Damien O’Connor: NZ united on global trade
When it comes to international trade, politicians from all sides of the aisle are united, says Labour's trade spokesman Damien O'Connor.
Minister for Rural Communities Damien O’Connor is congratulating the rural New Zealanders recognised for their services to the country in this year’s Queen’s Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours list.
The recipients have been honoured for services to agriculture, science, journalism, community, and women.
“I’m so pleased to see the recipients recognised for their contribution to rural communities, and Aotearoa New Zealand more widely,” O’Connor says.
Former Fonterra chairman John Monaghan has been appointed as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
“John Monaghan… has been influential in the dairy industry through his work with Fonterra since its formation in 2001, supporting the company to become one of New Zealand’s top performing international companies,” O’Connor says.
Lincoln University’s Professor John Hampton, who researches different approaches to the impact of climate change on seed production and quality, was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Also, an honouree is Reverend Louise Deans who has been named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM).
“After revealing her own sexual abuse by a high-ranking priest, Reverend Louise Deans encouraged other women to come forward, and was instrumental in improving protocols for complaints of misconduct in the Anglican Church,” says O’Connor.
Deans was also a committee member of the Rural Women’s Stepping Out programme, and has advocated for farming women to pursue their careers.
“Bryan Hocken, appointed as a MNZM, has been a committed advocate for New Zealand farmers for more than 50 years.”
Hocken was President of Taranaki Federated Farmers from 2006 to 2008 and has been on Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Western Farmer Council since 2011.
“This year the service of New Zealanders is being recognised alongside the 70 years of service by the Queen, the Platinum Jubilee, for which the honours list was renamed.
“To all those honoured today, I thank you for your work and contribution to New Zealand’s rural communities,” O’Connor says.
List of Honours
The National Wild Goat Hunting Competition has removed 33,418 wild goats over the past three years.
New Zealand needs a new healthcare model to address rising rates of obesity in rural communities, with the current system leaving many patients unable to access effective treatment or long-term support, warn GPs.
Southland farmers are being urged to put safety first, following a spike in tip offs about risky handling of wind-damaged trees
Third-generation Ashburton dairy farmers TJ and Mark Stewart are no strangers to adapting and evolving.
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
Fonterra chair Peter McBride says the divestment of Mainland Group is their last significant asset sale and signals the end of structural changes.

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