Open letters
OPINION: Your old mate isn't really a fan of the recent trend toward collective whinging, otherwise known as an 'open letter'.
Rural Communities and Local Government Minister Kieran McAnulty has added yet another portfolio to his list.
The Wairarapa MP picked up the Regional Development portfolio after Kiri Allan dropped all her portfolios after she was arrested Sunday following a car accident on Evans Bay Parade in Wellington.
The addition of the Regional Development portfolio brings McAnulty’s roster up to six portfolios, including Minister for Racing and Deputy Leader of the House.
He’d previously picked up the Minister for Emergency Management role from Allan in the June 2022 cabinet reshuffle and following former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s resignation in January this year, he also picked up the Local Government portfolio from Nanaia Mahuta.
At a press conference yesterday announcing the reallocation of Allan’s portfolios, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the move to make McAnulty Regional Development Minister fit with his current Rural Communities portfolio.
It was also announced that Finance Minister Grant Robertson would take over the lead coordination role for Tairawhiti.
“Grant Robertson is already leading the Government’s rolling maul of initiatives supporting communities impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle,” says Hipkins.
Also picking up a portfolio is Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor who will support Transport Minister David Parker in an Associate Minister’s role.
Hipkins says that with five weeks until Parliament rests ahead of the election in October, he didn’t want to make any additional MPs a Minister, believing the roles to be evenly spread.
Currently, there are 25 Ministers in the Executive, with 18 of them Cabinet Ministers.
“Between now and the election our singular focus must be on making life better for everyday Kiwis. That is what I have sought to do, and I need everyone to do the same,” he says.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
Livestock can be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
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