Editorial: Agri's mojo is back
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has informed staff it will cut 391 jobs following a consultation period.
193 of the roles set to be axed are currently vacant.
In March, it was announced that MPI intended to disestablish approximately 384 roles. That number has now risen to 391, approximately 10% of the Ministry’s workforce.
Fleur Fitzsimons, assistant secretary for the Public Service Association (PSA), the union for public servants, says that the staff reduction “can only weaken the vital work the Ministry does across the country in protecting and promoting New Zealand’s primary industry”.
“MPI is our first line of defence against threats to the industry which underpins our prosperity so it’s baffling that the Government has forced this vital agency to slash spending by 7.5% to fund tax cuts,” Fitzsimons says.
“While MPI maintains no frontline roles are impacted, the PSA is concerned that such a large reduction in the workforce will impact the ability of frontline biosecurity officers, fisheries officers, vets and others to do their job.”
“This is a complex Ministry with many moving parts,” Fitzsimons says. “These changes will only increase the workloads of remaining staff, and will see the loss of experienced, specialist staff who have been at the Ministry for many years.”
She says primary producers should question whether MPI can still be effective and be there to support them when they need it most.
“It’s just more reckless short-term thinking from the Government that runs the risks of long-term problems for the economy and for the thousands of New Zealanders whose livelihoods depend on the industry, on the farm, in processing and in supplying our producers,” Fitzsimons concludes.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
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