Damien O’Connor: NZ united on global trade
When it comes to international trade, politicians from all sides of the aisle are united, says Labour's trade spokesman Damien O'Connor.
OPINION: Your old mate has heard about rugby players putting their bodies on the line for their country, but not bureaucrats.
However, word has it that one of NZ's key trade negotiators in the recent FTA with the UK caught Covid-19 during a trade trip last month.
Vangelis Vitalis, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's deputy secretary for trade and economic issues, accompanied Damien O'Connor on his trip to the United States and EU in October.
In a statement, MFAT confirmed that Vitalis had tested positive for Covid-19 while in Europe, it added that he was double-vaccinated, had experienced only milk symptoms to date and was recovering well.
Talk about taking one for the team!
I'm sure farmers around NZ will join the Hound in wishing Vitalis a speedy recovery and thank him for his efforts in helping secure better access for NZ primary products around the world.
Matt McRae, a farmer from Mokoreta in Southland who runs a sheep, beef and dairy support business alongside a sheep stud, has been elected to the Beef +Lamb NZ Board as a farmer director.
Ravensdown's next evolution in smart farming technology, HawkEye Pro, was awarded the Technology Section Award at the Southern Field Days Farm Innovation Awards in February 2026.
While mariners may recognise a “dog watch” as a two-hour shift on a ship, the Good Dog Work Watch is quite a different concept and the clever creation of Southland siblings Grace (9) and Archer Brown (7), both pupils at Riverton Primary School.
Philip and Lyneyre Hooper of the Hoopman Family Trust have tonight been named the Taranaki Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
We are not a bunch of sky cowboys. That was one of the key messages from the chairperson of the NZ Agricultural Aviation Association (NZAAA) Kent Weir, speaking at an education day at Feilding aerodrome for 25 policymakers and regulators from central and local government and other rural professionals.
New Zealand's dairy and beef industries say they welcome the announcement that the Government will invest $10.49 million in the Dairy Beef Opportunities (DBO) programme.

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