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.
OPINION: With election day only a few days away and advance voting well underway, there appears to be a mood for change in rural and provincial New Zealand.
The last election saw a number of regional seats turn red on the back of Labour's Covid response and the complete disarray that the National Party was in back in September 2020.
However, it is clear that most of the Labour MPs currently occupying these provincial seats will be looking for employment come October 15. There won't be too many tears shed in rural NZ about this.
That's hardly surprising considering the majority of farmers and rural people would view the current Labour Government as one of the worst the primary sector has ever had to deal with.
It has not only been its legislative agenda, that has seen a myriad of costly regulations imposed on the sector, but also the current administration's tin ear when it comes to listening to the concerns expressed by farmers.
The Labour Government's 'we know best' attitude - personified by Environment Minister David Parker and the constant haranguing of farmer by Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor for daring to criticise the burdensome regulatory regime - will have many farmers waiting with pen in hand at the voting booth to send it a clear message.
It can only be hoped that if a new government is elected, the number of farmer candidates in both National and ACT will bring a more farmer-centric view to government policies directed at the rural sector.
As a Beef + Lamb NZ recent report highlighting the cumulative effects of the Government's environmental reform agenda shows, it has created significant administrative and financial burden for farmers.
As chief executive Sam McIvor says, this report reinforces BLNZ's calls for the new government - no matter which political party wins the general election - to press pause on rules and review current or proposd rules to ensure they're fit for purpose.
The winds of hange appear to be blowing in rural NZ and a likely end to the Labour-led regime of the past six years will not be moured by many in the regional heartland.
Like many manufacturers around the world, European agricultural machinery and tractor manufacturers are currently operating in a difficult market environment. But they are heading to the world’s largest agricultural machinery event in Hanover next month with a degree of cautious optimism.
Established in 2021, the John Deere Technician of the Year Awards champion the important contribution parts and service technicians make to the Australian and New Zealand agriculture, construction and forestry industries.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.
New Zealand is closer to eradicating bovine TB than ever before, but possums remain a threat, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.
The ACT Party says media reports that global dairy giant Nestle has withdrawn from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance shows why New Zealand needs to rethink its approach to climate.
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