Federated Farmers vows to hold banks accountable after complaint dismissed
Federated Farmers is vowing to keep the big banks accountable for their actions and to continue pushing for meaningful change in the rural lending sector.
Farmers are counting down the days to when major shareholdings in New Zealand Wool Services International (NZWSI) will be on-sold by the receivers.
"In a green-aware age, bales of wool should be flying out of our woolsheds. As they are not, is why management consultants could describe the wool industry as a 'problem child'," says Jeanette Maxwell, Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre chairperson.
"New Zealand Wool Services International is our largest exporter but two of its major shareholders are in the hands of receivers. This is not a criticism of the receivers. Their role is to keep things ticking over rather than making strategic decisions.
"Wool has a strong future and this future is a discussion point next week in Wellington during Federated Farmers 2012 Meat & Fibre Council meeting.
"In November, HRH the Prince of Wales and patron of the Campaign for Wool is visiting New Zealand. I am certain Prince Charles will catalyse interest in wool as one of the greenest fibres we have.
"The priority is to get WSI's two major shareholders out of the hands of the receivers and into the hands of a company that will grow our industry. Being a Kiwi I would dearly love to see these assets remain in local ownership.
"We need to make progress with consumers and that is what the Campaign for Wool is aimed at. Then we have innovators, like The Formary and Icebreaker, taking wool in bold new directions.
"Finally, we need our largest exporters at the top of their game, no matter who owns them.
"It is why WSI's two major shareholdings need to leave the hands of the receivers and we cannot wait for this to happen," Maxwell says.
New Zealand milk production is off to a strong start, with the first month of the 2025/26 dairy season recording a whopping 17.8% jump in milk production, compared to the previous season.
With adverse weather set to rain down on the Top of the South, the Bay of Plenty and parts of Northland, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says farmers, foresters, and growers need to prepare for possible challenges.
Keep up with innovation and e-commerce in China or risk losing market share. That was the message delivered at the China Business Summit in Auckland this month.
Meat Industry Association (MIA) independent chair Nathan Guy says getting meat processors involved has been a shot in the arm for the sector's key marketing initiative into China, Taste Pure Nature.
Listed carpet manufacturer, Bremworth is undertaking a $6 million expansion at its Napier plant more than two years after the site was heavily damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Federated Farmers is vowing to keep the big banks accountable for their actions and to continue pushing for meaningful change in the rural lending sector.
OPINION: Bayer Crop Science closing its Hastings research site could be the tip of the iceberg.
OPINION: The image of regenerative farmers as kind, cuddly progressive types took a hit when one of their own took…