True Reflection?
A fair question has been raised about how member-funded organisations should conduct themselves when taking a public position on any given issue.
The Hound reckons the old adage ‘would you buy a used car off this man?’ should be applied when dealing with spin doctors and the companies they are promoting.
Your old mate’s ears pricked up after seeing a number of press releases issued – on behalf of Landcorp and NZ Merino – by one John Mitchell from Blackland PR. However, this John Mitchell is not the former “we are on a journey” All Black Coach; this character’s career path is even more ‘interesting’.
Prior to joining a Wellington dark arts firm, Mitchell was the chief spin doctor for discharged bankrupt property developer, self-proclaimed business guru and former Wellington Phoenix owner Terry Serepisios. He was also the paid mouthpiece for the Internet Party – the baby of dodgy internet balloon Kim Dotcom.
Oamaru-based livestock handling specialist Te Pari has bought Combi Clamp, the New Zealand manufacturer of Combi Clamp manual sheep handlers.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has admitted that a scheme bringing workers from Pacific nations to work on orchards has become too hard to navigate but says changes are coming.
A new app designed in New Zealand aims to help sheep, beef and deer farmers capture, analyse and use body condition score data more effectively.
Canterbury farmer Andy Macfarlane has been appointed to the board of AgriZeroNZ, the public-private partnership designed to accelerate the development and deployment of emissions reduction tools for New Zealand farmers.
For over 50 years Mel Ewers has been supporting the apple sector navigate through compliance and quality assurance issues.
The apple sector is enjoying a bumper harvest season.

A fair question has been raised about how member-funded organisations should conduct themselves when taking a public position on any…
OPINION: It really is getting harder to lampoon government bureaucrats when they do such a good job of it themselves.…