Research highlights struggle for good health outcomes in rural areas
According to Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network’s Rural Health New Zealand Snapshot 2024, those in rural areas have poorer health outcomes than those in urban areas.
Health Minister Andrew Little has done an about turn and agreed to having a separate, legally-binding rural health strategy in the Pae Ora Health Futures legislation, which comes into effect in July.
Initially, a special strategy for rural was in the bill - along with strategies for Maori, Pacifica, women and people with disabilities. However, rural was taken out by the Labour Party majority on the select committee.
This led to a chorus of criticism to Labour's health reforms and the fact that 'rural' was not seen as a priority.
Critics said the new structure that is supposed to deliver better health outcomes for NZ wouldn't do this for people who live in rural regions.
Chair of the Rural General Practice Network, Dr Fiona Bolden strongly criticised the omission of 'rural' saying it was outrageous and left 750,000 people enrolled in rural practices out in the wilderness. National's health spokesperson, Dr Shane Reti opposed the move, as did Act's Brooke van Velden who proposed an amendment to the bill calling for the rural health strategy to be reinstated in the bill.
Little has now effectively rejected his own party's recommendations from the select committee and is now claiming Labour's 'rural caucus' convinced him to change his mind.
Applications have now opened for the 2026 Meat Industry Association scholarships.
Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) says it is backing aspiring dairy farmers through a new initiative designed to make the first step to farm ownership or sharemilking easier.
OPINION: While farmers are busy and diligently doing their best to deal with unwanted gasses, the opponents of farming - namely the Greens and their mates - are busy polluting the atmosphere with tirades of hot air about what farmers supposedly aren't doing.
OPINION: For close to eight years now, I have found myself talking about methane quite a lot.
The Royal A&P Show of New Zealand, hosted by the Canterbury A&P Association, is back next month, bigger and better after the uncertainty of last year.
Claims that farmers are polluters of waterways and aquifers and 'don't care' still ring out from environmental groups and individuals. The phrase 'dirty dairying' continues to surface from time to time. But as reporter Peter Burke points out, quite the opposite is the case. He says, quietly and behind the scenes, farmers are embracing new ideas and technologies to make their farms sustainable, resilient, environmentally friendly and profitable.
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One of the most galling aspects of the tariffs whacked on our farm exports to the US is the fact…