Ravensdown CEO takes out premier award
Ravensdown chief executive Greg Campbell has been named the 2019 Primary Industries Chief Executive of the Year at the inaugural Primary Industries Awards.
Australian Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Joe Ludwig is in New Zealand on a two-day visit.
He is meeting with Minister for Primary Industry David Carter this afternoon to kick off bilateral and primary industries meetings over the next two days.
Ludwig will travel with Primary Industries Ministers from NSW, Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
"This visit is a valuable opportunity to discuss two-way trade and issues in the primary sector that affect both Australia and New Zealand," says Carter.
While in Auckland, Ludwig will also chair the Standing Council on Primary Industries meeting.
"This meeting is attended by primary industries ministers from New Zealand and Australia and allows us to share approaches, ideas, and views on the challenges and opportunities facing the primary industries," says Carter.
"One of the issues we will discuss is the food sector opportunities available to both countries.
"By focusing on our food industries, New Zealand and Australia have the ability to increase productivity, innovate and add value to the domestic and export sector. There are opportunities in working together.
"We enjoy a strong relationship with Australia, our largest trading partner, and meetings such as this play an important role in enhancing primary sector collaboration between our two countries."
Relationships are key to opening new trading opportunities and dealing with some of the rules that countries impose that impede the free flow of trade.
Dawn Meats chief executive Niall Browne says their joint venture with Alliance Group will create “a dynamic industry competitor”.
Tributes have flowed following the death of former Prime Minister and political and business leader, Jim Bolger. He was 90.
A drop in methane targets announced by the Government this month has pleased farmers but there are concerns that without cross-party support, the targets would change once a Labour-led Government is voted into office.
Farmer shareholders of meat processor Alliance have voted in favour of a proposed $270 million joint venture investment by Irish company, Dawn Meats.
The former chair of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and farmer, Doug Leeder, says rural communities' biggest fear right now is the lack of long-term certainty over environmental regulations.