'Regulatory Middlemen'
OPINION: Groundswell's opinion of the incumbent farm industry representatives isn't high.
Another nationwide protest by farmers will be held on August 16 unless the Government listens to their concerns.
This was announced at the Groundswell protest in Morrinsville where over 2500 people backed by 250 tractors and 100 utes took part in a rally.
There were calls for the Government to review its policies around farming, especially those related to sustainability and water. Tradies are also unhappy with getting hammered with a clean car tax on utes, vehicles considered an integral part of their job.
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A sign from the protest in Timaru. |
Waikato farmer Andrew McGiven was one of the speakers at the Morrinsville rally.
He says the country and farming folks are fed up with Wellington imposing badly thought out policies on them.
The nationwide protest saw thousands of tractors, utes and other farm vehicles driven through main towns.
In Levin, about 50 tractors and over 200 vehicles took part.
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Henry Bennick from Taihape with his dogs at the Levin Protest. |
Taupo also reported a huge procession of tractors, utes and cars.
In Auckland about 200 tractors drove up the Southern Motorway to the city centre. Some tractors were not allowed into the city centre and ended up at the Ellerslie Events Centre.
New Plymouth-based Manuka honey exporter Egmont Honey has completed its acquisition of Taihape beekeeping business Tweeddale's Honey, with settlement finalised on Friday, 18 September.
Westpac NZ is calling on farmers and growers to start preparing now for the possibility of a dry summer, as likely El Niño conditions raise the risk of drought across parts of the country.
Fonterra Co-operative Group has confirmed the independently assessed candidates standing for election to its board in 2026.
Fonterra has revised its Farmgate Milk Price forecast for the 2026/27 season, lifting the midpoint and narrowing the range on the back of improving global dairy commodity prices.
New Zealand's citrus growers were challenged to build their future on the value embedded in their fruit rather than the volume they produce, at Citrus New Zealand's annual gathering in Gisborne on 17 September.
Leading John Deere technicians and apprentices from New Zealand and Australians were recognised at the recent sixth annual JD Technician of the Year Awards, held in Brisbane.