Displaying items by tag: Damien O'Connor

Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor continued his overseas odyssey in the past week with multiple meetings in the US, Europe and Ireland - all aimed at sorting out trade issues which in the case of Europe dairy is a major issue.

There's been a swift and positive response from the red meat and dairy sectors to the Government's belated announcement to free up visa arrangements for up to 9,000 migrant workers in the primary sector.

As Rural News revealed several weeks ago, Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O'Connor is on his way to Europe and the United States to meet with key partners, including representing New Zealand at the G20 Trade Ministers' meeting in Italy.

An estimated 9,000 migrants working in New Zealand’s primary industries and their families could benefit from the Government’s new one-off, simplified pathway tor residency, says Agriculture and Rural Communities Minister Damien O’Connor.

When Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O'Connor arrives in the UK next month to try and finalise a free trade agreement (FTA) with Britain he'll be dealing with a politician that no one in this country seems to know, includign top government officials.

As part of a programme of work to reopen borders and reconnect with the world, the Government has announced the commencement dates for quarantine free travel for Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers into New Zealand.

OPINION: The refusal of both Damien O'Connor and PM Jacinda Ardern to release some of the correspondence they received about Groundswell begs a question or two.

OPINION: An email from Fed Farmers' president Andrew Hoggard to Ag Minister Damien O'Connor saying some unkind things about the Groundswell movement - before its big countrywide protest in July - was recently released to a media outfit under an Official Information Act (OIA) request.

Damien O'Connor is planning to head back to Europe again shortly to breathe oxygen into the free trade agreements that New Zealand is negotiating separately with the UK and the EU.

Government investment in on-the-ground efforts by farmers to improve land management practices has passed a milestone, with more than 170 catchment groups nationwide now receiving support, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor.