‘Red letter day’ for ag sector
Farmers are welcoming the announcement of two new bills to replace the under-fire Resource Management Act.
OPINION: Your old mate had a bit of a giggle at the recent maiden speech to Parliament by new Waitaki MP and primary production deputy chair Miles Anderson.
The former Fed Farmers national council member made a number of good points in his speech about the unfair criticism of farmers by policy makers and NGOs and the huge contribution to the nation made by the primary sector.
However, Anderson raised a few laughs when he acknowledged the presence - right across the house - of MPs he had worked with prior to entering politics.
He made special mention of Labour MPs Damien O'Connor and Jo Luxton who he saw as "sharing National Party values".
He then went on to say both have "been held by the Labour Party for so long that they suffer from Stockholm Syndrome".
Someone release them from captivity!
New Zealand needs a new healthcare model to address rising rates of obesity in rural communities, with the current system leaving many patients unable to access effective treatment or long-term support, warn GPs.
Southland farmers are being urged to put safety first, following a spike in tip offs about risky handling of wind-damaged trees
Third-generation Ashburton dairy farmers TJ and Mark Stewart are no strangers to adapting and evolving.
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
Fonterra chair Peter McBride says the divestment of Mainland Group is their last significant asset sale and signals the end of structural changes.
Thirty years ago, as a young sharemilker, former Waikato farmer Snow Chubb realised he was bucking a trend when he started planting trees to provide shade for his cows, but he knew the animals would appreciate what he was doing.

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