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.
A Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) would transform New Zealand's agriculture and economy by involving five of our top ten export partners.
A TPP could boost our exports to the United States enormously and its only one partner, says Bruce Wills, Federated Farmers President and economics and commerce spokesperson.
"The sky is the limit given HSBC Bank says our trade with the rest of the world could grow 83 percent in the next 15 years. That outperforms the global average and is vital for us to remain a first world nation and for public services to remain properly funded.
"A 2002 a report for the US-NZ Council found a true free trade deal between our two countries would boost New Zealand exports to the United States by 51 percent. New Zealand currently exports around $4 billion to the United States; our number three trading partner.
He says Japan joining TPP negotiations "supercharges the TPP's overall potential". Japan is the world's number three economy and our fourth largest export partner. The potential is "huge" because the TPP would involve half of our top ten export partners including three of the top four.
"The crucial thing for Federated Farmers is the removal of trade barriers for agriculture. That's a non-negotiable requirement for us as the world needs to eliminate tariffs and subsidies. Free trade also needs a wider genuine commitment to services, investment and intellectual property.
"While the free trade agreements we have with the likes of Australia and China are tremendous, multilateral trade agreements are the future, such as the one we have with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)."
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.