Public consultation opens on firearms law
Consultation for changes to the Arms Act is now open and will run until 28 February 2025.
The Primary Production Select Committee is calling for submissions on the Valuers Bill currently before Parliament.
The Valuers Bill seeks to reenact the Valuers Act 1948. It would provide for the registration of land valuers and the establishment of the New Zealand Institute of Valuers.
The bill is a revision bill which is a bill that is used to re-enact legislation in an up-to-date and accessible form.
The bill would not make any substantial policy changes to the original legislation and would make minor changes to correct inconsistencies and omissions.
It is intended that the bill will be rewritten using plain language and modern drafting style. The scope of the changes the committee can recommend on the bill are narrow.
Alongside the bill, the Primary Production Committee is also considering an amendment paper that would amend the bill.
Amendment Paper 286 would increase the penalties for offences under the law, remove the requirement that a registered valuer be over the age of 23 years, and expand the Valuers Registration Board’s disciplinary powers.
According to a recent Section 7 report presented to the House by the Attorney-General, the age restriction listed under the original bill (that no one under the age of 23 years can be a registered valuer) would be inconsistent with the right to freedom from discrimination under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.
To make a submission on the Valuers Bill or the proposed amendment, head to the Parliament website.
The closing date for submissions on the bill is 11.59pm on Friday, 27 June 2025.
"The worst of the worst" is how Richard Kempthorne, the chair of the Nelson Tasman Rural Support Trust, describes the cumulative effects of the two storms that have wreaked havoc across the top of the South Island.
The basis for making great cheese is good milk, says the owner of Banks Peninsula's Barry's Bay Cheese, which was named Champion of Champons Mid-Size, for its traditional Aged Gouda, at this year's NZ Champions of Cheese Awards.
The 2024 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer of the Year, Ben Purua has been named farmer-backed charity Meet the Need's first official ambassador.
Global dairy prices have ended a two-month run of losses.
The world's largest dairy company may be in pole position to acquire Fonterra's Australian assets.
In a major win for farmers, the Government has directed regional councils to halt all work on plans and regional policy statement reviews under the Resource Management Act (RMA).