A rollercoaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
The Government has approved the sale of Crafar Farms to Chinese company Shanghai Pengxin.
Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson and Associate Finance Minister Jonathan Coleman approved the sale of new recommendation of the Overseas Investment Office (OIO). It grants Shanghai Pengxin subsidiary Milk New Zealand Holding Limited to acquire the 16 Crafar farms.
"New Zealand has a transparent set of laws and regulations around overseas investment," Williamson says.
"Those rules recognise the benefits that appropriate overseas investment can bring, while providing a range of safeguards to protect New Zealanders' interests. They are applied evenly to all applications, regardless of where they are from.
"We have sought to apply the law in accordance with the provisions of the Overseas Investment Act and the guidance of the High Court.
"We have carefully considered the OIO's new recommendation. The OIO sought advice from Crown Law and independent legal advice from David Goddard QC. The Ministers also sought advice and clarification from Mr Goddard.
"We are satisfied that on even the most conservative approach this application meets the criteria set out in the Act and is consistent with the High Court's judgment."
Coleman says the consent comes with stringent conditions.
"These 27 conditions have been imposed to ensure Milk New Zealand's investment delivers substantial and identifiable benefits to New Zealand," Coleman says.
The conditions require Milk New Zealand to invest $16 million into the farms and to protect and enhance heritage sites.
"The combined effect of the benefits being delivered to New Zealand as a result of this transaction is substantial."
The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) has found itself in a stoush with NZPork over the controversial National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL).
Fonterra says the sale of its global consumer business and its Oceania and Sri Lankan operations could take 18 months to complete.
The lobby group the Methane Science Accord (MSA) says it welcomes a recent government move to seek outside advice on reducing biological methane targets, rather than relying on recommendations made by the Climate Change Commission.
Well-known scientist Jock Allison has passed away.
After a decade of consultation and court battles, Environment Southland has officially adopted a plan to prevent further decline in the region's water quality.
Farmers are throwing down the gauntlet to politicians - hold an independent inquiry into rural bank lending or face tough questions from the farming sector.
OPINION: Good on the UK'S NFU for battling to get supermarkets to prioritise local farmers' produce.
OPINION: Seven of the UK's major supermarket chains have now responded to the call for them to back the nation's…