Damien O’Connor: NZ united on global trade
When it comes to international trade, politicians from all sides of the aisle are united, says Labour's trade spokesman Damien O'Connor.
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
Ashburton cropping and dairy farmer Matthew Paton has been elected to the board of rural services company, Ruralco.
The global agricultural landscape has entered a new phase where geopolitics – not only traditional market forces – will dictate agricultural trade flows, prices, and production decisions.
National Lamb Day is set to return in 2026 with organisers saying the celebrations will be bigger than ever.
Fonterra has dropped its forecast milk price mid-point by 50c as a surge in global milk production is putting downward pressure on commodity prices.
The chance of a $10-plus milk price for this season appears to be depleting.
Keep focused on things that can be controlled on farm.

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