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Prime Minister Chris Hipkins at the NZ Primary Industries Summit last week.
OPINION: It was Federated Farmers' turn last week to play host to another round in the battle for rural votes in the upcoming October elections.
But the perceived battle between the two Chrises - Chris (Hipkins) and Christopher (Luxon) - was a bit of a fizzer.
Only Labour and National leaders were invited to speak - the potential coalition partners and the gaggle of political nobodies were left off the programme. To have ACT there might have been something of an embarrassment anyway given former president Andrew Hoggard's defection to ACT.
Hipkins' speech saw him bask in the success of his recent China trade mission and the importance of trade agreements to NZ. He promised to make getting more of these a high priority. In relation to this he did emphasise the need for NZ to have strong environment credentials if it wants to get more such agreements.
His key message seemed to be that he wanted NZ to be the 'greatest little trading nation'.
There was certainly no hard-line talk about regulations, which he surely knew would raise the ire of the audience.
Luxon's pitch was one that he's given at just about every meeting he's attended in recent times and there was no sign of any new policy initiatives in the wind. Maybe a missed opportunity. But cutting red tape, the ute tax and stopping Wellington running rural NZ certainly resonated with farmers.
However, he continued his quest to get into the Guiness book of records for being the politician who has used the word 'outcomes' more than anyone else. Maybe he needs a new media coach or speech writer.
The question is, will speeches by the political leaders at such events influence voters and how accurate and important are the current polls anyway? Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger famously said "bugger the polls" when they showed he was behind Labour. He went on to win that election.
A rare weather double-whammy has seen many South Island farmers having to deal with unseasonal snow while still cut off from power supplies after an unprecedented windstorm.
OPINION: Recent media commentary from Southland Federated Farmers has raised concerns among our rural communities, particularly around Environment Southland’s approach to winter grazing inspections and nitrogen reporting. But let’s be clear, much of what’s been said simply doesn’t reflect reality.
OPINION: Environment Canterbury's (ECan) decision recently to declare a so-called “nitrate emergency” is laughable.
A shameless political stunt is how Federated Farmers is describing the Canterbury Regional Council decision to declare “a nitrate emergency” on the back of its latest annual groundwater quality survey.
Federated Farmers say Environment Canterbury's decision to declare a 'nitrate emergency' is a shameless political stunt that won't help anyone.
Jayna Wadsworth, daughter of the late New Zealand wicketkeeper Ken Wadsworth, has launched an auction of cricket memorabilia to raise funds for I Am Hope's youth mental health work.
As we move into the 2025/26 growing season, the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) reports that the third quarter results for the year to date is showing that the stagnated tractor market of the last 18 months is showing signs of recovery.
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown is urging dairy farmers to participate in the 2026 Levy vote, to be held early next year.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling for nominations for director roles in the Eastern North Island and Southern South Island electoral districts.
Going one better than a frustratingly close second place finish at last year's event, the country's top axeman, Jack Jordan of Taumaranui, last weekend won the Stihl Timbersports World Championship individual event in.
Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) show president Brent Chamberlain says a big development for this year is the Wool Zone, first introduced two years ago as a showplace for everything produced from wool, but now greatly enlarged with its own Wool Marquee and more than 30 trade sites.
