Rural Communities Receive Wellbeing Boost
The Government has announced its support for 18 community-based initiatives through its Rural Wellbeing Fund.
OPINION: Back in the 1960s and '70s, and even into the '80s, successive National government Agriculture Ministers and Trade Ministers were at the top of the cabinet rankings.
People like Duncan MacIntyre, a farmer and war hero, were close to the top and, at one stage, MacIntyre was deputy Pm.
But after the Muldoon era, both Labour and National have pushed the ag portfolio well down the pecking order, and as we see in the PM's latest cabinet reshuffle, Todd McClay is ranked 10th out of 13 - just above the Minister for Mental Health and well above Ministers with responsibility for the arts, hospitality, the public service, prisons and universities.
How times have changed.
National is often considered 'the farmers' party', so should farmers feel aggrieved that the person representing their efforts in earning the bulk of our export revenue is treated like this?
Helensville farmers, Donald and Kirsten Watson of Moreland Pastoral, have been named the Auckland Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
Marc and Megan Lalich were named 2026 Share Farmers of the Year at last night's Canterbury/North Otago Dairy Industry Awards.
William John Poole, a third year Agribusiness student at Massey University, has been awarded the Dr Warren Parker and Pāmu Scholarship.
The most outstanding CNH dealers from across Australia and New Zealand for the past year have been revealed, with two New Zealand dealerships amongst the major winners.
A $20 million dairy beef programme will help farmers capture greater value from their animals.
A precautionary State of Emergency was declared for the Far North District at 1.18pm today (Thursday 26 March), for an initial period of seven days.

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