The politics of climate change
OPINION: The Financial Times, a major international newspaper, featured New Zealand on its front page at the beginning of June. It wasn't for the right reasons.
Bringing farming into a revamped emissions trading scheme (ETS) is now being considered by the interim climate change committee, says Climate Change Minister James Shaw.
“The committee, announced two weeks ago, will consult with the public and sector groups, including agriculture, from about October until the end of this year,” he told Dairy News. “It will then aim to report back about June-July next year.”
Asked if dairy farmers should be concerned about how they will be affected, Shaw said he didn’t want to pre-empt the interim committee’s work.
“It is neither the interim committee’s intention, nor the Government’s,to make dairy farmers worry.
“This is why we want to consult with them and all NZers, and gather as much expert evidence as possible on which to make whatever just transition is required, with the necessary supports to ensure transition is fair and sustainable,” says Shaw.
“I urge farmers and their [lobby groups] to make submissions to the committee, whose six members have respected expertise in relation to agriculture.
“Dr Harry Clark (a member) is a leader in agricultural greenhouse gas research and is the director of the New
Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre.
“And deputy chair Lisa Tumahai... oversees the operation of Ngai Tahu Farming and its work in agribusiness.
“I know lots of farmers are already taking action on environmental issues and the Government wants to work with them to continue that good work and scale it up.”
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.
Holstein Friesian excellence was front and centre at the 2025 Holstein Friesian NZ (HFNZ) Awards, held recently in Invercargill.
The work Fonterra has done with Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd, LIC and Ravensdown to save farmers time through better data connections has been recognised with a national award.
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OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content…