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.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the country will be going into a nation-wide Level 4 lockdown from Wednesday 11:59pm. Agriculture will still be able to operate as it is an essential service.
OPINION: Amidst the coronavirus upheaval, one thing is certain – agriculture will see the NZ economy through.
The world still needs to eat and trade channels remain open. The bedrock of country’s economy is still agriculture and our main export is of course food.
Farms and orchards will carry on, and with our biggest market China turning a corner with its COVID-19 situation, demand for our produce will remain strong. The fundamentals of food supply and demand remain strong.
To get us through, farmers will need our support. They’ll need good, trustworthy information.
They’ll need the usual inputs from the service and supply parts of the industry.
They’ll need some breathing space from political moves that might restrict their ability to operate efficiently.
Rural News is a trusted source of information for farmers and we will help keep our farming and rural communities connected. With rural events banned for the foreseeable future, the role we play in keeping the sector connected and informed is more vital than ever.
In the parlance of these somewhat unsure times, you can be assured that Rural News will keep calm and carry on.
The New Zealand red meat sector has signed an open letter to parliamentarians from BusinessNZ, urging swift ratification of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Wools of New Zealand is joining calls for New Zealand to urgently ratify a Free Trade Agreement with India.
Fonterra says Richard Allen will succeed Miles Hurrell as its new chief executive.
Cyclone Vaianu is continuing its track south towards the Bay of Plenty, bringing with it destructive winds, heavy rain, and large swells, says Metservice.
While Cyclone Vaianu remains off the East Coast of New Zealand, the Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group says impacts have been felt overnight.
A Local State of Emergency has been declared for the Waikato for a period of seven days as the region prepares for Cyclone Vaianu to hit the area.

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