Mark Cameron Steps Down, Reflects on Farmers' Voice
When Northland farmer Mark Cameron entered parliament six years ago, the Beehive was a lonely place.
ACT MPs Mark Cameron (right) and Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard make their way to the House with gumboots.
Last week's Parliament sitting saw another first – a few Government MPs wearing gumboots in the House during Question Time.
ACT MP Mark Cameron obtained special permission from the Speaker, Gerry Brownlee, for rural MPs to do this.
Cameron says it’s a show of solidarity with farmers and the rural sector, and an acknowledgement of the pressures on the sector.
“This includes from laws and regulations originating in our Parliament,” he says.
Cameron hopes to make this an annual tradition.
Ballance Agrinutrients chief executive Kelvin Wickham says despite a tough year, he is pleased the business has returned to profit.
When Northland farmer Mark Cameron entered parliament six years ago, the Beehive was a lonely place.
Speculation of a possible joint move by Fonterra and a2 Milk to buy Synlait raises a much bigger strategic question, says agribusiness expert Dr Nic Lees.
I think it's going to greatly weaken National at the election. That's the view of a former senior National MP on the recent attempted coup against Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Despite political shenanigans in Wellington, farmers are confident that Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms will get over the line in this term of Parliament.
New Zealand's pest problem has reached crisis point, according to Federated Farmers' second National Pests Survey, which shows farmers are spending more money and effort on control — yet pest numbers keep climbing faster than they were two years ago.
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