ACT, farmers push for changes to Paris Agreement
The ACT Party's call for a better deal on the Paris Agreement on climate change is being backed by farmer organisations.
Dozens of people lined the main street of the Horowhenua rural town of Levin to cheer on the huge turnout of Groundswell protestors as they drove their tractors, utes and other farm vehicles through the town.
According to locals it was the largest protest they have ever seen with the vehicles taking nearly an hour to pass down the main street.
The protest was led by about 30 tractors followed by at least 200 utes and other vehicles.
Those taking part in the protest came from various towns in the Horowhenua and Kapiti Coast, but there were others who came from as far away as Taihape to take part in the protest.
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One of many protest signs from the Levin protest. |
As well as farmers there were rural contractors, other rural professionals and trades people.
Their concerns ranged from the way the environmental reforms are being rushed through by government without proper consultation to the ute tax which was seen by all as an outright attack on rural NZ.
Before the protest began, there was call for the farm dogs to have their say and for about five minutes the huntaways led a boisterous chorus of barking and howling.
When told about reports by Labour MP Kieran McAnulty that the Groundswell movement didn’t represent farmers, people just rolled their eyes in disbelief at his remarks.
An independent report, prepared for Alliance farmer shareholders is backing the proposed $250 million joint venture investment by Irish company Dawn Meats Group.
Whangarei field service technician, Bryce Dickson has cemented his place in John Deere’s history, becoming the first ever person to win an award for the third time at the annual Australian and New Zealand Technician of the Year Awards, announced at a gala dinner in Brisbane last night.
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).