Labour criticizes government for stifling agricultural growth
Labour's agriculture spokesperson says the Government’s decisions are set to hamstring growth within the farming sector.
The government has announced a $300 million dollar capital investment in health, with $26 million going to regional and rural service projects.
The remaining of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme investment will be dispersed into three other areas: $83 million towards child and maternal health, $96 million for mental health and addiction, and $75 million towards upgrading hospital facilities.
The government has also added a contingency of $20 million.
“This Government has made real progress rebuilding and strengthening our hospitals and public health services,” says health minister David Clark.
“In fact, we’ve invested more into upgrading our hospitals in our first two budgets ($2.45 billion) than the previous government managed in nine years. That’s a reflection both of the scale of the challenges we inherited, and the importance this Government places on health and wellbeing.
“Today we’re announcing further investment of $300 million into areas we know will make a real difference to people’s lives.
“That’s particularly true in child and maternal health, which will receive an $83 million capital boost.
“The Prime Minister’s ambition is to make New Zealand the best place in the world to be a child. To support that, we’re investing in expanded neonatal intensive care to help our most vulnerable new-borns, and in maternity care for expectant mothers.”
More than 70 farmers from across the North and South Islands recently spent a dayand- a-half learning new business management and planning skills at Rabobank Ag Pathways Programmes held in Invercargill, Ashburton and Hawera.
Government ministers cannot miss the ‘SOS’ – save our sheep call - from New Zealand farmers.
A tax advisory specialist is hailing a 20% tax deduction to spur business asset purchases as a golden opportunity for agribusiness.
Sheep and beef farmers have voted to approve Beef + Lamb New Zealand signing an operational agreement between the agricultural sector and the Government on foot and mouth disease readiness and response.
The head of the New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers organisation NZKGI says the points raised in a report about the sector by Waikato University professor Frank Scrimgeour were not a surprise.
A new report from ASB and Lincoln University shows how smarter, more diverse land use could unlock billions in value for farmers and the wider economy.