Thursday, 04 August 2022 10:55

All for show?

Written by The Hound

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

OPINION: The Hound notes that Fonterra is cashing in on the curent government's largesse with taxpayer money.

The dairy co-op recently unveiled its first electric milk tanker for which it received $427,000 in co-funding from taxpayers to offset the estimated total cost of $850,000 to purchase the electric truck cab/chassis and convert it into a tanker.

The tanker - apparently named 'Milk-E' - will be based at Fonterra's Waitoa plant, where there's a lot of close supplying farms on relatively flat land.

This begs the question, just how realistic and sustainable are electric milk tankers if they can only do short runs with no hills to maintain battery life?

Looks like more greenwashing than anything realistic.

Meanwhile, speaking of greenwashing, Energy Minister Megan Woods, who was on hand to unveil the electric truck, had a V8 BMW740 and driver waiting outside to take her to her next appointment!

Featured

Australian teams to help repair North Canterbury irrigators after storm

Moves are afoot to get a team of Australians over here to help repair North Canterbury's irrigation machinery, ravaged by the big windstorm of late October.

Early drought conditions emerging in Hawke’s Bay as rainfall drops

As you approach Hastings from the south along SH2, the colour of the west-facing hills are a good indicator of a drought.

Global beef trade set for growth driven by Asia – Rabobank report

Global beef trade is expected to grow steadily over the next five years, driven by increasing demand from Asia and strategic export expansions by South American countries.

Bremworth reintroduces solution-dyed nylon while backing wool carpets

Carpet maker Bremworth is reinstating solution-dyed nylon (SDN) into its product mix but says wool carpets remain central to its brand.

New series draws rural inspiration

While New Zealand may be under siege from braindead, flesh-eating monstrosities, that doesn’t mean lambing can stop.

India-New Zealand free trade agreement (FTA) dairy outcomes

OPINION: As negotiations advance on the India-New Zealand FTA, it’s important to remember the joint commitment made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the beginning of this process in March: for a balanced, ambitious, comprehensive, and mutually beneficial agreement.

National

Levies return 26c/kgMS per year in value, DairyNZ reports

Milksolids levies paid by dairy farmers over the past six years have generated nearly $3 billion in value, according to…

Landowners urged to trim trees to prevent major power outages

Power bills could be lower, and power restored faster following a storm if landowners took greater responsibility for trimming trees…

Hawke’s Bay farmers donate livestock to support rescue helicopter

A Hawke's Bay farming family of self-confessed 'frequent flyers' has donated the proceeds from their spring lambs.

Biosecurity NZ ramps up hunt for yellow-legged hornet on Auckland’s North Shore

Biosecurity New Zealand is intensifying its campaign to locate and eliminate the invasive yellow-legged hornet, following confirmed detections on Auckland's…