Rural NZ top of mind in Copper Services Investigation
The Commerce Commission says connectivity options for rural New Zealanders are front-of-mind as it begins a formal investigation into the future of the copper network.
The Commerce Commission has released its draft report following a review of Fonterra’s base milk price manual for the 2021-22 season.
It is also inviting public submissions on the draft report.
The Manual describes the methodology used by Fonterra to calculate its base milk price – the amount farmers receive from Fonterra for each kilogram of milk solids in a dairy season.
The Commission says its preliminary conclusion is that the Manual is consistent with both the efficiency and contestability dimensions of the purpose of the base milk price monitoring regime, with the exception of the rule for the asset beta.
The Commission says it considers a number of issues from previous years to be resolved and there is more transparency overall.
Recent amendments to the Dairy Restructuring Act (DIRA), which came into force on 1 June 2021, mean Fonterra’s discretion in estimating the asset beta has been reduced.
The Commission’s view is that the Manual rule for the asset beta is inconsistent with new requirements set out in DIRA because it potentially allows for an approach different from the approach prescribed in the Act.
In previous Manual reviews and the review of the 2020/21 base milk price calculation, the Commission identified a number of potential issues with how the Manual gives effect to the DIRA definition of “commodity”
Based on the information available, the Commission says it does not consider these matters as rendering the 2021/22 season’s Manual as wholly inconsistent with the DIRA purposes, but the Commission says it intends to examine more closely how the Manual gives effect to the DIRA definition of “commodity” in a future Manual review.
Submissions on the draft report are welcomed and need to be submitted by 15 November 2021.
A final report will be published by 15 December 2021.
OPINION: In recent years farmers have been crying foul of unworkable and expensive regulations.
Another 16 commercial beef farmers have been selected to take part in the Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme designed to help drive the uptake of genetics in the industry.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Kiwi exporters will be $100 million better off today as the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) comes into force.
Making things simpler, not harder, for deer farmers in farm planning and coping with regulations is Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) industry capability manager John Ladley’s current focus.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) is launching an online business directory called The Country Women’s Collective to promote and support entrepreneurial rural women.
New Zealand actor Sam Neill has joined the Campaign for Wool NZ as an ambassador, lending his name and profile to educate and advocate for New Zealand strong wool.
OPINION: There's an outpouring of concern over the parlous state of one of our major industries.
OPINION: Food security is a sore point in the UK, as a direct result of its National Food Strategy, and…