Tuesday, 18 November 2025 11:12

SOE on the block?

Written by  The Hound

OPINION: Did the Prime Minister hint last week that the sale of Landcorp assets could be part of the manifesto for the next election?

While flicking Pāmu isn't current policy, it's no secret that Minister for SOEs, Simeon Brown, isn't happy with past performances of the state-owned farmer, or that coalition partner Act wants Pāmu sold, yesterday.

On Newstalk ZB Chris Luxon said: "I don't think our government agencies do a very good job of managing their assets in general. In fact, we're the fourth worst in the OECD... But if you look at something like Pāmu, which is a whole bunch of farmland that the government owns and runs... We're pretty bad I imagine as a government-run farm relative to other farmers doing that job much better".

The Hound hates to put words in the PM's mouth, but where there's smoke, there's fire!

More like this

Review SOEs!

OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of transparency by the Crown-owned entity - spurred by its refusal to release information under the OIA about its conduct around Cyclone Gabrielle and the Hawke's Bay flooding.

Sell it!

OPINION: With things in NZ as tight as they are, your old mate is astounded the coalition Governmnt hasn't yet dumped the eternal underperformer Landcorp and put the $2 billion investment to better use.

Go woke!

OPINION: The Hound reckons the powers at Landcorp (or as they/them like to call themselves, Pāmu) are coming under the microscope with the new government in place.

Editorial: Pamu's challenge

OPINION: The Government is sending a clear signal to state-owned farming giant, Pamu (Landcorp) that things must change.

Featured

Rural leader grateful for latest honour

Waikato dairy farmer Neil Bateup, made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in the New Year 2026 Honours list, says he’s grateful for the award.

Massey University Wiltshire trial draws growing farmer interest

Farmer interest continues to grow as a Massey University research project to determine the benefits or otherwise of the self-shedding Wiltshire sheep is underway. The project is five years in and has two more years to go. It was done mainly in the light of low wool prices and the cost of shearing. Peter Burke recently went along to the annual field day held Massey's Riverside farm in the Wairarapa.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Yes, Minister!

OPINION: The release of the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill to replace the Resource Management Act is a red-letter day…

Two-legged pests

OPINION: Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ for ‘The Twelve Pests of Christmas’ to…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter