Minister raises tariffs dispute
Trade Minister Todd McClay has used a meeting of the CPTPP hosted by Canada to take that country to task for defiantly refusing to open up its dairy market to NZ.
The Hound, like most rational people in NZ’s primary and export sectors, was delighted to see the much maligned and denigrated trade agreement of the past few years – the CPTPP, formerly known as the TPP – come into force this month.
Your old mate would like to tip his hat to current trade minister David Parker for finally getting the deal over the line and into action, as well as the former trade ministers in the previous government – Tim Groser and Todd McClay. However, your old mate still finds it hard to believe that the same David Parker who finally signed off the deal was the David Parker (in opposition) who rallied and marched against the very same deal. Thankfully the reality of government and some minor tweaking of the TPP text has led Parker and others now sitting on the Treasury benches on their road to Damascus.
Recent rain has offered respite for some from the ongoing drought.
New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.
With much of the North Island experiencing drought this summer and climate change projected to bring drier and hotter conditions, securing New Zealand’s freshwater resilience is vital, according to state-owned GNS Science.
OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.
For Wonky Box co-founder Angus Simms, the decision to open the service to those in rural areas is a personal one.
The golden age of orcharding in West Auckland was recently celebrated at the launch of a book which tells the story of its rise, then retreat in the face of industry change and urban expansion.
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