Damien O’Connor: NZ united on global trade
When it comes to international trade, politicians from all sides of the aisle are united, says Labour's trade spokesman Damien O'Connor.
OPINION: Your old mate has heard about rugby players putting their bodies on the line for their country, but not bureaucrats.
However, word has it that one of NZ's key trade negotiators in the recent FTA with the UK caught Covid-19 during a trade trip last month.
Vangelis Vitalis, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's deputy secretary for trade and economic issues, accompanied Damien O'Connor on his trip to the United States and EU in October.
In a statement, MFAT confirmed that Vitalis had tested positive for Covid-19 while in Europe, it added that he was double-vaccinated, had experienced only milk symptoms to date and was recovering well.
Talk about taking one for the team!
I'm sure farmers around NZ will join the Hound in wishing Vitalis a speedy recovery and thank him for his efforts in helping secure better access for NZ primary products around the world.
Farmer interest continues to grow as a Massey University research project to determine the benefits or otherwise of the self-shedding Wiltshire sheep is underway. The project is five years in and has two more years to go. It was done mainly in the light of low wool prices and the cost of shearing. Peter Burke recently went along to the annual field day held Massey's Riverside farm in the Wairarapa.
Applications are now open for the 2026 NZI Rural Women Business Awards, set to be held at Parliament on 23 July.
Ravensdown has announced a collaboration with Kiwi icon, Footrot Flats in an effort to bring humour, heart, and connection to the forefront of the farming sector.
Forest & Bird's Kiwi Conservation Club is inviting New Zealanders of all ages to embrace the outdoors with its Summer Adventure Challenges.
Grace Su, a recent optometry graduate from the University of Auckland, is moving to Tauranga to start work in a practice where she worked while participating in the university's Rural Health Interprofessional Programme (RHIP).
Two farmers and two farming companies were recently convicted and fined a total of $108,000 for environmental offending.

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