New Zealand Sign Language Week Highlights Inclusion at Fonterra Clandeboye
Last week marked New Zealand Sign Language Week and a South Canterbury tanker operator is sharing what it's like to be deaf in a busy Fonterra depot.
The Government inquiry into Fonterra's botulism contamination must examine the impact budget cuts at the Ministry for Primary Industries had on the food scare, Labour's Primary Industries spokesperson Damien O'Connor says.
"The draft terms of reference should be expanded to include looking at whether there was reduced oversight of food safety because MPI had its budget slashed by $26 million," says O'Connor.
"It also needs to examine whether the super ministry, formed last year, had the capacity to deal with such a disaster for our exporters."
O'Connor says the inquiry must be truly independent.
"There is no guarantee the separate inquiries being conducted by MPI and Fonterra will be completely independent when they may be implicated in wrong doing over the way the contamination was handled."
It is important the inquiry is completed as quickly as possible, O'Connor says.
"Our international reputation is on the line and the longer this inquiry takes, the longer questions hang over the quality and safety of New Zealand's food exports."
OPINION: Farmers around the country are welcoming the proposed reform of local government.
A move to boost farmer uptake of low methane emitting sheep is underway.
Silver Fern Farms has tackled the ongoing war-induced shipping challenges to mideast markets by airlifting 90 tonnes of chilled New Zealand lamb and beef to the United Arab Emirates.
The primary sector is leading New Zealand's economic recovery, according to economist and researcher Cameron Bagrie.
Dairy industry leader Jim van der Poel didn't make much of the invitation he received to the recent New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards in Rotorua.
Farmers around the country are going public big time, demanding their local district, city and regional councils come up with amalgamation plans that meet the needs of rural communities and don't allow urban councils to dominate.

OPINION: The old saying 'a new broom sweeps clean' doesn't always hold up, if you ask the Hound.
OPINION: This old mutt went to school to eat his lunch, but still knows the future of the country, and…