Farming Leader Katie Milne Steps into Politics for National
Former Federated Farmers president Katie Milne is National’s candidate for the West Coast- Tasman seat in this year’s general election.
National is leaving behind last week’s rough and tumble of beltway politics – and the aftermath of the Jami-Lee Ross scandal – to take the pulse of rural New Zealand.
Simon Bridges has launched the party’s ‘Have Your Say’ listening campaign for Rural New Zealand, describing it as “the next step in National’s 2020 election policy development process”.
“Having the right policies in place to help rural communities thrive is vitally important. So we are keen to hear from the grassroots on issues that may evolve into policies to turbocharge rural and provincial NZ.”
Bridges says National is doing the work in opposition so it will have the plans and policies in place should the party “earn the right to govern again in 2020”.
He accuses the current Government of failing to do this homework and blames this for the “180 working groups, potential new taxes and other rushed policies creating huge uncertainty implemented in the past year”.
Bridges says rural NZers deserve to be heard.
“That is why National has launched an online portal to give them an easy way to share their views. National MPs will also be out in their regions talking directly to rural NZers.”
A new joint investment of $1.2 million aims to accelerate farmer uptake of low-methane sheep genetics, one of the few emissions reduction tools available to New Zealand farmers.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has issued a stark warning about the global implications of the ongoing Gulf crisis.
Fonterra has announced interim changes to the leadership of its Global Ingredients business.
New Zealand agritech company Halter has announced unveiled a new direct-to-satellite technology solution for its smart collars for beef cattle, unlocking virtual fencing for some of the country's most remote farming regions.
Dairy Women's Network (DWN) has announced a new limited edition DWN Monopoly NZ Dairy Farming Edition, created to celebrate the people, places and seasons.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) and Federated Farmers say they welcome the announcement last week that the Government will increase the conveyance allowance by 30%.

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