Damien O’Connor: NZ united on global trade
When it comes to international trade, politicians from all sides of the aisle are united, says Labour's trade spokesman Damien O'Connor.
OPINION: This old mutt notes that at the recent release of the Government's response to agricultural emissions, there was only the PM, Ag Minister, Climate Change Minister and local Labour MP - a non-descript, little man with a beard - fronting up to media.
Absent were members of the infamous He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) partnership - including its two biggest proponents, Beef+Lamb chair Andrew Morrison and DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel.
Usually, whenever there's been any government agricultural announcement of note over the past 5 years, Morrison and van der Poel have been loyally nodding behind the PM, helping to hold her handbag - along with Damien O'Connor.
Does this mean the two big ag industry chairs are no longer in the loop? Or, have they both finally seen the light and realised that the Government is about to screw the ag sector and want no part of it?
It's probably a little too late for this stance now!
Visiting US climate change expert Dr Will Happer says the idea of reducing cow numbers to greatly reduce methane emissions is crazy.
Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping "The Twelve Days of Christmas" for "The Twelve Pests of Christmas" in an effort to highlight the most troublesome farm pests.
The Rapid Relief Team (RRT) has given farmers in the Tararua District a boost as they rebuild following recent storms.
The Government is set to announce two new acts to replace the contentious Resource Management Act (RMA) with the Prime Minister hinting that consents required by farmers could reduce by 46%.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says withdrawing from the Paris Agreement on climate change would be “a really dumb move”.
The University of Waikato has broken ground on its new medical school building.

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