Tuesday, 21 September 2021 15:30

Dirty tricks?

Written by The Hound

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

OPINION: An email from Fed Farmers' president Andrew Hoggard to Ag Minister Damien O'Connor saying some unkind things about the Groundswell movement - before its big countrywide protest in July - was recently released to a media outfit under an Official Information Act (OIA) request.

This has put Feds in a bad light and helped drive a wedge between it and Groundswell.

The Hound suggests this was a deliberate, Machiavellian move by O'Connor to foster ag sector infighting and take the heat off his government's imposition of numerous anti-farming regulations.

It turns out that O'Connor (and PM Ardern) refused to release other communications about Groundswell in the same OIA request, "to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression of opinions by or between or to Ministers of the Crown or members of an organisation..."

More like this

Damien O’Connor Criticises Budget 2026 as ‘Miserable’ for Rural New Zealand

A miserable budget that didn’t deliver much for anyone.

A Good Start

OPINION: While we're on the topic of lumberjacks, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has no doubt used a chainsaw hundreds of times, but your old mate reckons he would’ve still been sweating on getting it right when cutting down a pine in front of the cameras, as he did above Queenstown during a recent pre-Budget announcement around extra funding for wilding pine control efforts.

Wilding Pines Could Cost New Zealand Billions, Says Hoggard

Wilding pines are the wrong tree in the wrong place, and they need to go, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.

Editorial: A Sensible Decision

OPINION: For thousands of Southland farmers, this week would have tipped them into the non-compliant category when it comes to following regional freshwater plan rules. But the Government has stepped in to give them the clarity they deserve.

Southland Farmers Given 18-Month Freshwater Farm Plan Reprieve

Southland farmers staring down a May deadline to submit freshwater farm plans under current regional plan rules have been given an 18-month reprieve by the Government.

Featured

Czarnikow Launches Digital Milk Pricing Tool in NZ

New Zealand dairy farmers are set to be the first in the world to receive access to a new digital physical milk pricing tool that enables them to fix the price for their physical milk.

Pāmu Opens Farm Gates for Summer Open Farm Days

State farmer Pāmu is opening its farm gates this summer in an effort to give the rural sector the opportunity to see how large-scale, multi-system farming is delivering productivity and profitability across New Zealand.

Northland Study: Emissions Cuts "Unsustainable" for Dairy

A five-year study has found that the cost of reducing emissions without technology may be significant and unsustainable for Northland dairy farmers.

DairyNZ: Waikato Farmers Need Certainty on PC1 Rules

DairyNZ says Waikato farmers need certainty on Plan Change 1, but they say that certainty must be matched with practical, workable rules and a clear transition that doesn't get ahead of the new resource management system currently under review.

NZ Rural Contractors Push for Urgent VDAM Rule Reform

While the Government has moved quickly to make commercial hauliers' lot easier during the current fuel crisis, they appear to be stuck in the creep box when it comes to the agricultural industry.

Government's New Planning System, PC1 'Won't Mesh Together Well'

Waikato farmers have been told that the Government’s new planning system legislation and the region’s Plan Change 1 (PC1) “won’t mesh together very well”.

National

Record Kiwifruit Harvest Brings Optimism, but Green Growers Face Profitability Challenges

Signs for the 2026-27 kiwifruit crop look good, but there are still some challenges for growers – especially those who…

Seven New Zealand Catchment Groups Awarded Westpac Water Care Grants for 2026

Seven catchment groups across New Zealand have been awarded $10,000 grants as part of the Westpac Water Care Project.

Equine Vets Urge Vigilance as Strangles Outbreak Hits North Island Horse Properties

Equine veterinarians say horse owners need to stay alert and communicate with their vets following an outbreak of the highly…

David Seymour Criticises Rural Women NZ Over Submission

Deputy Prime Minister and ACT Party leader David Seymour says advocacy group Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) has submitted against…

How New Zealand Apple Growers Won India Market Access

Eighteen months ago, when negotiations for a free trade deal with India were announced, New Zealand apple growers expressed their…

Machinery & Products

John Deere Names 2026 Technician of the Year Finalists

John Deere has announced the finalists for its 2026 Technician of the Year Awards, with 30 regional finalists being named…

SAM Machinery Reveals e-Spreader at Fieldays

Kiwi built to suit Kiwi conditions, the Fieldays reveal of its new 3-point linkage mounted e-Spreader will add another string…

Stewart Trailers Unveils Tetrad 35-Tonne Trailer

Founded in 1988, Stewart Trailers is owned and managed by James and Mandy Stewart from their site in North-East Scotland.

Can-Am Unveils Outlander Electric ATV at Fieldays

Last month's National Fieldays was an important event for Canadian manufacturer Can-Am, as it unveiled its first electric ATV, the…

JCB Targets New Land Speed Record with Hydrogen-Powered Hydromax

While its best known as a manufacturer of construction and agricultural machinery, JCB holds a significant place in the record…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Visit archives

» Connect with Rural News

RSS Facebook Twitter