Celebrating success
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.
INVESTIGATIONS INTO how a single fruit fly arrived in Whangarei must continue after the local port ruled out being the source, Labour's Primary Industries spokesman Damien O'Connor says.
"New Zealand cannot afford to let its guard down despite no further fruit flies being found in Whangarei," O'Connor says.
"An infestation of Queensland fruit flies would have a devastating effect on our horticulture industry. They are the horticulture equivalent of foot and mouth disease.
"The Whangarei ports said it didn't arrive via its facilities because no produce is imported on its docks.
"We still don't know how the fly got here. It is important we know so we can protect our valuable industries from the decimation these flies have caused on Australian crops.
"Other routes into the country such as recreational yachts must be considered.
"New Zealand has been let off with a warning. Next time we won't be so lucky.
"This Government has run our biosecurity services into the ground. Our biosecurity resources are spread so thin, officers would be seriously stretched by a large-scale infestation."
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand has no intention of backing down in a trade dispute with Canada over dairy products.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
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