New industry body aims to unite and rebuild strong wool industry
A new levying body, currently with the working title of NZWool, has been proposed to secure the future of New Zealand's strong wool sector.
Minister for Rural Communities Damien O’Connor is congratulating the rural New Zealanders recognised for their services to the country in this year’s Queen’s Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours list.
The recipients have been honoured for services to agriculture, science, journalism, community, and women.
“I’m so pleased to see the recipients recognised for their contribution to rural communities, and Aotearoa New Zealand more widely,” O’Connor says.
Former Fonterra chairman John Monaghan has been appointed as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
“John Monaghan… has been influential in the dairy industry through his work with Fonterra since its formation in 2001, supporting the company to become one of New Zealand’s top performing international companies,” O’Connor says.
Lincoln University’s Professor John Hampton, who researches different approaches to the impact of climate change on seed production and quality, was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Also, an honouree is Reverend Louise Deans who has been named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM).
“After revealing her own sexual abuse by a high-ranking priest, Reverend Louise Deans encouraged other women to come forward, and was instrumental in improving protocols for complaints of misconduct in the Anglican Church,” says O’Connor.
Deans was also a committee member of the Rural Women’s Stepping Out programme, and has advocated for farming women to pursue their careers.
“Bryan Hocken, appointed as a MNZM, has been a committed advocate for New Zealand farmers for more than 50 years.”
Hocken was President of Taranaki Federated Farmers from 2006 to 2008 and has been on Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Western Farmer Council since 2011.
“This year the service of New Zealanders is being recognised alongside the 70 years of service by the Queen, the Platinum Jubilee, for which the honours list was renamed.
“To all those honoured today, I thank you for your work and contribution to New Zealand’s rural communities,” O’Connor says.
List of Honours
Legal controls on the movement of fruits and vegetables are now in place in Auckland’s Mt Roskill suburb, says Biosecurity New Zealand Commissioner North Mike Inglis.
Arable growers worried that some weeds in their crops may have developed herbicide resistance can now get the suspected plants tested for free.
Fruit growers and exporters are worried following the discovery of a male Queensland fruit fly in Auckland this week.
Dairy prices have jumped in the overnight Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction, breaking a five-month negative streak.
Alliance Group chief executive Willie Wiese is leaving the company after three years in the role.
A booklet produced in 2025 by the Rotoiti 15 trust, Department of Conservation and Scion – now part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute – aims to help people identify insect pests and diseases.

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