McClay urges patience on KiwiSaver for first-time farmers
We're working through it, and we'll get to it.
The days of high quality, ambitious comprehensive Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are over, says Trade Minister Todd McClay.
Speaking to Rural News at a Meat Industry Association (MIA) function in Wellington last week he says he's no longer using the word 'free' and instead is just talking about 'trade agreements' - a subtle but very significant nuance.
He says the notion of an FTA is a "fairly old" concept that was relevant in the heady days of trade liberalisation, but is not relevant in the new global context where there is greater emphasis on protectionism in trade.
McClay says the new order is demanding that NZ take a more aggressive, politically-led approach to opening opportunities for Kiwi exporters. He says it's similar in some ways to the 1970s and '80s when Britain joined the then EEC and NZ had to quickly find new markets for its primary produce. In those days there was a flurry of politicians heading to the UK, Europe and other parts of world to get new deals.
"The situation now is that we have got to put the effort in, show up and convince people about the benefits of trade and doing deals with NZ.
"If we sit at home leaving it to officials and hoping it will happen, inevitably we will get passed.
"So, you have seen the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister out on the world stage a lot looking for opportunities and opening doors for our negotiators, so that our exporters to be able to do more business," he says.
A major strategic target or the Government is India, says McClay. He says in the past nine months he's had five meetings with his counterpart in India and they now have a very constructive relationship. He says there are many things that NZ can do with India.
"We are now talking [about] how we can boost trade with India before we start talking about the architecture of what any trade deal may look like. But whatever we do, the primary food and fibre sector has to be an important part of that and the deal has to be meaningful, and India knows that."
A brilliant result and great news for growers and regional economies. That's how horticulture sector leaders are describing the news that sector exports for the year ended June 30 will reach $8.4 billion - an increase of 19% on last year and is forecast to hit close to $10 billion in 2029.
Funding is proving crucial for predator control despite a broken model reliant on the goodwill of volunteers.
A major milestone on New Zealand's unique journey to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis could come before the end of this year.
We're working through it, and we'll get to it.
The debate around New Zealand's future in the Paris Agreement is heating up.
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.