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Dr John Roche
OPINION: People have criticised Christopher Luxon for the time he’s taken to appoint a new chief science advisor.
Well, just like good cheese, some things are worth waiting for and the news that Dr John Roche has got the top job is a masterstroke and great news for the primary sector.
The decision was worth waiting for to get a science leader of the caliber of John Roche. At last, there is someone in the Beehive mix who is a highly respected and internationally recognised agricultural scientist, who can take grassroots farmer, industry and agricultural science matters directly to the boss – the Prime Minister.
For too long, agriculture has been on the outer in terms of science but wisely the Government has seen that quality practical science – especially agriculture – is the answer to economic growth and prosperity.
Luxon’s clear message that ‘bold and courageous decisions need to be made about those (science) areas that aren’t delivering value to NZ’ is laying it on the line to some academics who have indulged themselves in what the late Robert Muldoon caustically described as ‘fun subjects’.
Criticism that the advisory panel has a significant focus on ‘dairy’ says it all. These same people would be without a job and a good lifestyle if it wasn’t for dairy – so get over it and face reality.
While the advisory panel does have people on it from the primary sector, they are all smart individuals with proven ability to innovate and translate that into effective business propositions so good science, in whatever field, will surely not be neglected as some might suggest.
Roche is an intelligent, charming individual (helped a fair bit by his Irishness) with a stellar CV who is constantly in demand as a speaker internationally and locally on matters of science. To top it off, he is a fabulous communicator of science and is a fantastic choice for this important role.
OPINION: In politics, credibility is and should be big. It must surely rank higher than charisma, which is quite trite and superficial. Yet, voters nowadays are often wooed and influenced by how someone looks or talks at a superficial level. TV plays a huge role in this.
I think it's going to greatly weaken National at the election. That's the view of a former senior National MP on the recent attempted coup against Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
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OPINION: In politics, credibility is and should be big. It must surely rank higher than charisma, which is quite trite and superficial. Yet, voters nowadays are often wooed and influenced by how someone looks or talks at a superficial level. TV plays a huge role in this.
Farmers can spend less time on paperwork, thanks to a new data sharing agreement between DairyNZ’s DairyBase and LIC’s MINDA software.
Kaikōura families affected by July's severe storm have found a practical solution to a problem that's kept some children away from regular schooling for weeks: a washed-out section of Inland Kaikōura Road, which has stopped the local school bus from running its usual route.
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Interest in agritech and production animal systems has prompted Massey University's School of Agriculture and the Environment to new majors to its popular animal science degree.
Ballance Agrinutrients chief executive Kelvin Wickham says despite a tough year, he is pleased the business has returned to profit.
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