Editorial: Passage to India
OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.
A passion for golf has led to the downfall of one of the European Union’s most powerful figures and the man who is heading the FTA trade negotiations with NZ.
The well-known former Irish politician and now EU Trade Commissioner, Phil Hogan has been forced to resign for breaching strict coronavirus lockdown restrictions in Ireland.
Hogan flew home to Dublin from Brussels and after testing negative for COVID-19, later headed across the country to the town of Clifden in Co Galway. Here he attend a special dinner for a select group of fellow golf-mad politicians and other senior government figures including a high court judge.
The trouble was that Hogan, a very keen and good golfer, didn’t self-isolate for 14 days after the test as required by Irish health authorities. There were also accusations that strict social distancing rules were not adhered to at the function as well and that it never should have taken place anyway.
Hogan and other politicians who attended the golf gathering have been widely condemned for their actions which coincided with Ireland enacting strict new lock down rules. Hogan was also stopped by police near Dublin for using his cell phone while driving.
But Hogan wasn’t the only politician to lose his job as a result of the function. The Irish Minister of Agriculture, Dara Calleary was also sacked by the Irish Prime Minister for attending the dinner. Calleary had only been in the job a matter of a few months. Others who attended the function may also soon find themselves out of a job as the fallout from a golf reunion continues.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Two major red meat sector projects are getting up to a combined $1.7 million in funding from the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).
Angus Barr and Tara Dwyer of The Wandle, Lone Star Farms in Strath Taieri have been named the Regional Supreme Winners at the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Dunedin.
OPINION: The distress that the politicians and bureaucrats are causing to the people of Wairoa and the wider Tairāwhiti is unforgivable.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.