Editorial: Great expectations
OPINION: As the new National-led coalition begins its term in office, there are high expectations that the promises and rhetoric of the election campaign will quickly be transformed into actions.
This old mutt was flabbergasted at the reaction by some mainstream (lamestream) media to the news that Todd Muller would be replacing the retiring former primary industries minister Nathan Guy as National’s new spokesman in the portfolio.
According to many of these beltway millennials Muller’s appointment to the primary industries role – he moves on from the climate change portfolio – was a ‘demotion’.
However, the Hound insists that Muller’s corporate background at Fonterra and Zespri, and the work he’s done for the Nats on climate change, rank him among NZ’s best qualified potential ag ministers.
And consider the importance of the portfolio to this country’s economy. Muller’s promotion from number 31 to 17 up the National caucus rankings shows this was, in fact, a big promotion and not a demotion.
The Climate Change Commission wants the new Government to reduce NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction volumes as son as possible.
Southland-based Mataura Valley Milk can now lay claim to be the first all-electric dairy factory in New Zealand.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
Meat co-operative Alliance Group has bagged four gold medals at the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards, achieving top honours for every cut entered.
There is increasing evidence that dairy demand is on the upswing, according to Rabobank senior agricultural analyst Emma Higgins.
Fertiliser use in New Zealand over the 18 months is about 25% down from what it consistently was for the previous decade or more, says Ravensdown chief operating officer Mike Whitty.
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