Frontline biosecurity 'untouchable'
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has reiterated that 'frontline' biosecurity services within Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will not be cut under the Government's plan to reduce the public service.
Exceptional employment practices in the primary industries were celebrated at last night’s Good Employer Awards held at Parliament.
The awards, sponsored by the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Agricultural Marketing Research and Development Trust (ADMARDT) featured finalists from a range of enterprises, including Māori agribusiness, forestry and veterinary services.
Minister for Agriculture Damien O’Connor said the awards provided an opportunity to celebrate and thank primary sector employers who had gone above and beyond to create productive, safe, supportive and healthy work environments.
“The past 12 or so months have been tough. I have been particularly impressed with how many of finalists have said they used Covid-19 to look at how they were working and make changes that benefited them and their employees,” O’Connor said.
“It’s clear that everyone who has entered the Good Employer Awards is leading the way in best practice. When we do this collectively, we show out urban cousins that rural communities are vibrant and inclusive places to work, live, and grow in.” he said.
Winners
Māori Agribusiness - Chubby Rewi, Rewi Haulage Limited and East Coast Log Haulage Limited
Employee Development - Adam Hittman, Vetora Waikato
Safe & Healthy - Zac Robinson and Barry Wells, Port Blakely
Supreme - Anna Pule, Rayonier Matariki Forests
Rural trader PGG Wrightson has revised its operating earnings guidance, saying trading conditions have deteriorated since the last market update in February.
It's been a bumper season for maize and other supplements in the eastern Bay of Plenty.
Leading farmers from around New Zealand connected to share environmental stories and inspiration and build relationships at the Dairy Environment Leaders (DEL) national forum in Wellington last month.
AgriZeroNZ, a joint venture fast-tracking emissions reduction tools for farmers, is pouring $5 million in a biotech company to develop a low emissions farm pasture with increased productivity gains.
Fonterra is teaming up with wealth app provider Sharesies to make it easier for its farmer shareholders to trade co-op shares among themselves.
Te Awamutu dairy farmers Doug, Penny, Josh and Bayley Storey have planted more than 25,000 native trees on the family farm, adding to a generations-old native forest.