Feds support live animal exports
Federated Farmers have reiterated their support for the coalition Government to abolish the present ban on the live export of animals.
Minister of Education Chris Hipkins concedes the timing of the Taratahi interim liquidation is tough, especially for students and staff, and he says supporting them is a top priority.
Hipkins says the TEC will work with Taratahi, NZQA and StudyLink to support students in alternative options. Staff will also be supported.
“The financial problems surfaced at Taratahi in 2014 when it was not providing the teaching it was funded to deliver between 2009 and 2014. As a result, Taratahi was left with debts of $7.5 million due to under-delivery – in addition to hefty private sector debt it had incurred. Taratahi has repaid $3.5m of that, mostly by selling assets, but this is not a sustainable model.”
Hipkins says the government is “taking steps” to secure the home farm and is talking to providers to fill the gap in provision for students. But he says it’s clear the current model for vocational training for primary industry is broken and that the government plans to solve this for continuity in training students.
“We are looking at new models of primary industry training as part of the Vocational Education Training Review.”
Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor says he’s saddened and disappointed that Taratahi, a proud agricultural training organisation, has been found unsustainable.
“I am committed to primary sector training. We will continue working with industry on a plan for agri sector training that meets the needs of the industry now and into the future,” he says.
Kiwis love their butter, and that's great because New Zealand produces some of the best butter in the world. But when the price of butter goes up, it's tough for some, particularly when many other grocery staples have also gone up and the heat goes on co-operative Fonterra, the country's main butter maker. Here the co-op explains why butter prices are so high right now.
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown has waded into the debate around soaring butter prices, pointing out that the demand for dairy overseas dictates the price to farmers and at the supermarket.
Farmers are welcoming new Government proposals to make farm health and safety rules more practical and grounded in real-world farming.
Missing fresh mozzarella cheese made at home in Bari, southern Italy, Massimo Lubisco and his wife Marina decided to bring a taste of home to New Zealand.
An A$2 billion bid for Fonterra's Oceania business would be great news, according to Forsyth Barr senior analyst, equities, Matt Montgomerie.
Irish meat processor Dawn Meats is set to acquire a 70% stake in Alliance Group, according to a report in The Irish Times.
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