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When Covid-19 first arrived on NZ shores, PM Jacinda Ardern made great play of the fact that the primary sector would be the saviour of the economy.
OPINION: When Covid-19 first arrived in New Zealand, PM Jacinda Ardern made great play of the fact that it would be the primary sector - and that means rural NZ - would be the saviour of the economy.
Agriculture and the supporting processing and supply chain workers and farmers were deemed essential, and to their great credit these people have delivered 100% and more.
But if perchance, or maybe out of morbid curiosity, you tune into Jacinda's daily sermons from the Beehive, you would struggle to hear the word 'rural' mentioned these days.
The vaccine roll-out has been urban driven with percentage rates in Auckland hailed and glorified. It seems to be all about high population numbers, which also means votes, or is that being too cynical?
While low vaccination rates are in the Beehive narrative, what is not coming through is that many of the very low vaccination rates are in clusters in rural areas - often Maori and Pasifika who are absolutely essential, in fact critical, workers for the success of NZ's economic failure.
They often form the bulk of the workers in the meat processing plants and perform other essential roles in rural areas.
It would appear that the Government and the Ministry of Health officials stupidly think that urban based solutions for dealing with Covid can somehow be shoehorned or made to fit in rural areas.
It's time these people started listening to people like Fiona Bolden (chair Rural GP Network) and other rural GPs and health professionals and get a few facts under their belts before joining the cheerleaders' party at the Beehive.
Regional NZ has been short-changes by successive governments: we have sewerage leaks in the hospital in Whangarei, only four ICU beds in Rotorua and Dairy News has been told that one DHB servicing a large rural area has closed off its waiting list for people wanting elective surgery.
Now just watch Parliament and see the different parties hold up graphs and put out press releases saying how good they are or have been. The word 'bullshit' readily comes to mind!
It has taken a pandemic to show up the underinvestment in health. The fact is, rural people are deprived of quality health care due to years of neglect and it seems the politicians and policy wonks in Wellington simply don't get, or care, about what happens outside big city boundaries. People will die because of this.
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Covid-19 took global shipping rates to mind boggling highs, but over the subsequent 12-15 months they returned to more sustainable levels. Fast forward to July 2024 and rates have nearly doubled over three months.
The world is now amid potentially one of the most disruptive periods in world trade for a very long time.
Former Westland Milk boss Richard Wyeth is taking over as chief executive of Canterbury milk processor Synlait from May 19.
Listed carpet maker Bremworth says it’s preparing to call a special meeting requested by a group of disgruntled shareholders.
Listed carpet maker Bremworth has been rocked by a call from some shareholders for a board revamp.
New Zealand's largest celebration of rural sports athletes and enthusiasts – New Zealand Rural Games - is back for its 10th edition, kicking off in Palmerston North from Thursday, March 6th to Sunday, March 9th, 2025.
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