Editorial: KiwiSaver to the rescue?
OPINION: Farmers are rightly urging the Government to relax the rules around KiwiSaver and allow young farmers to use their savings towards purchasing either a house, cows or a farm.
Trade Minister Todd McClay departs today to visit the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Following his appointment as a WTO Vice Chair, McClay is travelling to prepare for the 13th Ministerial Conference of the WTO, being held in Abu Dhabi in February.
While in Geneva, McClay will meet key leaders within the World Trade Organisation including the Director General, Deputy Director General, and the heads of key Regional Groups in the WTO, as well as Pacific Representatives.
“The WTO remains at the core of New Zealand’s trade and economic interests,” says McClay. “A functioning rules-based system delivers benefits for our businesses and exporters, as well as the broader economy.”
“My visit provides the opportunity to influence and drive positive outcomes at the upcoming WTO Ministerial Meeting, especially around domestic agricultural production that supports the interests of both developing and developed countries,” he says.
McClay will then travel to Dubai to meet with Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, to discuss New Zealand’s support for the UAE chairing of the 13th WTO Ministerial Committee, and the country’s bilateral trading interests, including exploratory talks towards a bilateral Closer Economic Partnership Agreement.
“The UAE is New Zealand’s largest export market in the Middle East, and a key interlocutor on regional issues,” says McClay.
“I look forward to meeting with my counterparts to discuss and advance our relationship on a number of issues, including trade, food security and climate change,” he concludes.
Farmers appear to be backing the Government's recent Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms announcement.
For the first time, all the big names in agricultural drone technology are being brought together under one marquee at the National Fieldays.
Fonterra has announced an improved third quarter performance – with a profit after tax of $1.15 billion, up $119 million on the same period last year.
The Fieldays Innovation Awards competition has attracted a diverse and impressive array of innovations from across the primary industries, highlighting the growing importance of technology shaping the future of farming.
Coming to the fore following the carnage of Cyclone Gabrielle, Starlink became well known for providing internet access even in NZ's most inaccessible places.
From this winter farmers will have a greater choice of feed types and blend options than ever before, thanks to Farmlands' purchase of animal nutrition company SealesWinslow.
OPINION: Imagine if the Hound had called the Minister of Finance the 'c-word' and accused her of "girl math".
OPINION: It's good news that Finance Minister Nicola Willis has slashed $1.1 billion from new spending, citing "a seismic global…