NZ Local Government Reform: Regional councils axed, CTBs proposed
The biggest reform of local government in more than 35 years is underway.
This old mutt was taken aback by a vitriolic opinion piece penned in a weakly (sic) rural publication late last year by a self-important commentator named Craig Wiggins.
In the piece, Wiggins slammed Fed Farmers for what he claimed was the organisation’s lack of activity in relation to the M.bovis outbreak and accused the national farming lobby of not supporting farmers affected by the disease – especially in the Mid Canterbury region. This attack surprised your old mate, and a little sniffing around by yours truly discovered that Wiggins was once employed by Young Farmers. But he lost his role when former YFC chief executive and current Feds boss Terry Copeland ‘let him go’. Perhaps Wiggins’ anti-Feds stance is a bit of utu on his former boss.
The Government is set to announce two new acts to replace the contentious Resource Management Act (RMA) with the Prime Minister hinting that consents required by farmers could reduce by 46%.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says withdrawing from the Paris Agreement on climate change would be “a really dumb move”.
The University of Waikato has broken ground on its new medical school building.
Undoubtedly the doyen of rural culture, always with a wry smile, our favourite ginger ninja, Te Radar, in conjunction with his wife Ruth Spencer, has recently released an enchanting, yet educational read centred around rural New Zealand in one hundred objects.
Farmers are being urged to keep on top of measures to control Cysticerus ovis - or sheep measles - following a spike in infection rates.
The avocado industry is facing an extremely challenging season with all parts of the supply chain, especially growers, being warned to prepare for any eventuality.

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