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 Party trade spokesman Todd McClay will become the party’s agriculture spokesperson, National leader Christopher Luxon announced today.
The news comes in the wake of the announcement by Todd Muller that he would not seek re-election this year.
Muller, a former leader of the National Party, took over the agriculture portfolio in an acting capacity last year after Barbara Kuriger had to resign the position amid a conflict of interest between her family and the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Luxon says McClay’s appointment to agriculture spokesperson will bring together the agriculture and trade portfolios under one spokesperson.
“Todd will lead National’s strong agriculture team of MPs and candidates including Nicola Grigg, Joseph Mooney, Suze Redmayne, and Miles Anderson,” he says.
“Agriculture does much of the heavy lifting in our economy – creating jobs, lifting incomes and feeding people all over the world,” he says. “National will campaign up and down the country to stop Labour’s war on farmers.”
It was also announced that local government and regional development spokesman Simon Watts will take on the climate change portfolio previously held by Muller.
Joseph Mooney will take over McClay’s tourism portfolio, and Kaipara Ki Mahurangi MP Chris Penk will be made National’s Cyclone Recovery spokesperson.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
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.
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.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
OPINION: The new government has clearly signalled big cuts across the public service.
OPINION: Your canine crusader is not surprised by the recent news that New Zealand plant-based ‘fake meat’ business is in…