Tuesday, 25 May 2021 13:30

Honi O'Connor

Written by 
Honi O'Connor

OPINION: Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor doesn't get too many plaudits these days, but at this month's Ahuwhenua Awards he got one that took him by surprise and, he said, it was one of the nicest things anyone has said to him in a long time.

In a speech to the 800 or so people at the dairy awards, Paki Nikora, who is the chairman of Tataiwhetu Trust, declared O'Connor as an honorary Maori for his work in support of Maori.

There is no indication that other iwi support this, but certainly Maori Development Minister Willie Jackson supported the move saying that Damien was an Irishman and that Irishmen are just like Maoris.

O'Connor responded that while he was not part of the people from the mist (a reference to Tuhoe), he was from the people of the rain - the West Coast.

More like this

It's all about economics

OPINION: According to media reports, the eye-watering price of butter has prompted Finance Minister Nicola Willis to ask for a 'please explain' from her former employer Fonterra.

Red line on dairy

OPINION: As India negotiates to open its borders to more global products, dairy is proving a sticky issue.

Farmland security

OPINION: Paranoia about foreigners is at an all-time high in the US and attention is now turning to foreign-owned farmland.

Popular Reads

Bold taste wins gold medal

Bold taste wins gold medal

Alliance Group's Pure South Handpicked 55 Day Aged Beef has been recognised on the world stage, securing top honours at the…
back to top

Featured

US removes reciprocal tariff on NZ beef

US removes reciprocal tariff on NZ beef

Red meat farmers and processors are welcoming a US Government announcement - removing its reciprocal tariffs on a range of food products, including New Zealand beef.

India-New Zealand free trade agreement (FTA) dairy outcomes

India-New Zealand free trade agreement (FTA) dairy outcomes

OPINION: As negotiations advance on the India-New Zealand FTA, it’s important to remember the joint commitment made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the beginning of this process in March: for a balanced, ambitious, comprehensive, and mutually beneficial agreement.

Honesty vital in flood insurance claims, says IFSO

As New Zealand experiences more frequent and severe flooding events, the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme (IFSO Scheme) is urging consumers to be honest and accurate when making insurance claims for flood damage.

National

Machinery & Products

New pick-up for Reiter R10 merger

Building on experience gained during 10 years of making mergers/ windrowers, Austrian company Reiter has announced the secondgeneration pick-up on…

» Latest Print Issues Online

dairynewscover
ruralnewscover
winegrowercover

Visit archives

Milking It

Remembering Bolger

OPINION: Is it now time for the country's top agricultural university to start thinking about a name change - something…

Time for action

OPINION: If David Seymour's much-trumpeted Ministry for Regulation wants a serious job they need look no further than reviewing the…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter