Crazy
OPINION: Your canine crusader was truly impressed by the almost unanimous support given by politicians of all stripes in Parliament to the recent passing of legislation for the NZ/EU free trade deal.
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says farmers want greater certainty around water issues and he promises they will get this from the coalition government in the coming year.
He told Rural News the Government understands the unease that this has created – along with a whole lot of other issues including high farm debt in the dairy industry.
“But we will deliver a practical, realistic proposal on water that satisfies the demands of the wider community, but also allows farmers – many of whom have been moving in this direction for years – to get to the point of better water quality over a generation.”
O’Connor says in the coming year biosecurity will put constant pressure on the farming sector. He says all NZers need to be vigilant in respect of this issue and there is an ongoing need to improve our biosecurity systems.
O’Connor claims that in this election year the National Party will exploit the division between rural and urban communities at the expense of farmers.
“This is an outrageous proposition that they have run out at every election. In my view, building a consensus on what we agree on is what we should be doing,” he says.
Another issue on the radar this year says O’Connor is the outcome of Brexit and gaining a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the EU. He says Brexit continues to create uncertainty and NZ will have to work hard to broker an FTA which is beneficial to both parties and to the world in general.
“They need to see our commitment to climate change initiatives, know we have high standards of animal welfare management, that our production is efficient and ethical and that we have done a very good job is making ourselves very efficient producers of protein - particularly dairy and meat,” O’Connor told Rural News.
“We have to get alongside their producers and say the world does need more high quality protein and we can both sell into their market and share some of the challenges of maintaining demand for livestock protein.”
O’Connor believes we should be partners with the EU, not competitors.
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.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.
The Director General of MPI, Ray Smith says it's important for his department to celebrate the success of a whole range of groups and people around the country.
A small company which mobilised veterinarians around the country to deal with Mycoplasma bovis was one of the winners in this year's Biosecurity Awards, held at Parliament.
One of the country's top Māori sheep and beef farms is facing a five-year battle to get back to where it was before Cyclone Gabrielle struck just over 14 months ago.
OPINION: The new government has clearly signalled big cuts across the public service.
OPINION: Your canine crusader is not surprised by the recent news that New Zealand plant-based ‘fake meat’ business is in…