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.
National's position has not changed on a water tax or levy, says Opposition Leader Simon Bridges.
“National will not introduce a tax or royalty on commercial water users – outside of a possible levy on water bottlers who export water,” he says.
Rural News queried if the party’s position on a wider water tax had changed after he told a radio show he was open to a water tax on bottled water.
“Charging for water bottlers who export is a hard issue,” he told Rural News.
“In Government, we were working our way through it. Our water technical advisory group included the issues around export water in their considerations – that was due to report back November last year.
“National’s view is we are open to charging water bottlers who export, but the policy needs to be developed carefully to ensure it is consistent, fair and workable. Water policy can’t be done in isolation – it needs to be considered alongside other big users such as soft drink manufacturers, beer production, and major users like irrigation and hydro generation.
“It also is tied up with the complex issue of iwi rights and interest in fresh water. This is a complicated issue which needs to be appropriately considered.”
Bridges had earlier told The AM Show if you put a price on water there will be a variety of interest groups, including iwi, taking you to court.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.