Election 2026: How Parties Would Lift the Arable Sector
As part of its Election 2026 coverage, Rural News asked political parties how they would help pull the arable sector out of the doldrums. Here's what they said:
OPINION: This old mutt is dumbfounded by the ill-informed claims made by some media commentators that wannabe ACT PM and former Fed Farmers boss Andrew Hoggard will be the Minister of Agriculture in a possible National/ACT coalition government, should they get across the line on October 14.
As one insider told yours truly, these supposed ‘informed’ commentators should spend less time interviewing their typewriters and get out and talk to people in the know.
It is understood that the many rural candidates and MPs in National reckon claims that Hoggard would be elevated straight into the ag portfolio in any Nat/ACT coalition are about as fanciful as Green MP Chloe Swarbrick getting the job.
The Nats are fighting hard to regain the rural vote and are highly unlikely to give their junior coalition partner the gold-plated job of Ag Minister in any government they are part of.
OPINION: Political parties are getting plenty of advice and recommendations from sector groups as the election approaches.
In farming there are external factors that can influence behaviour of a whole herd, such as a bad weather event, triggering false positive heat detections or health attentions.
For Canterbury dairy farmer Cameron Henderson, supporting Meet the Need comes down to a simple question: how can the success of New Zealand farming benefit more than just those within the industry?
Fonterra board members are in line for a pay rise of around 3%.
Dairy processors are ready to further boost New Zealand’s export earnings but want the incoming government to match their ambition with good policy.
Federated Farmers has welcomed new rural policies released by ACT, saying they align closely with its own election priorities.

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