Feds make case for rural bank lending probe
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
Federated Farmers welcomes the launch of Local Government New Zealand's Excellence Programme.
The programme details a new independent standards system to measure the performance of local authorities.
Federated Farmers spokesperson for local government Katie Milne says it's crucial for farmers, rural communities, and for New Zealand that local government provides value for money.
"Overall Federated Farmers believes this initiative should be very helpful and over time improvements can be made to the programme to enhance performance," says Milne.
"We think further improvements can be made by including more 'outcome' related indicators as opposed to process indicators, a beefing up of the indicators for service delivery, and the inclusion of measures on rates and spending from a ratepayer perspective.
"The Excellence Programme is a great start as it will encourage councils to be more efficient and effective and to adopt best practices."
Under the programme, ratepayers and communities will now have the ability to assess how their councils are doing, including comparing them.
"Federated Farmers challenge all councils to get on board," says Milne.
"We're always keen to engage with councils and will shortly be putting out our own guide for best practice: our three-yearly Local Elections Manifesto."
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
OPINION: This old mutt well remembers the wailing, whining and gnashing of teeth by former West Coast MP and Labour…
OPINION: Your canine crusader gets a little fed up with the some in media, union hacks, opposition politicians and hard-core…