Feds make case for rural bank lending probe
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
HortNZ’s offices in the capital are closed again today but will re-open tomorrow.
The chief executive of HortNZ, Mike Chapman says engineers have inspected their building which is at the northern end of Featherston St, Wellington, and says there is only superficial damage and it will be safe for staff to work in it.
The rest of Featherston St where Federated Farmers and Beef+Lamb NZ are located remains closed due to fears of glass falling on to the street from broken windows and the added fear of high winds in the capital.
Chapman says the reports they have had so far from growers in areas affected by the quake suggest there has been no damage to glass houses.
He says the biggest issue facing the sector is the damage to transport infrastructure. Chapman says the problem is getting produce across Cook Strait and the state of the roading network from Picton to Christchurch. He says the HortNZ board will be meeting soon to work out how best to meet this challenge.
In a matter of weeks, stone fruit from Central Otago will be ready and Chapman says they may have to consider shipping this from Dunedin or Timaru to the North Island as SH1 from Christchurch to Picton will almost certainly be closed.
Ironically he says, the coastal shipping option may be cheaper than the normal road transport system
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has informed staff it will cut 391 jobs following a consultation period.