Luxon Reveals Updated Ministerial Lineup
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced changes to the ministerial lineup, including a new Minister for the Environment and a new Associate Agriculture Minister.
OPINION: A mate of the Hound reckons if you ever wondered why the current Labour Government seems so far removed from rural and farming interests, one only has to look at the make-up of its supposedly 'rural' caucus.
Apparently, this stellar group of no-names meets every month or so to discuss issues affecting rural and farming NZ.
However, your old mate would have to question just how much this group is in touch with the heartland of the country when it consists of former kindergarten teacher Jo Luxton, past senior public servant Meka Whatiri, former boss of the teachers union Angela Roberts, one-time air hostess and unionist Marja Lubeck, and ex WINZ case manager Terisa Ngobi.
As the Hound's mate opined: "I wonder how all those farmers and rural New Zealanders, who supposedly voted Labour at the last election, feel about their electoral choice's rural representation?"
Good question!
While Cyclone Vaianu remains off the East Coast of New Zealand, the Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group says impacts have been felt overnight.
A Local State of Emergency has been declared for the Waikato for a period of seven days as the region prepares for Cyclone Vaianu to hit the area.
Farmers will get an opportunity to hear about the latest developments in sheep genetics at the Sheep Breeder Forum this May.
Specialist horticulture and viticulture weather forecasters Metris says the incoming Cyclone Vaianu is likely to impact growers across the country.
A group of old Otago uni mates with a love of South Island back-country have gone the lengths of Waiau Toa Clarence from source to sea. Tim Fulton, who joined the group in the final fun to the river mouth, tells their story.
Operating with a completely different format from conventional tractors and combine harvesters, the NEXAT prime mover combines all steps of crop production in one modular carrier vehicle, from tillage, through seeding to harvesting.

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