Celebrating success
The Director General of MPI, Ray Smith says it's important for his department to celebrate the success of a whole range of groups and people around the country.
National's 2015 Budget has allocated extra funding to strengthen animal welfare systems and biosecurity.
A $10 million package over four years will bolster New Zealand's animal welfare systems, according to Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.
"This investment will support changes in the new Animal Welfare Amendment Act, which passed into law this month. These changes have made animal welfare obligations clearer, more transparent and easier to enforce.
"They will also ensure New Zealand is well placed to maintain its strong reputation and world class animal welfare system into the future," Guy says.
The new funding will go towards:
• Developing new regulations through the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee.
• Improving compliance and enforcement capability.
• Managing the welfare of animals in a civil defence emergency.
Biosecurity funding will also be boosted by $24.9 million over four years, in addition to $2 million of capital funding, to increase our border capabilities.
Minister Guy says the new funding will be used for a range of new biosecurity initiatives, including:
• Improving New Zealand's import health standards to ensure they continue to keep pace with changing science and focus on our highest priority risks.
• Greater auditing of other countries' systems to ensure they are compliant with New Zealand's unique biosecurity requirements.
• Expanding our biosecurity detector dog capacity to manage risk at the border.
• Introducing more x-ray machines to allow for faster screening of increasing passenger volumes.
"This funding will supplement the recently-launched Biosecurity 2025 project, which will provide a clear direction for the biosecurity system and identify any changes or improvements needed over the next 10 years," Guy says.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
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