Damien O’Connor: NZ united on global trade
When it comes to international trade, politicians from all sides of the aisle are united, says Labour's trade spokesman Damien O'Connor.
The hound reckons Labour’s agriculture spokesman Damien O’Connor may be treading on thin ice in calling for Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings to take a pay cut due to poor performance of the dairy co-op.
O’Connor suggested Spierings should take a voluntary pay cut and that such a move would restore credibility with farmers and staff. However, a mate of yours truly wondered if O’Connor and his Labour colleagues would heed their own advice? The Hound’s confidant suggested that O’Connor, his struggling leader Andrew Little and the rest of the Labour caucus could also take a ‘voluntary’ pay cut for Labour’s continuing woeful performance. He suggests what is good enough for the goose (Fonterra) should be good enough for the gander (Labour).
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.