Friday, 17 March 2023 10:26

McClay Nats' new ag spokesman

Written by  Staff Reporters
Todd McClay has been named as the National Party's new agriculture spokesman. Todd McClay has been named as the National Party's new agriculture spokesman.

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.

More like this

Dreams aren't plans

OPINION: Milking It reckons if you're National, looking at recent polls, the dream scenario is that the elusive economic recovery finally roars to life.

If voters see some growth and wages rising faster than prices, the government could say they've "fixed" things as they ride into the next election.

Back here on Earth though, the economy they inherited is a basket case, and the long-term headwinds are fierce.

Political commentator Liam Hehir says, "dreams are not plans" and if the turnaround doesn't come in time, National may have no choice but to go negative.

"Everybody wants to fight on the economy if they can. But when neither side has a compelling story, the contest shifts to other issues. That's not new. In fact, it's the stuff of politics everywhere, always."


 Read More:


Farmers urged to prepare as heavy rain looms

With adverse weather set to rain down on the Top of the South, the Bay of Plenty and parts of Northland, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says farmers, foresters, and growers need to prepare for possible challenges.

Trop de Paris!

OPINION: Your old mate's ear has been chewed off recently by farmers voicing their displeasure with the National Party, particularly relating to how they're treating their farmer base.

Featured

National

Machinery & Products

A reliable, no-fuss workhorse

Showcased with a T7.245 at the recent National Fieldays, New Holland has expanded its T7 tractor range offering in New…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Wrong focus

OPINION: Your old mate reckons townie Brooke van Velden, the Minister of Workplace (or is it Woke Place) Relations is…

Burn the village

OPINION: There's an infamous term coined by a US general during the Vietnam war, specifically in reference to the battle…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter