Winston's fury
OPINION: When it comes to New Zealand's foreign relations, Foreign Minister Winston Peters likes to make all the big calls; remember the sacking of Phil Goff as the Ambassador to London?
OPINION: Last week's revelation that data relating to New Zealand MPs was stolen amid Chinese state-sponsored cyber espionage targeting two arms of the country’s Parliament could test the long-standing trade relations between the two countries.
NZ was the first country to sign a free trade deal with China in 2008 and our primary sector, particularly dairy, has benefited greatly. A big chunk of Fonterra’s earnings come from sales in Greater China.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.
“Foreign interference of this nature is unacceptable, and we have urged China to refrain from such activity in future,” he says.
A few years ago, when the Australian Government publicly accused China of spying, retaliatory bans on wine, grain and wheat were slapped by Beijing. Here’s hoping that the Chinese won’t do such a thing to our exports.
One of New Zealand’s longest-running pasture growth monitoring projects will continue, even as its long-time champion steps away after more than five decades of involvement.
The Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsmen Scheme (IFSO Scheme) is advising consumers to prepare for delays as insurers respond to a high volume of claims following this week's severe weather.
Additional reductions to costs for forest owners in the Emissions Trading Scheme Registry (ETS) have been announced by the Government.
Animal welfare is of paramount importance to New Zealand's dairy industry, with consumers increasingly interested in how food is produced, not just the quality of the final product.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay is encouraging farmers and growers to stay up to date with weather warnings and seek support should they need it.
The closure of SH2 Waioweka Gorge could result in significant delays and additional costs for freight customers around the Upper North Island, says Transporting New Zealand.
OPINION: There will be no cows at Europe's largest agricultural show in Paris this year for the first time ever…
OPINION: Canterbury grows most of the country's wheat, barley and oat crops. But persistently low wheat prices, coupled with a…