Gun-shy
OPINION: Listening to the hysterical reportage of gun law reforms being pushed through by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee, your old mate wrongly asumed the Minister must be planning to hand out free AK-47s.
The Government will back the food and fibres sector to lead New Zealand’s economic recovery from Covid-19 with targeted investments, Forestry Minister Stuart Nash says.
The targeted investments will be part of the Government’s Fit for a Better World roadmap.
Two reports released today at the Fieldays – the Fit for a Better World Progress Update 2021 and the Sustainable Food and Fibres Snapshot – provide an update on the work the Government is doing in partnership with industry.
“Since we launched the roadmap, we’ve co-invested alongside industry in projects worth tens of millions of dollars,” Nash says.
Nash says the Fit for a Better World roadmap has focused on identifying creative and new ideas for lifting returns and improving sustainability.
“Last year, we up-scaled the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futrues) fund to further boost innovation efforts.”
He says SFF Futures has committed more than $111 million in funding to new projects, worth almost $250 million.
“This emphasises the importance the sector places on innovation, which is vital to the delivery of the roadmap.”
Nash reminded the audience that in the 2021 Budget, the Government committed $62 million to back initiatives to help reduce costs for farmers and growers, boost returns, and achieve lower on-farm emissions.
“Partnerships like He Waka Eke Noa, our Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership, are also working with farmers and growers on practical solutions to reduce emissions and build resilience to climate change.
“All of this work has a common goal of strengthening the environmental credentials of our food and fibre products and driving further value growth.”
He says the Government is committed to working with sector partners to drive New Zealand’s economic recovery and ongoing prosperity.
|
A landmark moment for New Zealand. That's how Prime Minister Christopher Luxon describes the conclusion of negotiations for an India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. Beef Progeny Test 2025: Genetic insights for NZ beef industryAt Pāmu’s Kepler Farm in Manapouri, mating has wrapped up at the across-breed Beef Progeny Test. HortNZ celebrates 20 YearsMore than 150 people turned up at Parliament recently to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ). Biosecurity NZ urges vigilance for yellow-legged hornetsBiosecurity New Zealand says Kiwis should continue to keep an eye out for yellow-legged hornets (Vespa velutina) over the holiday season. Mental Health and Fitness Unite: The Push-Up Challenge comes to New ZealandThe Push-Up Challenge, an event which combines mental health and fitness, is set to launch in New Zealand in 2026. Agritechnica 2025: Claas, Fendt and Valtra claim 2026 Tractor of the Year AwardsLast month's Agritechnica event led to a wide group of manufacturers celebrating successes when the 2026 Tractor of the Year Competition winners, selected by a panel of European journalists, were announced in Hanover Germany. NationalAlliance commissions major heat pump system at Mataura, cutting coal use and emissionsAlliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.NZ meat industry seeks removal of US 15% lamb tariffMeat processors are hopeful that the additional 15% tariff on lamb exports to the US will also come off.Early drought fears ease in Hawke’s Bay, but caution remainsFears of a serious early drought in Hawke’s Bay have been allayed – for the moment at least.Consent Rollovers and $13b Savings: What the new RMA bills could meanThere was much theatre in the Beehive before the Government's new Resource Management Act (RMA) reform bills were introduced into…Rural bias?OPINION: After years of ever-worsening results from our education system, the startling results from a maths acceleration programme stood out like…Machinery & ProductsAgriSpread AS3000 Bulk Spreader: Precision spreading up to 52mManufactured in Ireland, tested and launched at Agritechnica in Germany, AgriSpread’s new AS3000 bulk spreader takes much of the technology…Agritechnica 2025: Claas, Fendt and Valtra claim 2026 Tractor of the Year AwardsLast month's Agritechnica event led to a wide group of manufacturers celebrating successes when the 2026 Tractor of the Year…New Case IH Puma series debuts with improved design & precision techCase IH used Agritechnica to reveal its new Puma series tractor, featuring what it claims is an entirely new vehicle…New Holland unveils “Il Trattore” concept at AgritechnicaCreating a great deal of enthusiasm at Agritechnica, the T5.120 ‘Il Trattore’ styling concept tractor was celebrating the legacy of…Deutz-Fahr unveils all-new 8 series tractor range at AgritechnicaAgritechnica was the launchpad for several “new” tractors, most reworks of existing models, but Deutz Fahr ‘s new 8 Series was… |