Feral cattle wreak havoc
According to John Roche, MPI, the saviour for Chatham Island farmers this season has been the weather.
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.
The real winner of this year’s FMG Young Farmer Region-off have been the regional communities.
As calving approaches, farmers need to get their teams ready for what lies ahead in the coming months.
Feeling sluggish this winter? Then try some seasonal fruit, renowned for lifting mood, energy and immunity levels just when we need it most.
The missing link in getting maximum weight gain in your calves may be as simple as keeping them warm, says the Christchurch manufacturer of a range of woollen covers for young livestock.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) and Massey University are joining forces to help raise awareness and funds to combat leptospirosis.
Auckland-based supplement and nutritional company New Image International is celebrating 40 years of business in their home country.
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