Wednesday, 09 December 2020 10:55

What emergency?

Written by Milking It

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

OPINION: Last week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern declared a “climate emergency” in Parliament.

It includes a requirement for government agencies to purchase electric vehicles and reduce the size of their car fleet.

We wonder if someone had told the Police Force about this impending announcement because a few days earlier it was announced that the 2000-strong frontline police car fleet will switch to Skodas.

The police media release says: “Electric and hybrid vehicles were tested, but limitations including power efficiency and the total cost of ownership meant they were not the preferred option.”

Obviously Ardern’s climate emergency doesn’t mean much to one of our key emergency responders!

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.

Misguided campaign

OPINION: Last week, Greenpeace lit up Fonterra's Auckland headquarters with 'messages from the common people' - that the sector is polluting the environment.

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

New Federated Farmers meat and wool chair praises predecessor

Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.

Innovation takes centre stage at Fieldays 2025 awards event

Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.

DairyNZ lifts breakeven milk price forecast to $8.68 for 2025/26 season

According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.

Mud, Rain, and Roaring Engines: 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull thrills crowds despite weather

Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.

Farmstrong marks 10 years of rural support

Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.

Dairy sector commits to major role in new Foot and Mouth readiness agreement

Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.

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