Monday, 10 March 2014 16:18

Get off the stage

Written by Rural News Group

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

THEY SAY never give a sucker an even break or a politician a chance to speak or you will pay dearly.

The Hound reckons the organisers of the recent NZ Dairy Products Symposium, held in Auckland last month, will have learnt this lesson. They assigned a 10-minute speaking slot to Trade Minister Tim Groser. The verbose minister (formerly a trade negotiator) took full advantage, treating attendees – producers of NZ dairy products for the Chinese consumer market – to a 25-minute dissertation.

More like this

Double standards

OPINION: Imagine if the Hound had called the Minister of Finance the 'c-word' and accused her of "girl math".

Debt monster

OPINION: It's good news that Finance Minister Nicola Willis has slashed $1.1 billion from new spending, citing "a seismic global economic event" - Donald Trump's trade tariffs - and unsustainable debt, but with the Government reportedly borrowing $500 million a week, interest costs now exceed the combined budgets of Police, Corrections, Justice and Defence.

Can't help itself

OPINION: Greenpeace claims that the appointment of Dr John Roche as the PM's Chief Science Advisor is handing the powers to polluters.

Keep it up

OPINION: The good fight against "banking wokery" continues with a draft bill to scrap the red tape forcing banks and financial institutions to make climate-related disclosures, by repealing Part 7A of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.

We're OK!

OPINION: Despite the volatility created by the shoot-from-the-hip trade tariff 'stratefy' being deployed by the new state tenants in the White House, farm commodity prices are holding their own.

Featured

Lydia Goodman named Central Otago Young Grower of the Year 2025

Lydia Goodman has been crowned the Central Otago 2025 Young Grower of the Year regional winner.

Federated Farmers urge government to honour KiwiSaver promise

Federated Farmers is calling on the Government to deliver on its pre-election promise to change the KiwiSaver rules to help young farmers get their foot on the farming ladder.

Breakthrough in Facial Eczema research offers hope for New Zealand farmers

A breakthrough in the understanding of Facial Eczema (FE) in livestock could bring New Zealand closer to reducing the disease’s impact.

Red Meat Sector Conference date unveiled

The Meat Industry Association (MIA) have announced the dates for the 2025 Red Meat Sector Conference.

Ewe losses on NZ farms may be reduced, says Massey University researcher

A Massey University researcher and veterinarian says it may be possible to reduce the percentage of ewes culled or that die each year on some New Zealand farms.

Budget 2025: Federated Farmers call for fiscal responsibility and waster reduction

As Budget 2025 looms, farmer lobby Federated Farmers is urging the Government to focus on cutting waste and balancing the books.

National

Creating a buzz on World Bee Day

The message for the 2025 World Bee Day is a call to action for sustainable practices that support bees, improve…

Bakers prefer butter, helping prices soar

Consumers around the world are willing to pay more for products containing dairy and this is driving demand for butter…

NZ supports rules-based system

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters often describes NZ as a small and isolated nation situated 'just north of the penguins'…

Agricultural drone use soars among NZ contractors

Use of agricultural drones by contractors in New Zealand is soaring.

Declining NZ wool quality raises concerns for exporters, says Patterson

A deterioration in the quality of New Zealand's wool clip is a problem for manufacturers and exporters, says Associate Agriculture…

Machinery & Products

The JAC of all trades at National Fieldays

Already causing a stir in the burgeoning ute sector, JAC (“Jack”) has raised its profile by being named as the…

New Holland combines crack 50 years

New Holland is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the introduction its Twin Rotor threshing and separation technology, which has evolved…

Iconic TPW Woolpress turns 50!

The company behind the iconic TPW Woolpress, which fundamentally changed the way wool is baled in Australia and New Zealand,…

LDV T60 Max Plus arrives as brand gains momentum with new distributor

While it wouldn’t be unfair to call the LDV T60 “the poor man’s ute”, a change of distributor in 2023…

Waikato’s Ag and Civil Machinery Direct secures sole NZ distribution of Kemper's precision forage gear

Ag and Civil Machinery Direct, a division of Hamilton- based Waikato tractors, has recently been awarded the sole distribution in…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Visit archives

» Connect with Rural News

RSS Facebook Twitter

Get off the stage

More like this

Double standards

Debt monster

Can't help itself

Keep it up

We're OK!

Popular Reads

25 years on - where are they now?

Ngāi Tahu freshwater case could reshape farming and rural communities

Taranaki dairy farms saved by $10/kgMS payout

Farmers reject ruminant methane strategy

India not ready to accept all NZ dairy products

Featured

Lydia Goodman named Central Otago Young Grower of the Year 2025

Federated Farmers urge government to honour KiwiSaver promise

Breakthrough in Facial Eczema research offers hope for New Zealand farmers

Red Meat Sector Conference date unveiled

Ewe losses on NZ farms may be reduced, says Massey University researcher

Budget 2025: Federated Farmers call for fiscal responsibility and waster reduction

National

Creating a buzz on World Bee Day

Bakers prefer butter, helping prices soar

NZ supports rules-based system

Agricultural drone use soars among NZ contractors

Declining NZ wool quality raises concerns for exporters, says Patterson

Machinery & Products

The JAC of all trades at National Fieldays

New Holland combines crack 50 years

Iconic TPW Woolpress turns 50!

LDV T60 Max Plus arrives as brand gains momentum with new distributor

Waikato’s Ag and Civil Machinery Direct secures sole NZ distribution of Kemper's precision forage gear

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Double standards

Debt monster

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter