Industrial Hemp Regulations Revoked as New Zealand Opens New Era for Hemp Industry
From last week, the Industrial Hemp Regulations 2006 have been revoked.
New Zealand’s waterways are getting a $3 million boost from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
MPI announced today that it is providing an extra $3 million to the New Zealand Landcare Trust to improve New Zealand’s waterways and promote sustainable management practices.
The funding from the Productive and Sustainable Land Use Programme will help the NZ Landcare Trust to employ up to seven new staff, to provide services across the country to clean up waterways and promote more sustainable practices.
“This new funding will increase the trust’s national coverage and enable them to employ a new team of regional coordinators to work with the farming community to integrate sustainable land and water management practices into their farming systems," says MPI’s deputy director-general agricultural and investment services, Karen Adair.
The new funding continues the Government’s support to farmers and others to help them make environmental and freshwater improvements.
“The assistance from the government to support both economically and environmentally sustainable farming practices is very encouraging and a strong endorsement of our work with the primary sector,” says the trust’s chief executive, Dr Nick Edgar.
“This is a critical time for farmers to up their game and have a lasting positive impact on our freshwater ecosystems. The funding will effectively double the Trust’s on-ground network of regional coordinators supporting farmers across New Zealand,'' says Edgar.
Adair says New Zealand's food and fibre products were in demand globally because of their high quality and our strong farming and growing credentials.
“Producing and exporting high-value products will be vital to New Zealand’s recovery from COVID. By putting more resources into helping our farmers and growers to integrate more sustainable practices, we can clean up our waterways, and also create jobs and boost our agriculture export and tourism offerings.”
Forestry Minister Todd McClay has today congratulated the winners of the 2026 Growing Native Forests Champions Awards at Fieldays.
The Government has announced $60,000 to provide one-off grants of $1,000 to each of the 60 New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF) clubs across the country.
New Zealand’s rural sector has once again demonstrated its generosity, with the second Rural Industry Leaders Dinner, Debate and Auction raising an impressive $400,000 for the Rural Support Trust.
There has been another twist to the Federated Farmers annual election fiasco.
Analysis of decades of research has revealed the implementation of good farming practices plays a critical role in reducing nutrient losses to improve freshwater outcomes.
Yesterday the Government used the opening of Fieldays to announce a major investment, as part of its Land Use Flexibility package, to support a more productive and sustainable future across six sectors including dairy.

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