Citrus NZ urges Kiwis to support local growers
There is an appeal to New Zealanders to buy local citrus fruit.
A Canterbury company has been fined $1.7 million for fraudulently blending and mislabelling wine.
Three individuals have also been sentenced under a raft of charges related to the mislabelling, then falsifying records to cover it up.
Southern Boundary Wines, its directors Scott Charles Berry, 37, and Andrew Ronald Moore, 45, and its employee and winemaker Rebecca Junell Cope, 44, received their sentences at the Christchurch High Court on Friday after a long-running Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) investigation, says MPI's director of compliance Gary Orr.
The court noted that the scale of the fine reflects the culpability of the offending and provides a deterrent effect.
Berry was sentenced to 10 months and 2 weeks' home detention and ordered to pay reparation of $25,000.
Moore was sentenced to 2 months and 2 weeks' home detention and ordered to pay reparation of $20,000.
Cope was sentenced to 200 hours' community work.
"This investigation began in earnest in 2014 when MPI inspectors visited Southern Boundary Wines' facility and found a rubbish sack of winemaking records.
"By meticulously piecing together these records, as well as other documents and evidence, we were able to build a picture of offending which eventually led to a series of convictions and today's sentencing,” says Orr.
"The rules are there to protect consumers at home and abroad so that they can be sure they are getting what they pay for. Any offending which tries to profit from getting around these rules is extremely disappointing.
"New Zealand's wine industry has a well-earned reputation with importing countries because of the quality and integrity of its products.
"We need to keep it this way, and this prosecution sends a strong message that MPI will pursue this kind of offending, and where we have evidence, place it before the courts.
"This matter was first brought to our attention by a now-former employee of Southern Boundary Wines. I'd like to acknowledge that person's courage to come forward and expose significant offending.
"We'd encourage anyone else who has this kind of information to contact us on our hotline, 0800 00 83 33."
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
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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.
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.
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.
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