Greenpeace a charity?
OPINION: Should Greenpeace be stripped of their charitable status? Farmers say yes.
Farmers are calling for Kiwi banks and their overseas parent companies need to follow the lead of America's six biggest banks and urgently withdraw from the Net Zero Banking Alliance.
Federated Farmers points out that since the start of December, heavyweights JP Morgan, Citigroup, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs have all exited the UN-backed banking alliance.
"These big US banks have seen that their involvement ion the Net Zero Banking Alliance is about to come under huge scrutiny," says Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre.
"They're leaving in droves because of lawsuits for anti-competitive behaviour within the banking sector and growing political pressure.
"Federated Farmers are now calling on our banks to do the same. They need to do the right thing and withdraw from the Net Zero Banking Alliance - and fast."
In December, Federated Farmers lodged a formal complaint to the Commerce Commission, requesting an urgent investigation into the lending practices of New Zealand banks.
The complaint relates to alleged anti-competitive and coordinated behaviour from the banks, driven by their involvement in the international Net Zero Banking Alliance.
The Net Zero Banking Alliance is an international group committed to aligning their lending, investment, and capital markets activities with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
McIntyre says with five major banks dominating 97.3% of the agricultural lending market in New Zealand, Kiwi farmers should be asking serious questions of their bank managers.
"All five of those banks are either directly members of the Net Zero Banking Alliance or are indirectly affiliated through their parent companies."
The chair of Beef + Lamb NZ, Kate Acland says the rush appears to be on to purchase farms and convert them to forestry before new rules limiting this come into effect.
New Zealand farmers will face higher urea prices this year, mainly on the back of tight global supply and a weak Kiwi dollar.
Andy Caughey of Wool Impact says a lot of people in NZ have been saying it's crazy that we are not using natural fibres in our buildings and houses.
Former chief executive of Beef+Lamb New Zealand Scott Champion will head the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) from July.
Avian flu getting into New Zealand's poultry industry is the biosecurity threat that is most worrying for Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.
The annual domestic utilisation of wool will double to 30,000 tonnes because of the edict that government agencies should use woollen fibre products in the construction of new and refurbished buildings.
OPINION: Should Greenpeace be stripped of their charitable status? Farmers say yes.
OPINION: After years of financial turmoil, Canterbury milk processor Synlait is now back in business.