increase font size
Damien O'Connor.
OPINION: Damien O'Connor is never one to shy away from speaking his mind and ruffling a few feathers, and in a nice way he did this at Federated Farmers’ conference last week.
This is not to criticise the conference, which was the best for many years, with good speakers and panels ably facilitated by president Katie Milne and Steve Maharey.
The awards presented were good, especially to Dr Merlyn Hay for her dedication to discovering Mycoplasma bovis near Oamaru in 2017.
Although a few Māori addressed the conference, they were distinctly absent from the ranks of Feds delegates. This is not new, but while Māori agribusiness has grown, for some reason Māori farmers have chosen not to engage in the activites of the Federation.
O’Connor observed in his keynote address that Māori are now large players in the primary sector, producing 10% of dairy and kiwifruit products and 15% of meat and wool. They are major landholders and many of their farms — as illustrated by this and others years’ finalists in the Ahuwhenua competition — are top class by national and international standards.
And what Māori have to offer the primary sector is huge — their values of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and manaakitanga (sharing).
Jacinda Ardern told the conference that the Chinese Premier had told her how much he appreciated Māori values and how these set NZ apart from other nations. Their story has authenticity that resonates with the modern consumer.
So why are Māori not engaging with or being engaged by Federated Farmers? Do Māori not see the federation as relevant to their needs or interests? Is there a way Māori could raise their profile within the Feds or is it better for them to remain outside the group?
It is important that Federated Farmers ensures the Māori voice is heard by its members, as happened to some degree at the conference. At our peril do Kiwis underestimate Māori values and their contribution to NZ Inc.
Māori need to know that their values are not just respected but are critical to the story about the provenance and authenticity of our food and fibre products.
OPINION: The Hound reckons our government and its wokester surrogates' current obsession with re-hashing past Māori grievances and implementing things like co-governance is doing more harm to race relations in the country than the opposite.
A new state of the art accommodation facility for RSE or temporary overseas workers at a large Māori kiwifruit orchard in the Bay of Plenty has been opened by the Minister of Māori Development, Nanaia Mahuta.
About 150 people turned out last week to attend a field day at Ngai Tukairangi Trust’s kiwifruit orchard at Matapihi.
The finalists in the inaugural Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower Award have just been announced.
Māori Development Minister, Nania Mahuta says horticulture is an important and emerging sector for Māori.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.
