Federated Farmers urge government to honour KiwiSaver promise
Federated Farmers is calling on the Government to deliver on its pre-election promise to change the KiwiSaver rules to help young farmers get their foot on the farming ladder.
What happened to the historic partnership between industry and government? That's the question asked by Feds president Andrew Hoggard.
"Our plan was to keep farmers farming. Now they'll be selling up so fast you won't even hear the dogs barking on the back of the ute as they drive off.
"The Government's plan means the small towns, like Wairoa, Pahiatua, Taumaranui - pretty much the whole of the East Coast and central North Island and a good chunk of the top of the South - will be surrounded by pine trees quicker than you say 'ETS application'," he says.
Hoggard believes that it will be goodbye to all the small town cafes, car yards, schools, pubs, rugby clubs, hairdressers, and supermarkets that are supported by the agriculture around them.
The ACT Party says the rest of the world will be thanking Jacinda Ardern for destroying NZ's farming industry.
The party's primary industries spokeperson Mark Cameron says farmers are the victims of the Government's obsession with overseas plaudits.
"The Prime Minister wants to go on the world stage and say that NZ is the first country to price agricultural emissions. She won't admit that her government's proposal only leads to more emissions," he says.
Cameron says, under the proposals, most sheep and beef farmers would be better off cashing up by selling their land for permanent carbon storage. Many meat processors will shut down, collapsing many small regional towns.
National's agriculture spokesperson Barbara Kuriger says the announcement threatens the sector consensus by failing to recognise NZ farmers are already the most carbon efficient in the world.
She says the plan could have significant implications for our rural towns and communities. But National has a problem and Dairy News understands that many rural-based MPs want Natinal to take a stronger stance against the Government's latest proposal.
With ACT coming out so strongly, it's felt they could take traditional rural votes away from National.
The Good Carbon Farm has partnered with Tolaga Bay Heritage Charitable Trust to deliver its first project in Tairāwhiti Gisborne.
Education union NZEI Te Riu Roa says that while educators will support the Government’s investment in learning support, they’re likely to be disappointed that it has been paid for by defunding expert teachers.
The Government says it is sharpening its focus and support for the food and fibre industry in Budget 2025.
A European Union regulation ensuring that the products its citizens consume do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation worldwide threatens $200m of New Zealand beef and leather exports.
A long-acting, controlled- release capsule designed to protect ewes from internal parasites during the lambing period is back on the market following a comprehensive reassessment.
Healthcare appears to be the big winner in this year's budget as agriculture and environment miss out.
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