supplies, home supplies, Bird nettings
• Other products: Most farm supplies and accessories

GrowShop is a place to get everything you need to grow your garden. They stock bird netting, butterfly netting, rabbit fence, sprinklers and watering supplies, garden tools, patio furniture and so much more. Their goal is to provide the complete package of supplies needed to get the most out of your garden and many other home and farm applications.

✅ Best for: Canterbury home gardeners and small lifestyle growers who want bird netting alongside a broader garden supply order from a Christchurch-based retailer.
⚠️ Not ideal for: Commercial growers needing specialist netting or technical support; large-volume buyers.

Mitre 10

• Location: Auckland, NewPlymouth
• Company type: Supplier
• Year founded: 1974
• The number of employees: 10-50
• Main product: Garden sheds, Garden plants, lightning, Nettings, lawn
• Other products: Building supplies, bathroom supplies, Kitchen supplies

Mitre 10 is the largest home improvement and garden retailer in New Zealand. They have an extensive product range of over 30,000 products to choose from in their stores nationwide. Their product range includes DIY tools, accessories, outdoor living products, gardening chemicals, electrical goods, patio furniture products, and many more products for the home.

✅ Best for: Home gardeners wanting immediate availability from a nationwide retail chain; small one-off purchases without minimum order requirements.
⚠️ Not ideal for: Commercial orchardists or viticulture operations; buyers needing UV-rated HDPE or custom specifications.

ShadeSystems

• Location: Auckland
• Company type: Manufacturer, Supplier
• Year founded: 1964
• The number of employees: 50-100
• Main product: Shade cloths
• Other products: Bird netting, orchard nettings

Shades systems manufacture netting to protect plants.  Their shade netting and screen products are available for the protection of trees and fruit crops against pests and birds and industrial screening against dust and bad weather conditions. If you want to protect your garden from pests and birds without harming the environment, their polyethylene netting is an ideal solution. It’s UV stabilized to not break down in sunlight, so you can place it outdoors and not worry about it fading over time.

✅ Best for: Auckland-region buyers needing UV-stabilised polyethylene netting primarily for shade and screening, with bird exclusion as a secondary function.
⚠️ Not ideal for: South Island or regional buyers needing local stock; operations where bird exclusion is the primary requirement and fine mesh selection is critical.

Considering Direct Import from China

For commercial-scale operations — typically 5 hectares or more of netting requirement — direct import from a Chinese manufacturer becomes a financially meaningful option. The landed cost difference versus local distributor pricing generally ranges from 25–40% on HDPE monofilament bird netting, depending on specification and order volume. That gap needs to be weighed against lead time, minimum order quantities, and the logistics complexity of a first import.

How the import process works: Most NZ commercial importers use Port of Auckland or Port of Tauranga for North Island delivery. South Island buyers typically use Port Nelson or Port Lyttelton (Christchurch). Under the NZ–China FTA, HDPE agricultural netting (HS code 5608.19) enters New Zealand duty-free. GST at 15% applies to the CIF (cost, insurance, freight) value and is recoverable if you are GST-registered. MPI biosecurity inspection adds 3–5 working days after arrival. A licensed NZ customs broker with MPI experience is strongly recommended for first-time importers.

Typical timeline: 30–40 days production + 20–25 days ocean freight (Shanghai/Ningbo to Auckland or Tauranga) + 3–5 days MPI/Customs clearance + 3–5 days local transport = approximately 60–75 days total from confirmed order to orchard delivery. Plan accordingly: most Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough growers confirm orders by August–September for the following season.

Where EyouAgro fits in this picture: EyouAgro (Joyeyou Industry, est. 1996, Shanghai) manufactures HDPE bird netting, vineyard netting, and related agricultural protection textiles for export. The company supplies direct to commercial growers and distributors across multiple markets. For NZ buyers evaluating a first direct import, EyouAgro can provide specification samples, UV test certificates, and production references. That said, if your requirement is under 5,000 sqm, or you need netting within 4 weeks, a local NZ supplier is almost always the more practical starting point. EyouAgro is one option among several Chinese manufacturers — compare specifications and lead times before committing to any supplier.

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 (14mm–25mm mesh) on 8 production lines from 100% virgin resin with UV stabilizer, supplying B2B direct to commercial importers. At 20,000 m²+, the landed cost typically runs 40–50% below equivalent local distributor pricing.

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 kevin@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.

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 make sure that the quality is good. 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 a lot of bird netting suppliers out there, 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 that is located close to you. This way, you can be sure that they will be able to deliver the products on time and without any problems.
4. Customer Service: Last but not least, you want to make sure the bird netting supplier has good customer service. This way, if you have any questions or problems, you can be sure that someone will be there to help you.

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 International (Nelson) and Netmaster (Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch) both maintain stock of standard vineyard and orchard netting. Cosio Industries (Canterbury) and Empak (nationwide) are also established stock holders. 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.

Next Reading

Top 10 Hail Netting Suppliers and Manufacturers in China

This article provides an inventory of the top ten manufacturers and suppliers of anti-hail netting in China.

Top 10 Bird Netting Suppliers in China

This article focuses on finding the best bird netting supplier in China for protecting your crops.

Bird Netting Suppliers in Malaysia: A Buyer’s Guide

Most Malaysian farmers ask which bird netting brand to buy. The more useful question is what spec their microclimate requires. In Pahang's durian belt, the real enemy is not the Common Myna—it's the assumption that any PE netting will hold up. At 33 degrees average with 2,400 mm annual rainfall, UV degradation and mould attack netting from two directions simultaneously

-- Kevin Lyu, EyouAgro