Don't hold back!
OPINION: ACT MP Mark Cameron isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he certainly calls it how he sees it, holding nothing back when ‘climate scientists’ had a crack at Kiwi farmers recently:
The Commerce Commission's move to investigate commitments made by major banks under the Net Zero Banking Alliance is being hailed by farming leaders.
ACT MP and primary production select committee chair Mark Cameron says he welcomes the investigation.
"Many in the constituency have raised alarm at this practice and full and open transparency about the Net Zero Banking Alliance and its practices is now timely," Cameron told Rural News.
The Net Zero Banking Alliance is an international group committed to aligning their lending, investment, and capital markets activities with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Federated Farmers claim the five major banks - ANZ, Westpac, BNZ, Rabobank and ASB - have aligned their lending policies and are engaged in "cartel-like behaviour" in terms of their net zero emissions targets. The farmer lobby also claims that the five banks' policies are linked to their affiliation with the Net Zero Banking Alliance. It wrote to the Commerce Commission calling for an investigation. The banks have denied the claim.
A Commerce Commission spokesperson told Rural News that following concerns raised with the Commission, they've opened an investigation to determine whether the adoption and alleged alignment of net-zero strategies and targets by banks, including commitments made under the Net Zero Banking Alliance, could breach section 30 of the Commerce Act.
"We are continuing to obtain information from relevant parties to determine whethere there is conduct that breaches the Act.
"As this is an active investigation, we're unable to make any further comment, including how long the investigation might take."
Federated Farmers banking spokesman Richard McIntyre points out that following Feds' complaint in December, the Commerce Commission made some initial inquiries.
"As a result of that they have decided to open an investigation under section 30 of the Commerce Act which relates to cartel behaviour," he told Rural News.
"It seems that during their initial enquiry they smelt enough smoke to support a more formal investigation looking for fire - and I think they might just find something.
"This is an incredibly serious issue for the banks at this point. If they are found guilty, their directors could face criminal charges. The banks could also be on the hook for huge fines.
"We're calling on New Zealand banks to do the right thing and withdraw from the Net Zero Banking Alliance," McIntyre says.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
OPINION: ACT MP Mark Cameron isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he certainly calls it how he sees it, holding…
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