Rural Resilience Workshops to Help Farmers Prepare for Adverse Events
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says a series of rural resilienced set to be rolled out next week will help farmers and growers better prepared for adverse weather events.
Trade Minister Todd McClay has travelled to Indonesia to join the Prime Minister and a high-level business delegation for a two-day official visit.
"Indonesia is an important trade partner for New Zealand, and as our 11th largest export market offers significant trading opportunities," says McClay.
"Our two-way trade currently sits at $1.6 billion, and we're keen to explore ways to meet the target set by the two countries last year to boost trade to $4 billion by 2024.
"We will be looking to further broaden our trade connections, including through the Prime Minister's meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and my own meeting with Indonesian Trade Minister Thomas Lembong."
McClay spoke with Minster Lembong at last weekend's G20 meeting in Shanghai and both ministers committed to further develop their government-to-government and business-to-business links.
"With a population of 255 million, Indonesia offers significant opportunity to New Zealand exporters and we will be looking to capitalise on the Prime Minister's visit to open doors for New Zealand companies," says McClay.
While in Indonesia, McClay will take part in business forums in Jakarta and Surabaya. The Jakarta business forum will focus on the benefits of regional economic integration, including between ASEAN and New Zealand. The Surabaya business forum will aim to promote New Zealand's economic relationship with East Java, Indonesia's second most populous province.
"I look forward to working alongside the New Zealand business delegation to showcase New Zealand's commercial expertise in areas of priority for Indonesia, including renewable energy, food and beverage, aviation, education and tourism," says McClay.
New Zealand farming is riding a high, with strong prices, full feed covers and improving confidence lining up at the same time.
Manawatu Mayor Michael Ford says the district sees itself as the agribusiness capital of the lower North Island.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is looking forward to connecting with farmers, rural professionals and community members at this year's Central District Field Days.
Labour Party Leader Chris Hipkins has announced a reshuffle of the party's caucus portfolios.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says a series of rural resilienced set to be rolled out next week will help farmers and growers better prepared for adverse weather events.
The head of Massey University's School of Agriculture and the Environment, Professor Paul Kenyon, says the outlook for the primary sector is positive with record numbers of students enrolling for Massey's range of undergraduate courses in the primary sector.

OPINION: Election years are usually regarded as the silly season, but a mate of the Hound reckons 2026 is shaping…
OPINION: If farmers poured just a few litres of some pollutant into a stream, the Green Party and the wider…