Friday, 14 October 2022 13:18

Kuriger resigns from shadow ministry

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Barbara Kuriger has resigned from her position as National Party agriculture, biosecurity and food safety spokesperson. Barbara Kuriger has resigned from her position as National Party agriculture, biosecurity and food safety spokesperson.

National’s agriculture, biosecurity and food safety spokesperson Barbara Kuriger has resigned from her portfolios.

In a statement, Kuriger says her family has been in a dispute with the Ministry for Primary Industries over events that occurred in 2017.

Rural News understands she’s referring to the case of her son Tony Michael Kuriger, who was ordered to pay vet and expert report costs of $4060 by the Palmerston North District Court after admitting to causing a herd of dairy cows prolonged and severe pain.

He was not disqualified from owning or controlling animals.

Tony Kuriger is a director of Oxbow Dairies Ltd, which entered into a sharemilking agreement on a dairy farm at Hukanui, near Eketāhuna.

It was alleged between October 2016 and April 2017, veterinarians treated lame cows at the property, which would later prompt a complaint to the MPI.

Rural News understands the Kuriger family are appealing the conviction.

In her statement Barbara Kuriger says the dispute has created a blurred line with her portfolio responsibilities.

“And in order to continue to support my family, I am stepping aside.

“Although the dispute is, for me, a personal matter which I have endeavoured at all times to keep separate from my professional role, I accept there has been a conflict of interest which I should have recognised sooner, and managed.

“While the dispute is ongoing, I will not be commenting further on this matter.”

Former National leader Todd Muller is tipped to replace Kuriger.

More like this

Air Miles

OPINION: The latest travel receipts for MPs are in (April – June 2024).

Give it back!

OPINION: Most of the country's wage slaves will welcome the extra coin left in their wallets thanks to National's tax cuts.

Crazy

OPINION: Your canine crusader was truly impressed by the almost unanimous support given by politicians of all stripes in Parliament to the recent passing of legislation for the NZ/EU free trade deal.

Featured

$52,500 fine for effluent mismanagement

A Taupiri farming company has been convicted and fined $52,500 in the Hamilton District Court for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent into the environment.

Ospri brings Bovine TB testing in-house

The move to bring bovine TB testing in-house at Ospri officially started this month, as a team of 37 skilled and experienced technicians begin work with the disease eradication agency.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Arable advocacy?

OPINION: Spare a thought for the arable farmer, squeezed on one side by soft global prices and on the other…

Gaslight much?

OPINION: Labour leader Chris 'Chippy' Hipkins is carrying on the world-class gaslighting of the nation that he and his cohorts…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter