Labour Supports NZ/India FTA
National's decision to ‘dribble’ information about the NZ/India to Labour contributed to the delay in it deciding to supported the FTA.
Budget 2020 makes major investments in the primary sector that will support more than 10,000 people into jobs, claims Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor.
He says there are significant employment opportunities in the primary industries and Government will be training people to have the skills they need for the jobs in the sector.
“To that end, we’re investing $19.3* million in a range of initiatives that will partner and support more than 10,000 New Zealanders in primary sector jobs by rapidly retraining and absorbing workers displaced from other sectors like hospitality, tourism and aviation,” O’Connor says.
Meanwhile, he says $128* million committed to control wilding pines and wallabies would protect farmers from costly pests and provide jobs for people most affected by COVID-19.
“The wilding pine funding will be a game changer in our fight against a pest that is a $4.6 billion threat to our economy, while providing up to 600 jobs,” O’Connor claims.
“Around $28* million for Wallaby control will focus our efforts against this destructive pest and provide dozens of jobs.
O’Connor adds that the Budget also includes a $433 million package to fund 4,000 jobs over five years in regional environmental projects.
“The initiatives in this package will support the Government’s objectives in its Action for Healthy Waterways.”
* These figures are over a four-year period
Āta Regenerative is bringing international expertise to New Zealand to help farmers respond to growing soil and water challenges, as environmental monitoring identifies declining ecosystem function and reduced water-holding capacity across farms.
Yili's New Zealand businesses have reported record profits following a major organisational and strategic transformation.
Owners and lessees of certain Hino Trucks New Zealand diesel vehicles have just 10 days remaining to register or opt out of a proposed $10.9 million class action settlement.
Silver Fern Farms has successfully produced and delivered 90 tonnes of premium chilled New Zealand lamb and beef to the United Arab Emirates via airfreight.
For the first three months of 2026, new tractor deliveries saw an increase over the previous two months, resulting in year-to-date deliveries climbing to 649 units - around 5% ahead of the same period in 2025.
QU Dongyu, director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has issued a warning saying that global fertiliser scarcity caused by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz will lead to lower yields and tightening food supplies into 2027.

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