Editorial: Punching Above Our Weight
OPINION: With 10,500 dairy farms, New Zealand continues to punch above its weight around the world.
Rabobank has appointed Ben Picton to the newly-created role of senior strategist, global economics & markets.
Based in Sydney, Picton, will provide strategic macro-economic research and engagement – including interest rates and economic projections – for the specialist global agribusiness bank in New Zealand and Australia.
Rabobank New Zealand chief executive Todd Charteris says it was the first time Rabobank’s global economics & markets research team would have a representative based in the region, with the role specifically covering macroeconomics for New Zealand and Australia.
Charteris says Picton would “hit the ground running” having more than seven years of experience with Rabobank’s global financial markets team, where he held a number of positions in derivatives sales and trading, working with the bank’s wholesale agribusiness and farming clients.
His most recent role with Rabobank was director, corporate risk & treasury management.
There's strong support from the horticulture sector for the Government's plans to overhaul and streamline the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.
With entries now open for the Ballance Farm Environment Awards, organisers have launched a campaign to bust some of the biggest myths they think might be preventing farmers and growers from putting themselves forward.
Changes to an act of parliament seen as critical to speeding up access to overseas products to control pests and invasive species in NZ is unlikely to get passed before the November election.
Recent storm damage to roading infrastructure around New Zealand has prompted a call for the Government to change the settings for funding rural roads - with the aim of providing more money to make them more resilient to adverse events.
Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) spent two days in Wellington last week meeting political parties and key stakeholders to press the case for a National Organic Policy and dedicated investment.
Ravensdown has reported a net profit before tax and rebate of $50.1 million for the year ended 31 May 2026.

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