Bikinis in cowshed
OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content posted on social media and adult entertainment subscription site OnlyFans.
A Hawera farmer is one of several farmers who has recently been convicted for failing to register his animals under the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme.
Ross Gordon Clark was fined $20,000 in the Hawera District Court, after earlier pleading guilty to seven charges under the NAIT Act, for not registering 106 cows between May and July 2020.
Meanwhile, Waitui farmer Victor Charles McIntyre pleaded guilty to 19 charges under the NAIT Act and was fined $18,900 in the New Plymouth District Court for not registering 175 cattle between April and September 2020.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has recently secured two additional NAIT convictions which are awaiting sentencing.
The NAIT scheme enables MPI to track and trace cattle and deer when they are moved between farms or for processing. It's a critical factor in our ability to act quickly and decisively in response to biosecurity threats that could have devastating effects for New Zealand.
In December 2019, Parliament increased the penalty for non-registration tenfold, meaning the maximum fine was increased from $10,000 to $100,000 and these fines are the first under the updated penalties.
MPI regional manager of Animal Welfare and NAIT Compliance Joanna Tuckwell says it's important for farmers to do the right thing because biosecurity is critically important to the agricultural sector.
"We certainly take it very seriously and the increase in fines shows Parliament does too. The higher penalties under the new regime reflect the seriousness of the situation," Tuckwell says.
"People in charge of NAIT animals need to get this right. When they don't they potentially put the whole sector at risk if a biosecurity matter involving farm animals was to occur."
A Chinese business leader says Chinese investors are unfairly viewed as potential security risks in New Zealand.
In the first of two articles focusing on electrification in New Zealand, Leo Argent talks with Mike Casey, operator of the 100% electric-operated Electric Cherries orchard and founder of advocacy group Rewiring Aotearoa.
A Foundation for Arable Research initiative which took a closer look at the efficiency of a key piece of machinery for arable farmers - their combine harvesters - has been recognised at the Primary Industry NZ Awards.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has reiterated New Zealand’s ‘China And’ policy, adding that it wasn’t about choosing one market over another but creating more options for exporters.
A long running trade dispute between New Zealand and Canada over dairy access has been resolved.
New Zealand Police is urging rural property owners to remain vigilant and ensure their property is secure.
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