Tuesday, 25 May 2021 13:30

Honi O'Connor

Written by Rural News Group

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

OPINION: Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor doesn't get too many plaudits these days, but at this month's Ahuwhenua Awards he got one that took him by surprise and, he said, it was one of the nicest things anyone has said to him in a long time.

In a speech to the 800 or so people at the dairy awards, Paki Nikora, who is the chairman of Tataiwhetu Trust, declared O'Connor as an honorary Maori for his work in support of Maori.

There is no indication that other iwi support this, but certainly Maori Development Minister Willie Jackson supported the move saying that Damien was an Irishman and that Irishmen are just like Maoris.

O'Connor responded that while he was not part of the people from the mist (a reference to Tuhoe), he was from the people of the rain - the West Coast.

More like this

110,000 visitors!

110,000 visitors!

OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.

Sticky situation

Sticky situation

OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.

Suitors line up

OPINION: As Fonterra's divestment of its Oceania and global consumer businesses progresses, clear contenders are emerging.

On the go

OPINION: After hopping from one event to another at Fieldays, Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard would have been hoping for a rest.

Ahuwhenua Trophy 2025: Northland winners take top Māori sheep & beef awards

Northlanders scooped the pool at this year's prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy Awards - winning both the main competition and the young Maori farmer award.

Popular Reads

Open Country Dairy prepares to launch first commercial butter

The country's second largest milk processor hopes to produce its first commercial butter within two months.

Serratia-linked Mastitis a wake-up call for Waikato farmer

Waikato farmer Craig Clausen had an unpleasant experience after an outbreak of mastitis cases on farm, suspected to be caused…

'Grand Alliance' growing grass-fed beef exports to China

Alliance Group and Grand Farm have signed a strategic co-operation agreement with a focus on delivering more premium New Zealand…

Hoggard calls Canterbury high-country farming consenting process 'tragic'

Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard says the consenting experience facing some high-country Canterbury sheep and beef farms is "bloody tragic"…

Aussie farmers get A$8.60/kgMS as opening milk price

Australian dairy farmers supplying Fonterra are getting an opening weighted average milk price of A$8.60/kgMS for the new season or…

Featured

Horticulture exports hit $8.4B, surge toward $10B by 2029

A brilliant result and great news for growers and regional economies. That's how horticulture sector leaders are describing the news that sector exports for the year ended June 30 will reach $8.4 billion - an increase of 19% on last year and is forecast to hit close to $10 billion in 2029.

Funding gaps threaten NZ predator-free efforts

Funding is proving crucial for predator control despite a broken model reliant on the goodwill of volunteers.

NZ nears Mycoplasma bovis eradication milestone

A major milestone on New Zealand's unique journey to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis could come before the end of this year.

McClay urges patience on KiwiSaver for first-time farmers

We're working through it, and we'll get to it.

Paris Agreement debate splits NZ farm sector

The debate around New Zealand's future in the Paris Agreement is heating up.

Phoebe Scherer wins Bay of Plenty Young Grower 2025 title

A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.

National

Fonterra Whareroa sets cheese record, wins top award

Fonterra Whareroa wrapped up a successful season with a record-breaking cheese production volume and several gongs at the co-op's annual…

New pasture guide launched to support farmers in a changing climate

A new publication has been launched that offers a comprehensive and up-to-date resource on commercially available grazing pasture species in…

Hoggard slams outdated farm regulations

"We're trying to get to the promised land but we're still in a bit of a swamp at the moment."

Dairy farmer profits to hit record levels in 2025

The profitability of dairy farmers is likely to increase in the coming year, accordign to the latest report by the…

Fonterra R&D: Innovation needs more than just PhDs

Common sense and good human judgement are still a key requirement for the super highly qualified staff working at one…

Machinery & Products

Wrapped Silage Bales: Convenient feed storage with a mounting plastic problem

Wrapped bales arrived in the 1980s offering a viable alternative to clamp silage, and they remain a solution for those…

McKee Plastics celebrates 50 years of innovation at Fieldays 2025

Celebrating 50 years of being in business in 2025 and specialising in the design and manufacture of an extensive range…

John Deere upgrades round baler line with ISOBUS integration and smarter features

John Deere have recently announced upgrades to its round baler offerings, with all models of this latest generation equipped with…

Farming smarter with technology

The National Fieldays is an annual fixture in the farming calendar: it draws in thousands of farmers, contractors, and industry…

CNH appoints new NZ business manager amid new tax incentives for agricultural machinery

CNH continues to reinforce its position in the New Zealand agricultural machinery market with the appointment of John Gilbert, previously…

» Latest Print Issues Online

dairynewscover

ruralnewscover

winegrowercover

Milking It

110,000 visitors!

OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.

Sticky situation

OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.

» eNewsletter