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FEDERATED FARMERS is thrilled by the Health Promotion Agency's, National Depression rural project.
In light of the "horrifying" suicide statistics in rural New Zealand the initiative has rightly tailored the John Kirwan Depression.org website to be more relevant to rural communities.
"The issue of rural depression and suicides has been gaining momentum since we launched our 'When Life's a Bitch' campaign at the beginning of last year, and it is encouraging to see it being addressed at a national Government level," says Federated Farmers mental health spokesperson, Jeanette Maxwell.
"In 2010 rural New Zealanders were 43% more likely to commit suicide than urban New Zealanders. In addition to this male suicide rates have been around 67% higher in rural areas compared to men living in urban centres. This is a big problem and we hope this website will breakdown the walls and reach the farmers who are struggling.
"This website features videos and stories of farmers who have experienced depression and includes 'The Journal', a free online self-help programme designed to support people with depression. The initiative is fronted by Sir John Kirwan, which will hopefully help provide the crucial exposure our sector needs to get farmers to start talking.
"While Federated Farmers is working with the Farmers Mental Wellness Strategy Group to address this issue, the true heroes are the farmers who have agreed to front and share their stories," says Maxwell.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
Federated Farmers says the final report into banking competition is a significant step forward for rural New Zealand - and a vindication of the farming sector's concern.
Farmer lobby group Federated Farmers has announced it is supporting a new Member’s Bill which it says could bring clarity to New Zealand farmers and save millions in legal costs.
Federated Farmers says climate protest group Greenpeace is manufacturing outrage and attempting to scare New Zealanders with headlines that have no basis in science.
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.
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