Tuesday, 05 August 2025 10:06

Cynical politics

Written by Milking It

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

OPINION: There is zero chance that someone who joined Fonterra as a lobbyist, then served as a general manager of Fonterra's nutrient management programme, and sat on the board of Export NZ, a division of lobbyist group Business New Zealand, doesn't understand that local butter (and milk and cheese) prices are set by the international commodity price.

So, Finance Minister Nicola Willis' little game, implying that the co-op might be cranking the domestic price up, and that she was going to meet with CEO Miles Hurrell to discuss it, was pure political theatre - and cynical politics, at that.

This led to the ridiculous spectacle of TVNZ's lightweight 'political editor' trying to doorstop Hurrell on the 6 o'clock ews about why butter costs so much.

Everyone uses dairying as a whipping boy.

It's deeply disappointing to see Willis doing the same thing.

More like this

Why Fonterra accepted defeat in the dairy aisle

OPINION: Fonterra's sale of its consumer dairy business to Lactalis is a clear sign of the co-operative’s failure to compete in the branded consumer market.

All eyes on NZ milk supply

All eyes are on milk production in New Zealand and its impact on global dairy prices in the coming months.

"Our" business?

OPINION: One particular bone the Hound has been gnawing on for years now is how the chattering classes want it both ways when it comes to the success of NZ's dairy industry.

NZ seeks certainty on US tariff, says McClay

Trade Minister Todd McClay says his officials plan to meet their US counterparts every month from now on to better understand how the 15% tariff issue there will play out, and try and get some certainty there for our exporters about the future.

Farmers' call

OPINION: Fonterra's $4.22 billion consumer business sale to Lactalis is ruffling a few feathers outside the dairy industry.

Featured

Every vote will count - Alliance chair

An independent report, prepared for Alliance farmer shareholders is backing the proposed $250 million joint venture investment by Irish company Dawn Meats Group.

John Deere technician's record hat trick

Whangarei field service technician, Bryce Dickson has cemented his place in John Deere’s history, becoming the first ever person to win an award for the third time at the annual Australian and New Zealand Technician of the Year Awards, announced at a gala dinner in Brisbane last night.

Bucknell to chair NZPork's board

NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.

Bill doesn’t adequately protect productive farmland – B+LNZ

The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.

Australia develops first local mRNA FMD vaccine

Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.