Editorial: Happy days
OPINION: The year has started positively for New Zealand dairy farmers and things are likely to get better.
The New Zealand Walking Access Commission Ara Hīkoi Aotearoa (NZWAC) is welcoming the mandatory review of its governing legislation, the Walking Access Act 2008.
When initially passing the Act in 2008, Parliament decided to undertake a review after ten years to assess if it remains fit for purpose and to identify any improvements.
The review will be run by the Ministry for Primary Industries, and supported by a small independent panel chaired by Dr Hugh Logan.
Ric Cullinane, NZWAC chief executive, says the review is a great opportunity for people to have their say about public access to New Zealand’s outdoors.
"We encourage all those who have a passion for creating and protecting public access to the outdoors to get involved during the consultation phase in early 2019."
"This review offers the chance to reflect on ten years of the commission’s work, and to ensure we are best placed to make the best of opportunities for public access in the coming years," says Cullinane.
For the most part, dairy farmers in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Tairawhiti and the Manawatu appear to have not been too badly affected by recent storms across the upper North Island.
South Island dairy production is up on last year despite an unusually wet, dull and stormy summer, says DairyNZ lower South Island regional manager Jared Stockman.
Following a side-by-side rolling into a gully, Safer Farms has issued a new Safety Alert.
Coming in at a year-end total at 3088 units, a rise of around 10% over the 2806 total for 2024, the signs are that the New Zealand farm machinery industry is turning the corner after a difficult couple of years.
New Zealand's animal health industry has a new tool addressing a long-standing sustainability issue.
The Government has announced that ACC will be a sponsor of this year's FMG Young Farmer of the Year competition.

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