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Did minister David Parker say it? Opposition’s Nathan Guy thinks so.
National’s agriculture spokesperson Guy alleged in Parliament that Trade Minister Parker told the EU Agriculture Commissioner and his trade delegation that “hungry sharemilkers screw everything out of their cows and allow them to s*** in our rivers”.
Guy asked Parker at a meeting in Wellington last week whether he had said that. Parker said he had not, but Guy said his sources said that the Minister did say that.
Parker charged that Guy was “misinterpreting comments that I think he’s heard third- or fourth-hand”.
“The meeting with the European Commission included the issue of nutrient pollution,” Parker said. “Some of the farm groups at the meeting, I think, were somewhat shocked to hear the European Commission say that the commission had required the Netherlands to cull 100,000 cows because they exceeded their nutrient pollution guideline.”
OPINION: When we finally get a government (no agreement had been finalised at time of writing), the first thing the new administration needs to review is all the regional and district plans that are being rolled out across the country to comply with the new National Policy Statement (NPS).
OPINION: Environment Minister David Parker, likely in the final weeks of the job, remains hell-bent on burning bridges with farmers.
New national standards will give local councils more power to decide where new commercial forests – including carbon forests – are located, to reduce the impacts on communities and the environment, says Environment Minister David Parker.
Environment Minister David Parker has labelled members of rural ginger group Groundswell NZ as “dinosaurs”.
Freshwater farm plans to help farmers improve local waterways will be progressively phased in across the country.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
OPINION: Talking about plant-based food: “Chicken-free chicken” start-up Sunfed has had its valuation slashed to zero by major investor Blackbird…
OPINION: Synlait's financial woes won’t be going away anytime soon.
