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New Zealand's new Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
OPINION: As we were going to print, National, ACT and New Zealand First MPs were preparing to converge in Wellington. Hopefully, by the time you are reading this, a stable National/ ACT/NZ First Government is in place.
For the country’s farmers, a significant change in government was what they were after. The majority of farmers will be happy to see the change. Also, the three parties now in government have farmers as MPs. In ACT’s case, the former president of Federated Farmers, Andrew Hoggard, will be expected to spearhead its push for a better deal for farmers on all fronts.
The farming sector believes that National’s timeframe will enable the sector to get its numbers in order and for mitigating technologies to advance further.
For dairy manufacturers, the focus will be on areas of trade, food safety, biosecurity and climate. Existing free trade agreements will need to be fine-tuned to ensure they deliver on their intent. Farmers would also want new doors opened into markets which are currently not covered by FTAs.
An efficient and effective risk-based food regulatory system, a sound national infrastructure strategy that prioritises efficiency and therefore productivity in export supply chains, and a focus on biosecurity to retain NZ’s relative freedom from many livestock pests and diseases are also high on the agenda for dairy processors.
DCANZ members, like Fonterra, will hope that any domestic policy approaches for methane and nitrous oxide are effective.
Farmer representatives are ready to get to work with the new government to get the rural sector cranking again. Many will be hoping that a new era begins this week for the all-important agriculture sector.
OPINION: When I moved to Marlborough two decades ago, I found countless lines of tidy vines, neatly mowed and carefully sprayed, with diligent conventional practices interspersed with the odd organic or cover-cropping outlier, like Te Whare Ra.
OPINION: The Government has been seeking industry feedback on its proposed amendments to a range of Resource Management Act (RMA) national direction instruments.
OPINION: The Government's decision to stop local authorities going ahead with reviews of district and regional plans makes sense for several reasons.
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.
OPINION: Two reports out last week confirm that the worst may be over for pastoral farmers.
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says a new report projects strong export growth for New Zealand's horticulture sector highlights the industry's increasing contribution to the national economy.
Fonterra shareholders say they will be keeping an eye on their co-operative's performance after the sale of its consumer businesses.
T&G Global says its 2025 New Zealand apple season has delivered higher returns for growers, reflecting strong global consumer demand and pricing across its Envy and Jazz apple brands.
New Zealand's primary sector is set to reach a record $62 billion in food and fibre exports next year.
A new levying body, currently with the working title of NZWool, has been proposed to secure the future of New Zealand's strong wool sector.
The most talked about, economically transformational pieces of legislation in a generation have finally begun their journey into the statute books.
President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on imports into the US is doing good things for global trade, according…
Seen a giant cheese roll rolling along Southland’s roads?
