India–New Zealand FTA talks continue in Delhi as officials pursue trade breakthrough
This past week has seen another round of negotiations between India and New Zealand to produce a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.
New Zealand First says Italy and Hungary are breaking European ranks over Russian sanctions.
New Zealand First Leader and Northland MP Winston Peters says the Foreign Ministers of Italy and Hungary this week said there could be no automatic extension of the European Union's sanctions against Russia. "We can probably add Greece and Cyprus to that growing list as well," says Peter.
"While (Prime Minister) Mr (John) Key was entertaining the Iranian Foreign Minister in Wellington, Iran moved this week to fill Russia's $1bn market for fruit and vegetables. This follows Russian sanctions against Turkey after it shot down a Russian fighter over Syria."
Peters says Russia is also the world's number one beef importer and number two dairy importer.
Earlier he told a ForestWood Conference in Auckland the dairy industry – vitally important as it is to New Zealand – is not going to repeat the growth record of the past decade.
"Both economically and environmentally the conditions that fostered such rapid growth in the dairy sector are unlikely to recur," he says.
"Dairy will still be a mainstay – but it has come down to earth with a bump – and given us a salutary reminder that diverse exporting industries is economic common sense."
New Zealand needs to build up many other heavyweight export sectors as well.
There were very few economic sectors that offer the potential or opportunity of forestry and wood products.
That is why NZ First supports the vision of the Wood Council to raise the earnings of the New Zealand forest and wood products sector to $12 billion by 2022.
'Common sense' cuts to government red tape will make it easier for New Zealand to deliver safe food to more markets.
Balclutha farmer Renae Martin remembers the moment she fell in love with cows.
Academic freedom is a privilege and it's put at risk when people abuse it.
All eyes are on milk production in New Zealand and its impact on global dairy prices in the coming months.
Claims that some Southland farmers were invoiced up to $4000 for winter grazing compliance checks despite not breaching rules are being rejected by Environment Southland.
According to the most recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, farmer confidence has inched higher, reaching its second highest reading in the last decade.