Editorial: Getting RMA settings right
OPINION: The Government has been seeking industry feedback on its proposed amendments to a range of Resource Management Act (RMA) national direction instruments.
OPINION: James Shaw is the last of the real Greens – a person who until the end has lived up to the ideals of the original NZ Green Party, which first entered Parliament in 1999 when one of its founders, Jeanette Fitzsimmons, historically won the Coromandel seat. Rod Donald and Mike Ward were the other key founding members.
In its early years the Green Party was the flag bearer for the environment and while many people questioned its policies, it was widely respected.
Fitzsimmons was seen as a strong and uncompromising advocate for the environment, but her advocacy was couched in moderate and reasonable language.
Shaw carried on this tradition to the bitter end; A man with a lifetime commitment to advocacy for green ideals. Described as affable, engaging, gentle and kind he was also intelligent and a smart politician. He will be remembered as a great Climate Change Minister and for the passing of the Zero Carbon Act.
Shaw has not walked away from the Greens – they have walked away from him. To call the present party ‘Green’ stretches the imagination to the limit. It is known in some circles as the ‘watermelon party’ – a thin layer of green on the outside, but red on the inside. While the party bats on about climate change, it seems to be placing more and more emphasis on hard left-wing social issues which will ensure that it forever will remain just an opposition party.
The moderate and pragmatic approach of Shaw, now seems unwanted in the Green Party, which is looking more bedraggled by the day – not helped by the recent Golriz Ghahraman saga. Despite the party winning more seats in the last election, one must question where its future lies and who it really appeals to, other than an array of disaffected individuals.
Sadly, the reality is that Shaw is too good for the Greens and will probably go on to carve out another stellar career in business.
Independent Waikato milk processor Tatua has set another new record for conventional farmgate milk price paid to New Zealand farmers.
OPINION: Environment Canterbury's (ECan) decision recently to declare a so-called “nitrate emergency” is laughable.
An early adopter of a 10-in-7 variable milking regime, the Lincoln University Demonstration Dairy Farm (LUDF) is tweaking the system this season in search of further boosting farm performance and profitability.
The dairy sector is in a relatively stable position, with strong milk price payout forecasts continuing to offset ongoing high farm costs, according to DairyNZ.
A shameless political stunt is how Federated Farmers is describing the Canterbury Regional Council decision to declare “a nitrate emergency” on the back of its latest annual groundwater quality survey.
Fonterra has delivered a fifth straight year of record organic milk price for farmer suppliers.
OPINION: Dairy industry players are also falling by the wayside as the economic downturn bites around the country.
OPINION: Methane Science Accord, a farmer-led organisation advocating for zero tax on ruminant methane, will be quietly celebrating its first…