Wednesday, 03 May 2023 08:55

All about trade

Written by Peter Burke

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Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor.

As the last shipment of live animals by sea left New Plymouth on April 20,2023, Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor was hailing the move as one that puts NZ in step with like-minded partners on the importance of animal welfare.

He says Australia has moved to phase-out live exports of sheep, and animal welfare standards are bedded into our FTAs with the UK and the EU.

"Recent talk of restarting live exports by sea simply ignores the reality that our consumers overseas take issues of sustainability, climate, and animal welfare seriously, which is why they're reflected in our recent FTAs. This decision is part of a number of moves by our Government to protect future export growth and protect our reputation as world-leading food producers," he says.

O'Connor says the decision to ban live exports was supported by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee. He says the two-year transition period allowed affected farmers the time to adjust their supply chains and move to different business models.

"In a market where consumers are becoming more and more discerning about ethical and environmental credentials, this Government has moved to ensure that New Zealand's reputation for ethical trade is not at risk," he says.

Damien O'Connor says NZ farmers are world leaders and must be supported to stay ahead of the curve.

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Dreams aren't plans

OPINION: Milking It reckons if you're National, looking at recent polls, the dream scenario is that the elusive economic recovery finally roars to life.

If voters see some growth and wages rising faster than prices, the government could say they've "fixed" things as they ride into the next election.

Back here on Earth though, the economy they inherited is a basket case, and the long-term headwinds are fierce.

Political commentator Liam Hehir says, "dreams are not plans" and if the turnaround doesn't come in time, National may have no choice but to go negative.

"Everybody wants to fight on the economy if they can. But when neither side has a compelling story, the contest shifts to other issues. That's not new. In fact, it's the stuff of politics everywhere, always."