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Bill English.
Federated Farmers congratulates outgoing Prime Minister John Key after eight years leading the country, and looks forward to working with Bill English in the top job.
"John Key has been an outstanding Prime Minister and ambassador for our country.
"During his time in office he has overseen some profound challenges and changes," Federated Farmers President Dr William Rolleston says.
"These are tough shoes to fill, but we are certainly happy to back Bill English and expect he will continue to lead the Government in the positive way John Key has always done."
Federated Farmers is pleased to see a farmer back in charge of the country, after 20 years, and hopes that he will lead with the pragmatism farmers are so well known for.
The challenge for English and his new team will be to live up to the expectations the nation has, particularly in terms of sound financial and economic management.
"This has been the cornerstone of the Key administration, and while New Zealand’s primary sector needs this to remain the government’s priority, we also need the government to stick to evidence-based policy.
"It needs to avoid popularism if it is to tackle contentious but important issues such as superannuation and the environment. Only then will it be able to say it has truly benefitted the country," Dr Rolleston says.
"The Government must stay focused on the importance of the primary sector to New Zealand. It’s the engine room of our economy and it supports our nation’s high standard of living."
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
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Federated Farmers says the final report into banking competition is a significant step forward for rural New Zealand - and a vindication of the farming sector's concern.
Farmer lobby group Federated Farmers has announced it is supporting a new Member’s Bill which it says could bring clarity to New Zealand farmers and save millions in legal costs.
Federated Farmers says climate protest group Greenpeace is manufacturing outrage and attempting to scare New Zealanders with headlines that have no basis in science.
Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.
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