Diplomatic Incident
OPINION: Your old mate hears an international incident is threatening to blow up the long-standing Anzac alliance as Kiwis and Aussies argue over who wants new Australian resident and former NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
OPINION: The Hound notes that in all the media hoo-ha over outgoing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her replacement by a Richie Cunningham from Happy Days look-alike, news that another quitter was back went under the radar.
At the same time, when Ardern was tearfully throwin in the towel, National leader Chris Luxon announced that Todd Muller would be the party's new agriculture spokesman.
Muller was previously the Nats' ag spokesman before he knifed former leader Simon Bridges in 2020 and then quit 51 days later - earning him the rather cutting nickname 'Puddle' because he completely melted when the pressure came on.
Farmers will be keen to see what Muller 2.0 does in regards to issues like methane taxation.
Let's hope he is up to the job this time and has enough backbone and steel to steer the ship in the right direction!
A verbal stoush has broken out between Federated Farmers and a new group that claims to be fighting against cheaper imports that undermine NZ farmers.
According to the latest ANZ Agri Focus report, energy-intensive and domestically-focused sectors currently bear the brunt of rising fuel, fertiliser and freight costs.
Having gone through a troublesome “divorce” from its association and part ownership of AGCO, Indian manufacturer TAFE is said to be determined to be seen as a modern business rather than just another tractor maker from the developing world.
Two long-standing New Zealand agricultural businesses are coming together to strengthen innovation, local manufacturing capability, and access to essential farm inputs for farmers across the country.
A new farmer-led programme aimed at bringing young people into dairy farming is under way in Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
The Government has announced changes to stock exclusion regulations which it claims will cut unnecessary costs and inflexible rules while maintaining environmental protections.