Crazy
OPINION: Your canine crusader was truly impressed by the almost unanimous support given by politicians of all stripes in Parliament to the recent passing of legislation for the NZ/EU free trade deal.
The National Party's new leader Chris Luxon seems to have placed a bigger emphasis on agriculture with his new shadow cabinet line-up.
Main spokeswoman Barbara Kuriger has hung onto the agriculture post she got during the Judith Collins era.
However, she is now ranked four places higher at number 10 in the line-up and now sits on the front bench.
Meanwhile, Luxon has given severn other members of the National caucus responsibilities for various areas of the primary sector.
Waikato MP Tim van der Molden, a former Young Farmer of the Year winner, has been given an associate role and the horticulture portfolio. Southland MP Joseph Mooney is another associate agriculture spokesman, as is Selwyn MP Nicola Grigg - who also picks up both the rural communities and animal welfare roles. In addition, Stuart Smith picks up viticulture and Ian McKelvie, forestry.
Meanwhile, Todd McClay retains trade and export growth, Todd Muller gets oceans and fisheries and Scott Simpson gets environment and climate change; all three have close links to the primary sector.
The Labour Government currently has Damien O'Connor as Agriculture and Export Trade and Growth Minister, with one assistant - Meka Whatiri as associate agriculture with responsibility for animal welfare.
It has also split out Forestry to Stuart Nash and the Environment and Fisheries to David Parket. The Government has two associates, who are outside Cabinet, for Trade and Export Growth - Phil Twyford and Rino Tirikatene.
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.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.
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.
A small company which mobilised veterinarians around the country to deal with Mycoplasma bovis was one of the winners in this year's Biosecurity Awards, held at Parliament.
One of the country's top Māori sheep and beef farms is facing a five-year battle to get back to where it was before Cyclone Gabrielle struck just over 14 months ago.