Simon Upton urges cross-party consensus on New Zealand environmental goals
Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton is calling for cross-party consensus on the country's overarching environmental goals.
OPINION: This month, the government announced a pause to the rollout of the national farm plan system.
However, Environment Southland’s message to farmers is: start pulling together the information for farm plans now.
So, what should farmers do? Stop work on their respective farm plans or carry on as urged by ES?
This confusion isn’t helping the farming sector. The Government must move quickly with changes to the Resource Management Act that will put a stop to councils like ES working on freshwater farm plans, already a requirement in the Southland Water and Land Plan.
Everyone agrees that we need a farm plan system that is practical and cost-effective and based on specific farm conditions. So, why the confusion?
According to ASB, Fonterra's plan to sell it's Anchor and Mainlands brands could inject $4.5 billion in additional spending into the economy.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.
The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.
Dignitaries from all walks of life – the governor general, politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Todd McClay is encouraging farmers, growers, and foresters not to take unnecessary risks, asking that they heed weather warnings today.
With nearly two million underutilised dairy calves born annually and the beef price outlook strong, New Zealand’s opportunity to build a scalable dairy-beef system is now.