Election 2026: Rural Lobby Groups Challenge Parties on Agriculture Policy
Three farmer lobby groups are applying the blowtorch to political parties on key issues facing the primary sector ahead of the general elections.
OPINION: When Groundswell showed up in the 'advocacy hub' at Fieldays alongside the same groups that brought you He Waka Eke Noa, the Hound feared the ginger group had been brought into the woke fold and given the old rubber ring.
Fear not though, they seem to have their mojo intact, raising the alarm about the Gore District Plan, now out for consultation, which proposes to classify the entire Gore District under part of Section 6 of the RMA.
In this case, iwi could claim the entire district as 'sites of significance' - a massive overreach.
Groundswell notes this might sound like an issue in just one part of the country, "but this sort of thing is being pushed across the country and the stakes are enormous. Your council could, and quite possibly will, be next".
A verbal stoush has broken out between Federated Farmers and a new group that claims to be fighting against cheaper imports that undermine NZ farmers.
According to the latest ANZ Agri Focus report, energy-intensive and domestically-focused sectors currently bear the brunt of rising fuel, fertiliser and freight costs.
Having gone through a troublesome “divorce” from its association and part ownership of AGCO, Indian manufacturer TAFE is said to be determined to be seen as a modern business rather than just another tractor maker from the developing world.
Two long-standing New Zealand agricultural businesses are coming together to strengthen innovation, local manufacturing capability, and access to essential farm inputs for farmers across the country.
A new farmer-led programme aimed at bringing young people into dairy farming is under way in Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
The Government has announced changes to stock exclusion regulations which it claims will cut unnecessary costs and inflexible rules while maintaining environmental protections.

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