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Andrew
OPINION: Farmers are being put on notice by the Green Party.
If they are voted back into power at the next general election, farmers can expect much tougher rules around nutrient management.
This includes the phasing out of synthetic fertiliser usage on farm and reduced stocking rates around catchments.
The strategy proposed by the Greens includes a drinking water regulator empowered to monitor, report on and enforce protections for water sources.
The strategy includes setting science-based national standards for freshwater, lowering the current nitrate limit for drinking water, and entirely phasing out synthetic nitrogen fertiliser.
Stocking rates would also be reduced on a catchment-by-catchment basis to improve water quality and river health.
But as ACT MP Andrew Hoggard points out, banning synthetic fertiliser would drive up the price of everyday food at the checkout and slash New Zealand’s export income.
When the Greens talk about getting rid of synthetic fertiliser, they seem to think farmers use the stuff for fun.
It’s bloody expensive, but it’s also essential for growing the food New Zealand families rely on, Hoggard points out.
Improving freshwater outcomes requires practical solutions, not blanket bans from Wellington. Farmers up and down the country are already doing great work protecting waterways.
The best approach is for each farmer to understand the risks on their own farm, put practical mitigations in place, and work alongside their neighbours on catchment plans.
That’s how we improve water quality while keeping farms productive.
As Hoggard says, it’s a lot smarter than banning the tools that help feed the world.
OPINION: In politics, credibility is and should be big. It must surely rank higher than charisma, which is quite trite and superficial. Yet, voters nowadays are often wooed and influenced by how someone looks or talks at a superficial level. TV plays a huge role in this.
When Northland farmer Mark Cameron entered parliament six years ago, the Beehive was a lonely place.
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.
New Zealand consumers are paying more for beef mince than ever before, with the average retail price now sitting above $24 per kilogram, according to Rabobank.
OPINION: Flicking through some global news headlines just recently, I spotted something tucked away, which in my opinion rather conveniently had less visibility than it deserved.
An Auckland gelato shop and an established New Zealand ice cream maker have both been named Supreme Champions at the NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Awards 2026.
As the cost-of-living crisis continues to put pressure on household grocery budgets, new figures show pork remains one of the most affordable fresh meat options for New Zealand families.
OPINION: In politics, credibility is and should be big. It must surely rank higher than charisma, which is quite trite and superficial. Yet, voters nowadays are often wooed and influenced by how someone looks or talks at a superficial level. TV plays a huge role in this.
Farmers can spend less time on paperwork, thanks to a new data sharing agreement between DairyNZ’s DairyBase and LIC’s MINDA software.
Kaikōura families affected by July's severe storm have found a practical solution to a problem that's kept some children away from regular schooling for weeks: a washed-out section of Inland Kaikōura Road, which has stopped the local school bus from running its usual route.
Rural New Zealand is welcoming the Government’s recent package of rural healthcare initiatives.
