Public consultation opens on firearms law
Consultation for changes to the Arms Act is now open and will run until 28 February 2025.
The Primary Production Select Committee is calling for submissions on the Valuers Bill currently before Parliament.
The Valuers Bill seeks to reenact the Valuers Act 1948. It would provide for the registration of land valuers and the establishment of the New Zealand Institute of Valuers.
The bill is a revision bill which is a bill that is used to re-enact legislation in an up-to-date and accessible form.
The bill would not make any substantial policy changes to the original legislation and would make minor changes to correct inconsistencies and omissions.
It is intended that the bill will be rewritten using plain language and modern drafting style. The scope of the changes the committee can recommend on the bill are narrow.
Alongside the bill, the Primary Production Committee is also considering an amendment paper that would amend the bill.
Amendment Paper 286 would increase the penalties for offences under the law, remove the requirement that a registered valuer be over the age of 23 years, and expand the Valuers Registration Board’s disciplinary powers.
According to a recent Section 7 report presented to the House by the Attorney-General, the age restriction listed under the original bill (that no one under the age of 23 years can be a registered valuer) would be inconsistent with the right to freedom from discrimination under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.
To make a submission on the Valuers Bill or the proposed amendment, head to the Parliament website.
The closing date for submissions on the bill is 11.59pm on Friday, 27 June 2025.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
OPINION: The phasing out of copper network from communications is understandable.
Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.