M.I.A.
OPINION: The previous government spent too much during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite warnings from officials, according to a briefing released by the Treasury.
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.
After serving three as a DairyNZ director, Waikato farmer Chris Lewis is ready for another term.
DairyNZ has announced the date for its six-yearly Milksolids Levy vote, which will take place from Monday, 16 February to Friday, 13 March 2026.
LIC has reaffirmed its sponsorship of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) by signing up as a national sponsor for another three years.
On track for a fifth consecutive year of organic milk price increases, Fonterra is seeking more suppliers to meet growing global demand.
Converting a Banks Peninsula farm to dairy is expected to reduce its environmental footprint by 46%, say its owner and manager.
Research and healthcare initiatives, leadership and dedication to the sector have been recognised in the 2025 Horticulture Industry Awards.
OPINION: Fonterra's $4.22 billion consumer business sale to Lactalis is ruffling a few feathers outside the dairy industry.
OPINION: Finance Minister Nicola Willis could have saved her staff and MBIE time and effort over ‘buttergate’ recently by not…