Wednesday, 20 November 2024 10:55

Review SOEs!

Written by The Hound

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of transparency by the Crown-owned entity - spurred by its refusal to release information under the OIA about its conduct around Cyclone Gabrielle and the Hawke's Bay flooding.

Now it is at the centre of a Media Council complaint after state-owned TVNZ and RNZ reported a questionable and alarmist NIWA social media post - claiming Dunedin had its "wettest day in more than a century" - without bothering to fact check it.

TVNZ says it's not required to verify NIWA statements.

Well, this old mutt reckons the taxpayers not required to keep propping up underperforming SOEs like TVNZ, RNZ and NIWA.

What's happened to those state-owned enterprise reviews the Government promised?

More like this

SOE on the block?

OPINION: Did the Prime Minister hint last week that the sale of Landcorp assets could be part of the manifesto for the next election?

Wrong focus

OPINION: Your old mate reckons townie Brooke van Velden, the Minister of Workplace (or is it Woke Place) Relations is now showing how underemployed she is as a minister by initiating an investigation into whether young children should be banned from collecting eggs on farms and feeding animals.

Burn the village

OPINION: There's an infamous term coined by a US general during the Vietnam war, specifically in reference to the battle of Ben Tre: "We had to burn the village to save it."

Purist problem

OPINION: The sudden departure of Jim Ward, manager of Molesworth Station for 24 years, highlighted some major dysfunction in the way conservation estate is managed in this country - the biggest problem, as the Hound sees it, being idealogues who harp on about "taonga" and use all means possible to block sensible commercial operations on conservation land.

Drill baby, drill!

OPINION: While the destruction of NZ's oil and gas industry by Jacinda Ardern's band of merry vandals was virtue signalling on a heroic scale - producing no environmental benefit whatsoever - the politician vowing to make that industry whole again, Shane Jones, is not above a bit of virtue signalling of his own.

Featured

Nathan Guy to represent New Zealand’s agricultural exports as special envoy

New Zealand's new Special Agricultural Trade Envoy, Horowhenua dairy farmer, company director and former Minister of Agriculture, Nathan Guy says the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India is a good deal for the country.

Dairy farmers retain and upskill international workers as visa data shows positive shift – Federated Farmers

New figures show dairy farmers are not only holding on to their international workforce, but are also supporting those staff to step into higher-skilled roles on farm.

New tractor deliveries jump 10% in 2025 as farmer confidence lifts – TAMA

New tractor deliveries for 2025 jumped 10% compared to the previous year, a reflection of the positive primary sector outlook, according to the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA).

Two new awards open to help young farmers progress to farm ownership

Entries have opened for two awards in the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) programme, aimed at helping young farmers progress to farm ownership.

Mike Siermans confirmed as Federated Farmers chief executive

Federated Farmers has confirmed interim chief executive Mike Siermans to the role.

Registrations open for 2026 Ruralco Golf Classic supporting Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust

Registrations are now open for the 2026 Ruralco Golf Classic, with all proceeds from the event set to support the Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust.

National

Government taps Nathan Guy as Agricultural Trade Envoy

Former Agriculture Minister Nathan Guy says he's excited about his new role as NZ's Special Agricultural Trade Envoy.

Horticulture leader Dr Stuart Davis remembered for lasting legacy

A pillar of New Zealand's horticultural industry, Dr Stuart Davis, was farewelled at a well-attended funeral service in Tuakau, South…

Stable but uncertain year ahead for New Zealand primary exports – MPI

A stable but uncertain year lies ahead for New Zealand primary products, says Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Director General,…

China’s new beef tariffs expected to favour New Zealand exporters

Additional tariffs introduced by the Chinese Government last month on beef imports should favour New Zealand farmers and exporters.

Primary sector leaders praise speed and ambition of India–NZ free trade deal

Primary sector leaders have praised the government and its officials for putting the Indian free trade deal together in just…

Machinery & Products

Krone BiG Pack Gen 6 sets new baling benchmark

Recently named Farm Machine of the Year 2026 in the forage and harvesting category at Agritechnica in Hanover, Germany, the…

Carrfields expands machinery and seed capabilities

Complementing its existing portfolio of agricultural machinery brands, which includes Grange Machinery, Horsch, Novag, Manitou and MacDon, Ashburton-headquartered Carrfields has…