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.
Your old mate notes that after almost two years of cosy meetings and more than $2 million wasted, Ag minister Damien O’Connor’s brainfart, the Primary Sector Council, released its ‘strategy’ on the eve of Christmas, last year.
Despite O’Connor having the ‘Cuddler in Chief’ (PM Ardern) in tow at the launch, the PSC strategy was insipid – coming up with the big idea that NZ will become a world leader in regenerative agriculture and the oh-so woke Māori concept of Taiao!
No wonder this forgettable piece of work was released so that it would disappear in the pre-Xmas madness.
However, while the PSC is under the auspice of MPI, that organisation’s legions of communications advisors and PR were all too busy. Instead, the PSC – no stranger to freely spending taxpayer funds – hired an expensive, Auckland-based PR agency to spin its strategy.
No amount of money or PR spin will ever make a silk purse out of this pig’s ear of a policy!
Mating wrapped up last month at the across-breed Beef Progeny Test on Pāmu’s Kepler Farm in Manapouri.
Libby Judson is a keeper of memories from an age gone by. Tim Fulton tells her story.
A New Zealand-first native tree study has highlighted the Bioeconomy Science Institute's position as a forestry research leader.
Hemp fibre processor Rubisco is relocating its core processing facility to Ashburton as part of a $20-$30 million expansion to leverage what it says is an accelerating global demand for sustainable and renewable fibres.
Tradition meets some of the latest in technology at the 2026 East Coast Farming Expo.
Dairy prices have jumped in the overnight Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction, breaking a five-month negative streak.

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