Sticky situation
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.
About 200 tractors and utes are making their way to Auckland City centre as part of the Groundswell NZ protest.
The convoy left Pukekohe in South Auckland at 9.30am and is due to converge near Aotea Square around midday.
The convoy was broken into groups around 20 to 30 tractors near the Mount Wellington exit to avoid traffic congestion on the Southern Motorway leading into the city.
Tractor drivers were allowing vehicles access to and from motorway onramps and offramps.
Some tractors displayed placards with messages like ‘No farmers, no food’, ‘No farmers, no food, no jobs’, ‘I’m not going to pay for your EV’.
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Protestors drive tractors along the Auckland Motorway, headed to Aotea Square. |
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
The 2026 Red Dairy Cow conference will be hosted by New Zealand in March.
While global dairy commodity prices continue to climb in most key exporting countries, the second half of the year is expected to bring increased downside risks.
In a surprise move, Federated Farmers meat and wool group has dumped its chair Toby Williams.
Former MP and Southland farmer Eric Roy has received the Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand’s Primary Industries Award.
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.