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OPINION: You canine crusader wants to tip his hat to Fed Farmers for busting the Government’s dodgy tactics in trying to buy support to rush through its controversial RMA reforms.
Feds RMA spokesperson Mark Hooper recently blew the whistle on attempts by the Ministry for the Environment to fund ‘NGO participation in resource management and freshwater reform processes’ to the tune of up to $600,000 each.
Hooper says Feds were approached to participate in the scheme to help rush through the reforms just four weeks before the election but turned it down.
“This doesn’t pass the sniff test for us at this stage of the political cycle,” Hooper explained.
It begs the question of the ethics of the Government forking out hundreds of thousands of dollars, on the eve of the election, to select lobby groups to engage with its proposed policy changes.
OPINION: While we're on the topic of lumberjacks, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has no doubt used a chainsaw hundreds of times, but your old mate reckons he would’ve still been sweating on getting it right when cutting down a pine in front of the cameras, as he did above Queenstown during a recent pre-Budget announcement around extra funding for wilding pine control efforts.
Wilding pines are the wrong tree in the wrong place, and they need to go, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.
Federated Farmers says the Government’s latest investment in road resilience is a positive step toward protecting rural communities and freight routes from increasing severe weather events.
Animal welfare improvements as well as reduced costs for dairy farmers are at the heart of a new move which could help cut back on the waste of unused vet drugs.
Federated Farmers has been urged to consider establishing a policy on artificial intelligence (AI).
Fonterra is strengthening its foodservice presence in China with the launch of a new cream for professional bakeries at Bakery China 2026 in Shanghai.
OPINION: The coalition Government’s plan to make about 9000 public servants redundant looms as a major election issue
From last week, the Industrial Hemp Regulations 2006 have been revoked.
The Rural Support Trust is hosting a series of community wellbeing events featuring former NZSAS soldier and Victoria Cross recipient Willie Apiata.
Government plans to reduce the regulations relating to drones that farmers use on their own properties has drawn a mixed reaction from commercial drone operators.
Families farming the same land for generations, including one spanning 187 years, were recognised at the 2026 Century Farms and Station Awards held in Lawrence, Otago recently.
