Rural Communities Receive Wellbeing Boost
The Government has announced its support for 18 community-based initiatives through its Rural Wellbeing Fund.
Agriculture is high on his agenda as new Trade Minister Todd McClay attends the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
The three-day meeting, which started yesterday, is McClay's first duty as Trade Minister, a portfolio change which took effect on Monday.
"Key issues for trade and development will be in the spotlight at Nairobi, including in the important area of agriculture," McClay says.
"WTO Members will be trying to agree a package of measures from the Doha Round agenda, which has been stalled since 2008.
"While no negotiation with more than 160 participants could be described as easy, we hope that all players come to the table prepared to play their best hand.
"As well as negotiations on new market access and improved multilateral trade rules, the WTO works to ensure that hard-won market access is preserved and existing WTO rules are complied with.
"While New Zealand has been successful in securing a network of high quality free trade agreements, we believe that FTAs should complement and contribute to the WTO system.
"When it comes to trade issues, global solutions are the most effective ones."
McClay is having a range of bilateral meetings in Nairobi.
The WTO Ministerial Conferences take place every two years.
Fish & Game New Zealand has announced its election priorities in its Manifesto 2026.
With the forage maize harvest started in Northland and the Waikato, the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is telling growers of later crops, or those further south, to start checking their maize crop maturity about three weeks prior to when they think they will start silage harvesting.
Irrigation NZ is warning that the government's Resource Management Act (RMA) reform risks falling short of its objectives unless water use for food production and water storage infrastructure are clearly recognised in the goals at the top of the new system.
More than five million trays, or 18,000 tonnes, of Zespri’s RubyRed Kiwifruit will soon be available for consumers across 16 markets this season.
The Government has announced its support for 18 community-based initiatives through its Rural Wellbeing Fund.
New data shows that pork remains one of the more affordable meat options for New Zealand households at a time when grocery costs continue to put pressure on budgets.

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