No Panic Buying Please, There's Plenty of Fuel Around - Feds
Farmers want more direct, accurate information about both fuel and fertiliser supply.
ALL HAWKE'S BAY residents and businesses are being asked to drive their vehicle, whether it is a truck, tractor or excavator, in support of the Ruataniwha water storage scheme in Waipukurau tomorrow.
"We are calling on every person and business in Hawke's Bay who wants to have a better future here, to get in their car, ute, tractor or truck and be at Waipukurau's memorial hall car park on Friday at 12pm," says Will Foley, Federated Farmers Hawke's Bay provincial president.
"This Friday is our chance to show New Zealand how much Hawke's Bay wants to create a positive future for our kids and their kids. The dam will provide so much opportunity for Hawke's Bay.
"We are expecting a strong show of support and are positively backing Ruataniwha because this is our last shot before the Board of Inquiry delivers its final decision.
"Nothing of any worth has ever come from being negative.
"That's why we need a positive show of support to demonstrate what we the people who live here want. The feeling in the community is positive and we need to make a stand to show how much of a game changer the dam is going to be for the region.
"The South Island's Opuha scheme is a shining example of how the whole water storage package works for the economy and the environment.
"The answer to reversing the population drift to Auckland and reversing the loss of businesses and services is as simple as 'just add water.'
"Federated Farmers is okay with having a number for nitrogen, but let's make it an indicator and not chiselled in granite. The whole scheme's viability hinges on this policy point.
"That will only happen if we show everyone just what Ruataniwha means to us.
"You can do that by making a slogan banner to hang off your vehicle this Friday at midday at Waipukurau's memorial hall car park," Foley says.
The New Zealand red meat sector has signed an open letter to parliamentarians from BusinessNZ, urging swift ratification of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Wools of New Zealand is joining calls for New Zealand to urgently ratify a Free Trade Agreement with India.
Fonterra says Richard Allen will succeed Miles Hurrell as its new chief executive.
Cyclone Vaianu is continuing its track south towards the Bay of Plenty, bringing with it destructive winds, heavy rain, and large swells, says Metservice.
While Cyclone Vaianu remains off the East Coast of New Zealand, the Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group says impacts have been felt overnight.
A Local State of Emergency has been declared for the Waikato for a period of seven days as the region prepares for Cyclone Vaianu to hit the area.

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