Editorial: Getting RMA settings right
OPINION: The Government has been seeking industry feedback on its proposed amendments to a range of Resource Management Act (RMA) national direction instruments.
OPINION: Most people will be aware of the Government's plans to boost coal, oil and gas production to meet energy requirements.
Whatever your stance on the short-term efficacy of renewable sources and developments, it's worth noting a major reason for afforestation in New Zealand right now is offsetting emissions produced from fossil fuels.
Recent statistics show Kiwi farmers doing an admirable job of reducing their on-farm emissions, but the point of diminishing returns has already easily been reached.
If fossil fuel emissions keep up at the same rate in this country, we won't be able to reach our binding emissions targets for 2030 without - you guessed it - planting more trees. Where are these trees planted? Productive farming land. Who bears the cost of this conversion? Hard working Kiwi farmers.
The Government has two stances on this topic. One, increased domestic fossil fuel production will reduce reliance on imports, cutting down on transport costs and emissions and theoretically have a net reduction in emissions despite identical consumption rates.
Secondly, renewable sources are not developed enough to cover surges in electricity usage or convert our primarily petrol-powered transport fleet.
For all the publicity about the necessity of expanding fossil fuel production because renewables cannot supply 100% of the country 100% of the time, there seems to be much less government discussion about fixing or expanding the renewable energy grid in the first place.
Is there some discussion on this long-term plan? Certainly. Is it being given the same priority as the quick band-aid fix that may be shafting Kiwi farmers long-term? No.
Sadly, there is no easy solution. Any reasonable discussion will need to accept that someone, something, somewhere, is going to get a bum deal. Whether New Zealand will have to deal with reduced primary production, spottier energy supplies or a less green country is a bullet we must bite.
The question is, who should put the bell on the cat?
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand has launched an AI-powered digital assistant to help farmers using the B+LNZ Knowledge Hub to create tailored answers and resources for their farming businesses.
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OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.