Diplomatic Incident
OPINION: Your old mate hears an international incident is threatening to blow up the long-standing Anzac alliance as Kiwis and Aussies argue over who wants new Australian resident and former NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
OPINION: Meanwhile, your canine crusader is left a little bemused about all the crowing and cooing from the media and commentators about the “amazing diversity” of Ardern’s new Cabinet.
Much has been made about the high number of Maori, Pasifika, women, and gay members of the new line-up.
Really? Who actually gives a flying fig about what the ethnic, gender or sexual orientation of any member of the executive is?
Your old mate is far more concerned about whether or not a Cabinet Minister is actually capable and competent of the doing the job – rather than what boxes they may or may not tick in the census form.
Surely the ability of a person to successfully carry out the role is a far higher priority than who they may sleep with or who their grandparents were?
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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