Tuesday, 30 March 2021 15:38

Foot in mouth

Written by Milking It

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

OPINION: A mate of Milking It recently opined that Ag Minister Damien O'Connor is a sitter for the moniker 'Minister of Foot in Mouth Disease' after yet another clumsy public statement.

He has now followed this gaffe in a speech he gave at the CD field days - no doubt trying to pander to his farming audience - by kicking tourism while it's down, Covid-19, he said, has taught the tourism industry "not to be so cocky" after it conceded to dairy as our top export earner.

Towns dependent on tourism are dying and need government assistance, not a kick in the guts.

Featured

Dairy Women’s Network Names 2026 Regional Leader Award Finalists

Ashleigh Gordon and Leilani Lobb have been named as the two finalists for Dairy Women's Network's (DWN) 2026 Regional Leader of the Year Award.

New Fungicide Approval Boosts NZ Potato Growers—Final Sign-Off Still Pending

Animal and Plant Health New Zealand (APHANZ) says the approval of a new fungicide seed treatment is a positive, however growers will be hoping the final approval is completed ahead of the spring season.

Adam Williamson Appointed DairyNZ Associate Director for 2026–27

North Canterbury farmer Adam Williamson has been appointed DairyNZ's associate director for 2026-27.

Fonterra Shareholders Urged to Consider Tax Implications

Fonterra farmers are set for a multi-billion-dollar payout this week.

Future Dairy Leaders Join 2026 Holstein Friesian NZ Development Programme

The 2026 Holstein Friesian NZ Young Breeders Development Programme is off to a strong start, with this year's intake coming together for their first event on March 18 and 19.

$10m Boost for Govt Coffers From Pāmu

State farmer Pāmu (Landcorp) has announced it will pay a $10 million special dividend to the Crown off the back of a strong outlook for the business and a capital repayment of $9.5 million following Fonterra's consumer business sale.

National

Meat and Dairy Vital for Health and Hunger Solutions, Experts Say

The executive director of the Global Dairy Platform (GDP) Donald Moore says research being done at Massey University's Riddet Institute…

First-Farm Buyers Braden and Brigitte Barnes Secure Ownership with Award Support

Braden and Brigitte Barnes have taken the leap into farm ownership to purchase their first farm with support from the…

Fifth-Generation Farmer Transforms Dairy Farm into Biodiversity Hotspot

Fifth generation farmer Stu Muir believes dairy farming and conservation can go hand in glove.

Taupiri Farmer Chris Woolerton Tipped as New Federated Farmers Waikato President

Taupiri farmer Chris Woolerton is tipped to take over as Federated Farmers Waikato president from next week.

Farmers Urged to Cut Fuel Use as Diesel Shortages Bite

Respected farm accountant Pita Alexander says with the present fuel crisis there are many ways farmers can reduce their consumption…

Machinery & Products

Valtra Launches Unlimited G5 CVT Packages

Part of the AGCO stable, Valtra is reinforcing its customisation strategy in the utility tractor segment with the launch of…

NZ Startup Scanabull Revolutionises Cattle Weighing

Unlike dairy farming where real-time data is widely used to manage production, much of the beef industry still relies on…

Irish Minister Visits NZ Farm Showcasing Calf Tech

Irish Minister of State of Agriculture, Noel Grealish was in New Zealand recently for an official visit.

John Deere Unveils New Engines at ConExpo Las Vegas

The recent ConExpo construction show held in Las Vegas, said to be the largest exhibition of its type in the…

Shane Jordan Beats Brother to Win NZ Timbersports Title

While not all sibling rivalries come to blows, one headline event at the recent New Zealand Rural Games held in…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Visit archives

Foot in mouth

More like this

Damien O’Connor: NZ united on global trade

Synthetic milk

It's all about economics

Red line on dairy

Farmland security

Popular Reads

Heinz Wattie’s Plant Closures Set to Hit Canterbury Vegetable Growers Hard

State of Emergency Declared in Far North and Whangārei as Severe Weather Worsens

Fonterra Signals Major Farmer Payout After Mainland Sale

Halter Raises NZ$377M to Expand Virtual Fencing Globally

Local State of Emergency Declared in Waikato Ahead of Cyclone Vaianu

Featured

Dairy Women’s Network Names 2026 Regional Leader Award Finalists

New Fungicide Approval Boosts NZ Potato Growers—Final Sign-Off Still Pending

Adam Williamson Appointed DairyNZ Associate Director for 2026–27

Fonterra Shareholders Urged to Consider Tax Implications

Future Dairy Leaders Join 2026 Holstein Friesian NZ Development Programme

$10m Boost for Govt Coffers From Pāmu

National

Meat and Dairy Vital for Health and Hunger Solutions, Experts Say

First-Farm Buyers Braden and Brigitte Barnes Secure Ownership with Award Support

Fifth-Generation Farmer Transforms Dairy Farm into Biodiversity Hotspot

Taupiri Farmer Chris Woolerton Tipped as New Federated Farmers Waikato President

Farmers Urged to Cut Fuel Use as Diesel Shortages Bite

Machinery & Products

Valtra Launches Unlimited G5 CVT Packages

NZ Startup Scanabull Revolutionises Cattle Weighing

Irish Minister Visits NZ Farm Showcasing Calf Tech

John Deere Unveils New Engines at ConExpo Las Vegas

Shane Jordan Beats Brother to Win NZ Timbersports Title

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Too Lenient

Fossil Fuel Crusade

» eNewsletter

Foot in mouth

More like this

» Latest Print Issues Online

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter