Birth woes
OPINION: What does the birth rate in China have to do with stock trading? Just ask a2 Milk Company.
A Chinese business leader says Chinese investors are unfairly viewed as potential security risks in New Zealand.
Bank of China NZ chief executive and China Chamber of Commerce NZ chair Warren Hu told the China Business Summit in Auckland today that New Zealand should follow Singapore when it comes to working with overseas investors.
Hu says while working in Singapore he was involved in many big infrastructure projects involving overseas investors including many from China.
“But in New Zealand, if a Chinese investor wants to invest in a highway project here, there are questions around sensitivities and security risks.
“Can China build a highway here and move it to Beijing?’ he asked.
“I think the sensitivity around security is bullshit.”
He says that as a small country like Singapore, NZ should be open to working with resources from all over the world.
“Singapore is the best friend of China and also the best friend of the US.”
OPINION: After two long years of hardship, things are looking up for New Zealand red meat farmers.
A casualty of the storm that hit the Bay of Plenty recently was the cancelation of a field day at a leading Māori kiwifruit orchard at Te Puke.
Michael Wentworth has joined the team at Mission Estate Winery, filling the "big shoes" of former Chief Executive Peter Holley, who resigned in September last year, after almost 30 years running the storied Napier venue.
Some arable farmers are getting out of arable and converting to dairy in the faced of soaring fuel and fertiliser prices on top of a very poor growing season.
The New Zealand seed industry has reached a significant milestone with the completion and approval of the new seed certification system.
New Zealand's persimmon season will kick off early this year, with fruit set to hit shelves soon.

OPINION: If you ask this old mutt, the choice at the next election isn't shaping up as a contest of…
OPINION: A mate of yours says we're long overdue for a reckoning on what value farmers really get for the…