M.I.A.
OPINION: The previous government spent too much during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite warnings from officials, according to a briefing released by the Treasury.
IrrigationNZ has thrown its support behind the Government’s method of regional post-COVID-19 recovery through Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) funded water projects.
The industry body believes the water projects that have been included in the $48 million loans from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) will be a step towards boosting the economy following the impact of COVID-19.
“It is great to see the Government recognising the importance of water storage and the big role water plays in the social and economic wellbeing of our communities,” says IrrigationNZ chief executive Elizabeth Soal.
“Not only will the water projects be good for providing employment opportunities and supporting incomes during the construction phases of these projects, but also in the long term.”
Soal says having reliable access to water enhances communities’ resilience, climate change responsiveness, social outcomes, and unlocks the potential for land use flexibility.
“Investing in water projects is a sound investment for the long term economic and environmental sustainability of our country.”
Regional economic development minister Shane Jones made the PGF funding announcement this morning.
The water initiatives receiving loans totalling $48.4m are:
• Raukokore River Water Ltd, water storage project – $10.6m
• Wairarapa Water Limited, community water storage – $7m
• Te Waka Pupuri Pūtea Trust, Awanui water storage project (Far North) – $3m
• Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Tukituki water storage development phase - $2.5m
• Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Heretaunga Plains water storage development phase - $1.7m
Soal says all of the projects have scope to benefit both people and businesses from the urban and rural communities.
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.
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