New Federated Farmers meat and wool chair praises predecessor
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
A Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) would transform New Zealand's agriculture and economy by involving five of our top ten export partners.
A TPP could boost our exports to the United States enormously and its only one partner, says Bruce Wills, Federated Farmers President and economics and commerce spokesperson.
"The sky is the limit given HSBC Bank says our trade with the rest of the world could grow 83 percent in the next 15 years. That outperforms the global average and is vital for us to remain a first world nation and for public services to remain properly funded.
"A 2002 a report for the US-NZ Council found a true free trade deal between our two countries would boost New Zealand exports to the United States by 51 percent. New Zealand currently exports around $4 billion to the United States; our number three trading partner.
He says Japan joining TPP negotiations "supercharges the TPP's overall potential". Japan is the world's number three economy and our fourth largest export partner. The potential is "huge" because the TPP would involve half of our top ten export partners including three of the top four.
"The crucial thing for Federated Farmers is the removal of trade barriers for agriculture. That's a non-negotiable requirement for us as the world needs to eliminate tariffs and subsidies. Free trade also needs a wider genuine commitment to services, investment and intellectual property.
"While the free trade agreements we have with the likes of Australia and China are tremendous, multilateral trade agreements are the future, such as the one we have with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)."
A brilliant result and great news for growers and regional economies. That's how horticulture sector leaders are describing the news that sector exports for the year ended June 30 will reach $8.4 billion - an increase of 19% on last year and is forecast to hit close to $10 billion in 2029.
Funding is proving crucial for predator control despite a broken model reliant on the goodwill of volunteers.
A major milestone on New Zealand's unique journey to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis could come before the end of this year.
We're working through it, and we'll get to it.
The debate around New Zealand's future in the Paris Agreement is heating up.
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.