Federated Farmers urge government to honour KiwiSaver promise
Federated Farmers is calling on the Government to deliver on its pre-election promise to change the KiwiSaver rules to help young farmers get their foot on the farming ladder.
Federated Farmers 2013 Allflex Agri Business Person is Kingi Smiler, chairman of the Wairarapa Moana Inc. The 2013 Agri Personality is former Fonterra cooperative group chairman, Sir Henry van der Heyden.
They were named in the Vodafone/Federated Farmers Cream of the Crop Awards at the Feds' annual conference in Ashburton.
President Bruce Wills says for the Agri Personality of the Year van der Heyden was easily the one person who truly stood out over the past 12 months. While he has left Fonterra his influence and mana has not diminished, he says.
The shortlist for the Allflex Agri Business Person of the Year included Landcorp's Chris Kelly, Wairarapa Moana Inc/Miraka chairman Kingi Smiler and Dr John Baker, of Baker No-Tillage.
"It was a tough decision but Kingi Smiler's gifted business leadership of Wairarapa Moana Inc, a founding shareholder in Māori Dairy Company Miraka Ltd, saw him emerge as first among equals.
"Kingi is simply put an outstanding business person, being a former partner in Ernst & Young and holding directorship across the agribusiness sphere. He is the chairman of Tairawhiti Land Development Trust and is currently a director of Mangatu Inc, the Wi Pere Trust and Wellington Rugby Union.
"If that is not enough he has also completed 19 Ironman competitions," says Wills.
The Good Carbon Farm has partnered with Tolaga Bay Heritage Charitable Trust to deliver its first project in Tairāwhiti Gisborne.
Education union NZEI Te Riu Roa says that while educators will support the Government’s investment in learning support, they’re likely to be disappointed that it has been paid for by defunding expert teachers.
The Government says it is sharpening its focus and support for the food and fibre industry in Budget 2025.
A European Union regulation ensuring that the products its citizens consume do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation worldwide threatens $200m of New Zealand beef and leather exports.
A long-acting, controlled- release capsule designed to protect ewes from internal parasites during the lambing period is back on the market following a comprehensive reassessment.
Healthcare appears to be the big winner in this year's budget as agriculture and environment miss out.