This year marks an important milestone in the history of the relationship between Reda and New Zealand. It has been 30 years since the company first entered the New Zealand market with the acquisition of its first farm, Otamatapaio.

This marked the beginning of a lasting relationship, characterized by mutual respect between Reda and local Merino wool producers. Attention to the traceability of the raw material, listening to the needs of the local community, and the established trust with local partners are the ingredients at the heart of Reda's adventure in New Zealand, values that contribute to the creation of high-quality Merino wool fabrics. "We set off in the early 1990s to discover New Zealand's landscapes and the people who work in close contact with nature and animals, to understand more and more where the fibres came from, and from there I fell in love with this extraordinary land and a strong relationship was born that still lasts today" says Francesco Botto Poala, President of the Reda Group.

Today, Reda's presence in New Zealand has expanded further with the addition of the Glenrock and Rugged Ridges farms to Otamatapaio. The company has also established Merino wool supply relationships with over 100 farmers through The New Zealand Merino Company's ZQRX program: "Improving environmental outcomes relies on work at all levels, and we at Reda deeply understand what is required of farmers because we live them closely. The world is changing faster and faster, and we must be the custodians of values such as family, animals and the land, passing them on from generation to generation” adds Francesco Botto Poala.

To celebrate the first 30 years in New Zealand, Reda held an exclusive event dedicated to partners and farmers in the area, during which the Reda Sustainability Award was presented. Always attentive to environmental protection and at the forefront of innovation, Reda established the Reda Sustainability Award to recognize farmers who have excelled in sustainability.

The initiative aims to acknowledge and encourage all entities that have shown special attention to animals and the entire ecosystem. Farms were evaluated based on specific parameters, such as compliance with national laws, traceability of raw materials, and adherence to the high-quality standards that have always characterized Reda's production process. The winners for New Zealand in this edition were Andrew and Harriet Jopp's Moutere farm and Hamish and Lucie Jopp's M in a Diamond farm.