Hawke's Bay to the world
Rockit chief executive Mark O'Donnell says consumer awareness for the brand continues to improve each year.
Trade minister Todd McClay says he's received strong assurances that New Zealand's trade interests will not be adversely affected as a result of the Brexit vote.
McClay, in China for the G20 meeting of world trade ministers, met the EU trade commissioner Cecelia Malmström and other trade and economic ministers from Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands. McClay says Malmström confirmed that NZ remains on track to negotiate an FTA with the EU.
"Considerable effort has been put in by both sides over the past few years as a high quality trade agreement is in all parties' interests," he told Rural News.
"We have a lot in common with the EU, including working toward further trade rules on agriculture, SMEs and services in the World Trade Organisation. This cooperation will continue, as will our access to the EU market, valued at $8.6 billion per year."
He says all parties spoke of the need for calm reflection and orderly discussions on trade.
McClay also met the UK trade minister, at the time Lord Price, and told him that NZ was interested in negotiating a two-party trade agreement with the UK once Britain was in a position to do so.
"Timing of a [two-party] agreement would depend on discussions the UK must first have with the EU, but we agreed it is in the interests of the UK and New Zealand to negotiate a high-quality agreement.... I have confirmed the NZ government will work with the UK on trade matters and look for opportunities to cooperate as soon as possible," he says.
At the G20 meeting McClay spoke to his counterparts from Argentina, US, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Mexico, Laos, Russia and China.
"The diversity of NZ trade means we are active in a wide range of markets. This meeting was an invaluable opportunity to progress our specific bilateral trade issues with these countries," he says.
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.
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