Sticky situation
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.
Those taking part in this Sunday’s nationwide ‘Mother of all Protests’ organised by Groundswell New Zealand are being urged to be “a good advertisement for farmers”.
The rural lobby is organising gatherings throughout the country to oppose overregulation of the rural sector by the Government.
Organisers are urging participants to refrain from brandishing offensive signs, keep an eye out for trouble makers and stick to regional Covid Alert Level rules.
Groundswell NZ co-founder Bryce McKenzie says New Zealanders are coming together to say “enough is enough”.
He claims politicians in Wellington are over-regulating and not standing up for rural communities.
"New Zealand farmers have so much to be proud of. Sunday's protest event is a chance for Kiwis to come and support farmers and the economic and social benefits brought by our rural communities.
"Whether it's overregulation, SNAs, Three Waters, or the Ute Tax, we're encouraging Kiwis to stand with us.”
McKenzie had a message for anyone who was planning to use the protest to promote their own agenda.
"Groundswell NZ is about positivity and respect. We will be rejecting those who try to hijack this day for their own causes,” he says.
"Being a literal grassroots movement, it can be hard to co-ordinate tens of thousands.”
He says a website – www.motherofallprotests.nz – has been launched to coordinate with participants and stay in touch.
People are being urged to travel into town centres in their utes, tractors, cars and trucks. On the website, Groundswell has also published a list of approved slogans for the protest and a Code of Conduct that excludes “offensive placards or signs”.
Groundswell leaders will deliver a statement to all participants on Sunday at 1.35pm
McKenzie also announced that a major protest is being planned for Parliament in February next year.
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.
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