Federated Farmers urge government to honour KiwiSaver promise
Federated Farmers is calling on the Government to deliver on its pre-election promise to change the KiwiSaver rules to help young farmers get their foot on the farming ladder.
News that Winstone Pulp International is proposing to cease operations at its two New Zealand mills has been labelled as ‘terrible’ for the Rangitīkei, says the region’s MP Suze Redmayne.
Earlier this month, Winstone Pulp International paused work at its two sites, the Tangiwai Sawmill and the Karioi Pulpmill.
Yesterday, employees were told the company proposed to close the sites indefinitely, citing the high cost of wholesale energy prices.
If the proposal were to go ahead, approximately 230 people would be out of work.
Redmayne says the announcement will be “incredibly tough” for the Ruapehu District community.
“As one of our biggest employers, Winstone Pulp’s closure will have a massive impact on our local families and economy,” she says.
She says the potential job losses underline the importance of affordable housing, reliable energy to the New Zealand economy.
“The Government is moving at pace to reverse Labour’s energy policies that have been disastrous for the country and introduce policies that will ensure Kiwi businesses and households have access to affordable and reliable energy,” Redmayne adds.
“In the meantime my heart goes out to all the staff at Winstone Pulp, and indeed the wider community who share the loss of a great local business which has made a significant contribution to our region for decades,” she concludes.
Holstein Friesian excellence was front and centre at the 2025 Holstein Friesian NZ (HFNZ) Awards, held recently in Invercargill.
The work Fonterra has done with Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd, LIC and Ravensdown to save farmers time through better data connections has been recognised with a national award.
This past week has seen another round of negotiations between India and New Zealand to produce a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.
Cautiously optimistic is how DairyNZ's regional manager for the lower North Island, Mark Laurence describes the mood of farmers in his patch.
The Infrastructure Commission has endorsed a plan by Chorus to expand fibre broadband to 95% of New Zealand much to the delight of rural women.
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