HortNZ levy vote looming
Commercial fruit and vegetable growers are being urged to their say in the upcoming levy referendum to enable Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) to continue its work for the sector.
Industry stalwart, Mick Ahern, has been awarded the Horticulture New Zealand Industry Service Award for 2022.
HortNZ president Barry O’Neil says Ahern has contributed to the development of the horticulture industry for over 40 years.
“Mick is known for his common sense and ability – after everyone else has exhausted themselves with talking – to sum up the situation and provide wise counsel, while pointing to the best if not only way forward,” says O’Neil.
Ahern started in the industry in the 1970s as a university student when he wrote a case study on the kiwifruit industry’s development, something that lead to roles in a then-fledgling kiwifruit export industry.
He went on to roles in the onion export industry and then a position exporting a range of horticulture products.
“Next, Mick turned his attention to consulting, with an emphasis on export businesses and industry good organisations,” says O’Neil. “That is certainly where he has focused in the past ten years, with undisputed success in the onions and strawberry areas, leaving behind fit for purpose organisations with a focus on the future.”
Ahern says today’s horticulture industry leaders “have one hell of a job”.
“That is why they need the industry’s support to deal with the volume and complexity of challenge and change that the industry faces.”
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.