Paris Agreement Exit Could Put NZ-EU and UK Trade Deals at Risk
Politicians calling for New Zealand to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate risk damaging two of our gold-plated free trade deals.
Obermaier says an example of geographical indications opening up opportunities for New Zealand lies in Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.
While there was much protest about the EU's insistence in preserving geographical indications for some of its products, especially cheese, EU ambassador to New Zealand Nina Obermaier insists that this protocol opens up opportunities for NZ.
She points to Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc as an example, which has a very high recognition in Europe.
She says this is due in part to backpackers who have come to NZ and tasted this wine and want to buy it back in their home country.
Obermaier says the insistence on geographical indications can be linked to the overall food culture that exists in Europe, which is not so strong in NZ.
She says for many people in Europe, food is a part of their cultural heritage.
"It depends on which country you are in," she explains. "Some have a much stronger tradition than others, but in general it is something that is cherished as part of cultural life."
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson says his party – NZ First - isn’t opposed to the “trade element” of a free trade deal with India.
The managing director of a company seeking to build a solar farm in Canterbury says receiving fast-track approval is a “really positive outcome”.
Retiring MP and dairy farmer Mark Cameron is blasting the Green Party for proposing to ban the use of synthetic fertiliser and cutting cow numbers.
A huge reduction in ACC claims from on-farm accidents over the last five years is due to thousands of small, practical decisions being made in sheds, yards, paddocks and around kitchen tables across the country, says Safer Farms ambassador Lindy Nelson.
Wayne and Ange Moxham of Horowhenua have just been named as Fonterra's top organic performer for milksolids. As well as providing organic milk to Fonterra, the couple also sell Udderly Organic milk to more than 100 outlets in the region and are embarking on another exciting venture producing organic gelato. Reporter Peter Burke went along to see their farming operation.
Certainty and a clear understanding of the needs of rural communities is a critical outcome in the series of government reforms that are taking place at present.

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