Damien O’Connor Criticises Budget 2026 as ‘Miserable’ for Rural New Zealand
A miserable budget that didn’t deliver much for anyone.
OPINION: Your old mate reckons if you ever needed proof of just how little influence Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has, just look at his inability to get a dispensation for much needed overseas machinery operators for agricultural contractors for this season.
Meanwhile, overseas-based, synthetic horse racetrack layers are deemed essential and have been allowed entry into NZ?
Could this have anything to do with a certain senior (in more than one sense of the word) cabinet minister’s passion for the gee-gees and bottom-line demands?
Meanwhile, the current Government has also allowed international America’s Cup sailors and even movie makers dispensation to come to NZ – but not agricultural contractors. It’s apparent that the current Government, and its friends, see more value in horse racing, sailing and movies than our vital agricultural sector.
Halter has announced the six winners of its 2026 One Year Free competition, marking the biggest year yet for the annual award and the first time the company has expanded the field beyond its usual line-up.
For 50 years, Tasman's Mel Ewers has been helping the apple sector navigate through compliance issues and training.
The New Zealand ploughing team to the world championship in Croatia next month will be banking on borrowed equipment as they seek glory.
Just a matter of hours after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic trip to New Zealand, the political doors in India swung wide open for Associate Minister of Agriculture, Mark Patterson, who was there to help promote our high-quality coarse wool.
A new company set up to cultivate and supply seaweed for animal methane mitigation studies believes it could be a game changer for the dairy industry.
There's strong support from the horticulture sector for the Government's plans to overhaul and streamline the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.

OPINION: Proponents of regenerative agriculture tend to be naturally aligned with a 'green mindset', so they will be nonplussed with…
OPINION: Mike Chapman, former chief executive of levy-funded HortNZ, has thrown out a challenge to farmers and growers to put…