Diplomatic Incident
OPINION: Your old mate hears an international incident is threatening to blow up the long-standing Anzac alliance as Kiwis and Aussies argue over who wants new Australian resident and former NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
OPINION: The Hound was gobsmacked to learn that the NZ media's love affair with 'our' Jacinda took another great leap forward - or more correctly backwards - during the recent visit of Australian PM Scott Morrison.
Apparently, Ardern and her PR lackeys demanded that the NZ media submit their questions in advance before a press conference between the cuddler-in-chief and her Aussie counterpart.
By all accounts, our 'open and transparent' PM was concerned about the 'China issue' being raised and the embarrassment any tough questions might cause to our relationship with the communist powerhouse.
Ironically, Ardern's controlling of the media is identical to the totalitarian Chinese regime, where one does not ask embarrassing questions of its leaders.
However, what's worse was the gutless toadies in the lamestream media who complied with her demands.
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson says his party – NZ First - isn’t opposed to the “trade element” of a free trade deal with India.
The managing director of a company seeking to build a solar farm in Canterbury says receiving fast-track approval is a “really positive outcome”.
Retiring MP and dairy farmer Mark Cameron is blasting the Green Party for proposing to ban the use of synthetic fertiliser and cutting cow numbers.
A huge reduction in ACC claims from on-farm accidents over the last five years is due to thousands of small, practical decisions being made in sheds, yards, paddocks and around kitchen tables across the country, says Safer Farms ambassador Lindy Nelson.
Wayne and Ange Moxham of Horowhenua have just been named as Fonterra's top organic performer for milksolids. As well as providing organic milk to Fonterra, the couple also sell Udderly Organic milk to more than 100 outlets in the region and are embarking on another exciting venture producing organic gelato. Reporter Peter Burke went along to see their farming operation.
Certainty and a clear understanding of the needs of rural communities is a critical outcome in the series of government reforms that are taking place at present.

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