Tuesday, 21 January 2025 10:25

Bouquet for bank

Written by  Milking It

OPINION: Groundswell has given ANZ a shout-out for, so far, being the only one of the big four Aussie-owned banks not to set emissions reduction targets for its dairy sector loan book.

While some banks are busy imposing emissions limits on farms they lend to – a practice critics say exceeds their mandate – ANZ is resisting the PC pressure to do the same. “At the moment, we’re not setting a dairy target, and the reason is that we don’t see the pathway clearly for our dairy customers to reducing emissions,” ANZ’s New Zealand chief executive Antonia Watson told The Post.

ANZ’s stance comes amid a banking inquiry and mounting criticism by farmers of their banks, plus anger at three of the four Aussie banks for setting tougher farm emissions reduction targets in NZ than they did in Australia.

More like this

Featured

Dr Mike Joy says sorry, escapes censure

Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.

People-first philosophy pays off

The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.

Farmer anger over Joy's social media post

A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.

From Nelson to Dairy Research: Amy Toughey’s Journey

Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.

National

Machinery & Products

JDLink Boost for NZ farms

Connectivity is widely recognised as one of the biggest challenges facing farmers, but it is now being overcome through the…

New generation Defender HD11

The all-new 2026 Can-Am Defender HD11 looks likely to raise the bar in the highly competitive side-by-side category.

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Buttery prize

OPINION: Westland Milk may have won the contract to supply butter to Costco NZ but Open Country Dairy is having…

Gene Bill rumours

OPINION: The Gene Technology Bill has divided the farming community with strong arguments on both the pros and cons of…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter