Diplomatic Incident
OPINION: Your old mate hears an international incident is threatening to blow up the long-standing Anzac alliance as Kiwis and Aussies argue over who wants new Australian resident and former NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
OPINION: The Hound's reckons something has seriously gone wrong with the 'luck of the Irish' with news that Trevor Mallard is retiring from Parliament and will become New Zealand's Ambassador in Ireland.
He reckons Jacinda Ardern's move to duck shove Mallard out of his current role as Speaker of the House and retire him off to the Emerald Isle is an insult to all - especially the Irish.
Meanwhile, your old mate wonders when Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor - who would have been a far better fit as Irish Ambassador - will be put out to pasture.
He's been an MP since 1993 and will have been in Parliament for 30 years by next election.
Surely the clock is ticking for his time in politics to be over?
Mind you, the voters of the West Coast may do the job themselves and save Ardern the bother of that 'awkward' conversation with O'Connor!
A verbal stoush has broken out between Federated Farmers and a new group that claims to be fighting against cheaper imports that undermine NZ farmers.
According to the latest ANZ Agri Focus report, energy-intensive and domestically-focused sectors currently bear the brunt of rising fuel, fertiliser and freight costs.
Having gone through a troublesome “divorce” from its association and part ownership of AGCO, Indian manufacturer TAFE is said to be determined to be seen as a modern business rather than just another tractor maker from the developing world.
Two long-standing New Zealand agricultural businesses are coming together to strengthen innovation, local manufacturing capability, and access to essential farm inputs for farmers across the country.
A new farmer-led programme aimed at bringing young people into dairy farming is under way in Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
The Government has announced changes to stock exclusion regulations which it claims will cut unnecessary costs and inflexible rules while maintaining environmental protections.

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