Taranaki economy shifts from oil and gas to dairy as leading export
The Taranaki region is enjoying one of the highest gross domestic product (GDP) per capita figures in New Zealand, thanks to high farmgate dairy prices.
Taranaki's flagship riparian management programme, which has "gone the extra mile" in developing relationships with dairy farmers, has been recognised for its outstanding contribution to protecting the environment.
The Taranaki Regional Council programme is a finalist in two categories of the Ministry for the Environment's 2013 Green Ribbon Awards: the Caring for Our Water and Public Sector Leadership categories.
Environment Minister Amy Adams announced the finalists in 11 award categories last week.
Adams says the council has "gone the extra mile in developing enduring relationships with dairy farmers to understand the best riparian practices for their land".
"They have shown commitment to addressing a crucial issue for New Zealand – how to ensure our agricultural sector can promote and implement sustainable resource management."
The council's chairman, David MacLeod, is delighted with the nomination.
"For almost two decades the council has worked closely with Taranaki dairy farmers to develop the riparian management programme—a voluntary programme to fence and plant riparian margins on the ring plain.
"The recognition is for the efforts of the Taranaki community which has shown leadership in protecting water quality through the riparian programme, alongside the sustainable development of an industry that is vital to Taranaki," says Macleod.
The awards are open to individuals, organisations, businesses and communities throughout New Zealand. There are three finalists in each category and the winners will be announced at a ceremony at Parliament on June 5, which is World Environment day.
Meat co-operative, Alliance has met with a group of farmer shareholders, who oppose the sale of a controlling stake in the co-op to Irish company Dawn Meats.
Rollovers of quad bikes or ATVs towing calf milk trailers have typically prompted a Safety Alert from Safer Farms, the industry-led organisation dedicated to fostering a safer farming culture across New Zealand.
The Government has announced it has invested $8 million in lower methane dairy genetics research.
A group of Kiwi farmers are urging Alliance farmer-shareholders to vote against a deal that would see the red meat co-operative sell approximately $270 million in shares to Ireland's Dawn Meats.
In a few hundred words it's impossible to adequately describe the outstanding contribution that James Brendan Bolger made to New Zealand since he first entered politics in 1972.
Dawn Meats is set to increase its proposed investment in Alliance Group by up to $25 million following stronger than forecast year-end results by Alliance.
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