'Digital doesn't work everywhere'
The chief executive of Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) Gabrielle O’Brien says care is needed to avoid digitally excluding those in rural communities.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) say speed limits around rural schools need to be the same as those around urban schools.
"The latest call by Lake Rerewhakaaitu School principal Rick Whalley is the right one to keep our rural children and families safe - speed limits past rural schools should be the same as for their urban counterparts," says RWNZ education convenor Malvina Dick.
"RWNZ has long held the view that speed limits past rural schools are too high because it puts our children and families at risk of serious injury or even worse, death," she said.
Dick says that while the government's Road to Zero Strategy with its upper limit of 60km/h past rural schools is a start, that speed limit is too fast.
RWNZ is also calling for signs on buses warning passing drivers to travel at 20km if the bus is stationary and that all rural school buses have flashing lights which are activated by the driver when the bus is slowing to drop off or pick up children.
"However, first, on behalf of our rural communities, we would like the government to ensure that the speed limits around rural schools have an upper limit of 30-40km.
"Rural children deserve to be safe from injury or death on their way to and from school."
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
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.