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.
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.
The mood in horticulture is cautiously optimistic, according to the chair of Horticulture NZ, Barry O'Neil.
New Zealand’s major primary industry exporters have secured shipping capability to export $160 billion worth of products over the next 10 years.
The mood in the deer industry is very positive and on an upwards trajectory.
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says the Government is always working to ensure that our food exporters are treated fairly under trade agreements signed with other countries.
Coronet Peak, Queenstown, was the venue for the 2024 NZ Dairy Industry Awards.
AgriZeroNZ, the joint venture (JV) fast-tracking emissions reduction tools for Kiwi farmers, is looking to speed up delivery of a methane vaccine with a $10m investment in US ag-biotech start-up, ArkeaBio.