MPI launches industry-wide project to manage feral deer
An industry-wide project led by Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is underway to deal with the rising number of feral pests, in particular, browsing pests such as deer and pigs.
OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an 8-hour marathon hearing.
Let’s hope members of the select committee were going through MPI’s budget with a fine tooth comb.
There seems to plenty of fat in MPI’s budget to cut that would help with the Government’s goal to trim back excessive public sector body spending.
A couple of suggestions for the chop would be everything to do with the totally useless and expensive Fit for a Better World programme, which seems to deliver a fancy report each year but has achieved SFA.
Another area your old mate would aim to drop is the pointless money waster that is MPI’s investment in promoting regen ag and its huge handouts to Māori farming organisations.
Surely if regen ag and the Māori farming sector are viable options they don’t need MPI (i.e. taxpayers) subsidising them.
Greenlea Premier Meats managing director Anthony (Tony) Egan says receiving the officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) honour has been humbling.
Waikato dairy farmer Neil Bateup, made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in the New Year 2026 Honours list, says he’s grateful for the award.
Another Australian state has given the green light to virtual fencing, opening another market for Kiwi company Halter.
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.

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