RWNZ chief executive to step down
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) chief executive Gabrielle O’Brien will step down at the end of June.
Butchers across New Zealand are urging the Government to allow them to reopen under strict Covid protocols and serve their communities.
Currently, under Alert Level Four, independent butchers are only allowed to operate contactless deliveries – a position Retail Meat New Zealand (RMNZ) says is unviable for many operators.
Compounding the issue is that supermarkets are under increasing pressure, not just from a record concentration of customers, but for several supermarkets, they are a location of interest forcing their staff members into self isolation.
Kit Arkwright, spokesperson from RMNZ – the membership body for New Zealand butchers – says he is imploring the government to change their stance as soon as possible to give retailers a chance of survival.
“The reality for many of our members is an extended lockdown could sign the death sentence for their businesses,” Arkwright says.
He says the losses many butchers suffered during the 2020 lockdown combined with the current lockdown could see an eventuality where many butchers are unable to reopen.
“The Government has to consider the long term impacts this will have on food security, particularly for rural and regional communities that rely on their local butcher to keep them fed.”
Arkwright says that while RMNZ acknowledges that the whole country is feeling the impacts of this latest lockdown, but its members know they can do their part to keep Kiwis fed.
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.
The Director General of MPI, Ray Smith says it's important for his department to celebrate the success of a whole range of groups and people around the country.
A small company which mobilised veterinarians around the country to deal with Mycoplasma bovis was one of the winners in this year's Biosecurity Awards, held at Parliament.
One of the country's top Māori sheep and beef farms is facing a five-year battle to get back to where it was before Cyclone Gabrielle struck just over 14 months ago.