Three of New Zealand’s foremost motivational speakers on resilience and mental wellbeing will offer tips for farmers and growers in a series of free online lunchtime talks. Isolation and the sometimes stressful nature of agriculture, with severe weather and volatile trading conditions out of their control, puts pressure on rural families. “The added restrictions, health […]
Health and Wellness
Coroner inquest delays, case blow-out concerns Federated Farmers
A dramatic drop in the number of coroner’s inquests being undertaken and long delays before cases are heard and findings released are concerning trends, Federated Farmers health and safety spokesperson Karen Williams says. “From media reports it does seem that our coroners are sinking under the workload. They shouldn’t be put in this situation,” Karen, […]
Big Brothers, Big Sisters chase bigger rural presence
Big Brothers, Big Sisters – the organisation that matches mentors with young people who need a caring adult outside of their own family to interact with – is looking to up its reach in rural New Zealand. BBBS national CEO Drew Ewan says farmers have a lot to offer youngsters, especially those from towns who […]
Tested positive, and now warns others: Don’t underestimate COVID
Take it from someone who’s had it – if you get COVID-19, it’s highly likely it will bowl you for six. Charles Taituha, who these days is an advisor contracted to Beef+Lamb NZ and several Māori entities, warns that if you get it, “you’re quite likely to be buggered for two or three days. “Just […]
Farmers invited to hit the waves and Hang 10
The award-winning farmer mental health and recreation programme Surfing for Farmers is about to paddle out for a fourth season. Founder Stephen Thomson says everyone involved is excited to be back again “bigger and better than last year”. Surfing for Farmers is an ocean therapy initiative that is helping improve mental health and wellbeing in […]
Vaccination goals, expectations and the law
Nick Leggett, CEO, Transporting New Zealand New Zealand’s border has been closed for 588 days. Auckland has been in lockdown for 73 days. The Government has indicated the only way out of this is vaccination, and in some workplaces, it has mandated that. It has set a higher vaccination goal than has been achieved anywhere […]
Match being stoic with a good dose of realism
By Cherrie Chubb, Dairy Chair, Federated Farmers Golden Bay OPINION: It is no understatement to say that we live in challenging times. While we can be thankful to have avoided the worst of the impacts from the Delta lockdowns, we have not been spared from the weather. Floods, storms and the persistent number of wet […]
Feds to work with Taumata Arowai as water supply exemption refused
With the Water Services Bill passing its third reading on September 28 without an exemption for small suppliers, Federated Farmers is now focusing on the Minister’s undertakings around making the processes simple, cost-effective and practical. “Federated Farmers is deeply disappointed that the strong case for a carve-out from the new regulations for those supplying water […]
Building a case for self-isolation on farm
By Simon Edwards What happens if a sole-charge farmer or farm/herd manager tests positive for COVID-19? That question became very real with the recent surge of the disease in Auckland and the subsequent spread of cases to the Waikato. An industry working group that includes Federated Farmers representation has been putting together a case for […]
Feds asks farmers to get vaccinated
Federated Farmers is calling on farmers and growers to remember the critical link between vaccination rates and maintaining growth in the New Zealand economy. Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard says Feds has taken a little bit of stick from a handful of members about the organsiation’s promotion of the need for as many people as possible to get vaccinated. “We got told to ‘stay in our lane’ and to stop […]