Government Mulling Plan Change 1 Intervention
The Government is looking at intervening on behalf of Waikato farmers who face new regulations around agricultural land use while Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms are underway.
Trade Minister Todd McClay and opposition MPs are traveling in Europe and Iran over the next week to take part in a number of trade-related events.
McClay says New Zealand needs to engage more broadly in trade-related activities in Europe and this mission would offer a valuable opportunity to promote New Zealand goods and services in these lucrative markets.
"Italy, France and the United Kingdom are collectively worth more than $9.2 billion of two-way trade and are home to 190 million consumers. That is significant,” says McClay.
“The mission will engage directly with New Zealand businesses and their counterparts in these three countries and we will look to open doors to further enhance our high quality reputation and trade presence.
“I am grateful to New Zealand First Leader and Northland MP, the Right Honourable Winston Peters for agreeing to participate in the business-focused legs of the Europe visit.”
The Trade Minister will then travel to Iran with a delegation of 17 New Zealand companies.
“Iran has traditionally been a very important market for our sheep meat and butter. Earlier this year the visiting Iranian Foreign Minister said Iran presented a $1 billion prospect for New Zealand. This mission will be an important first step towards delivering on this exciting opportunity,” says McClay.
Labour has designated their Trade spokesman David Clark to join the Iran delegation.
McClay will also visit Warsaw to lobby the Polish government for an EU-NZ FTA.
The 2026 Holstein Friesian NZ Black & White Youth Auction has once again proven the strength of support behind the breed’s young people, raising $20,130 for the HFNZ Black & White Youth programme.
Westpac NZ has become the first New Zealand bank to receive approval from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) to secure and leverage kiwifruit growers' Zespri shares.
Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) and Pāmu (Landcorp Farming Limited) have developed a new way for landowners to earn revenue from existing native forests.
Despite near universal optimism in the rural sector, a panel of New Zealand’s leading food and agri minds caution that the sector must be intentional about its future path.
The dairy industry cannot rest on its laurels despite providing one in every four export dollars earned by the country, says DairyNZ chief executive Campbell Parker.
The Government is looking at intervening on behalf of Waikato farmers who face new regulations around agricultural land use while Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms are underway.

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