ANZ defends farm lending rates
The country's largest lender to the agriculture sector says it's not favouring home loans over farm and business lending.
Farmers want the Government to deploy the army to deter crime in rural areas of Coromandel, East Cape and Hawke's Bay.
Federated Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland says the army was present following the Christchurch earthquake, which established a threshold now crossed by the crime and fear plaguing the flood hit regions.
Copeland was in the Hawke's Bay over the past few days and met plenty of people who were cleaning up flood damage. Many had grave fears for the safety of themselves and property.
"People outside the region have little awareness of the dire situation. The criminal element is operating and intimidating in isolated rural and farming areas, and the perception is, not enough is being done to rein them in.
"The Police are doing an awesome and much appreciated job. But the army would increase the reach of state authority and support to rural areas."
Copeland says there was no need for curfews or army enforcement powers, and the army could travel isolated regions, to make itself available as the communities requested.
"Rural communities are tight knit and self-reliant, but they could do with the reassurance and support of the army’s neutral presence.
"Exhausted people in flood-hit areas are very vulnerable, and the state is not there with them at enough scale. They need the reassurance of the army presence, and criminals need the army to deter them."
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
The horticulture sector is a big winner from recent free trade deals sealed with the Gulf states, says Associate Agriculture Minister Nicola Grigg.
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