By Don Carson, Communications Manager, Forest Owners Association The Forest Industry Transformation Plan is the biggest game in town for the industry at the moment. It’s one of the government-initiated plans, with another significant one for farmers being the Strong Wool Transformation Plan. On the surface, both industries have been lagging for decades, neither appearing […]
Employment
Economic Week – 17 June
by Nick Clark, National Manager General Policy GDP falls The economic roller coaster has continued its rocky ride, with Gross Domestic Product falling 0.2% in the March 2022 quarter. Quarterly GDP has swung violently over the past two years with big increases and decreases commonplace. The March quarter decline at least in part reflected the […]
OECD undertakes leading report on the outcomes of trade for New Zealand women
Media release – NZ Parliament In a first in advancing the interests of women in trade, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and New Zealand have published a review on trade and gender in New Zealand, Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor announced. The ‘Trade and Gender Review of New Zealand’ sheds light […]
Funding boost to empower women to farm for the future
Women will play a significant role in how New Zealanders farm for the future, and new Government funding will help them pave the way, Associate Agriculture Minister Meka Whaitiri said. “We’ve committed $473,261 over two years through the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI’s) Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund to enable and empower women working […]
Feds: Proposed changes to exotic forest incentives fall short
Changes proposed in the MPI discussion paper ‘Managing Exotic Afforestation Incentives’ fall short of what’s required to restore a level playing field to land use policy settings, Federated Farmers says. In its submission to government, the Federation has said achieving that balance will require all eight of the recommendations set at the Federated Farmers National […]
2022 Primary Industries Good Employer Awards open for entries
The search has begun to find Aotearoa New Zealand’s most exceptional primary sector employers. Entries have opened for the 2022 Primary Industries Good Employer Awards, which are run by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and the Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust (AGMARDT). “The Awards provide the opportunity to recognise and celebrate outstanding […]
Past time to confront ‘call of nature’ on farm
When nature calls, it’s hard to ignore. If it’s the bladder, it’s easier for blokes. They can wander off behind a tree and add some moisture to the ground. But what if it’s the bowels? And what if it’s a woman and she’s having her period? What if she’s suffering from endometriosis? Federated Farmers Vice-President […]
BusinessNZ launches public campaign against FPAs – Your Work, Your Way
BusinessNZ – media release BusinessNZ has today launched a nationwide campaign ‘Your Work, Your Way’, calling on Kiwis to reject compulsory FPAs, and stand up for their right to negotiate their own working conditions and pay directly with their employer. An open letter to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety has been published in […]
Planning, communication needed on late autumn extremely low pasture covers
The Waikato and some other regions are unfortunately experiencing extremely low average pasture covers as late as the first week of May. Federated Farmers Sharemilker Farm Owners national Chair John Numan says good communication is the best way of heading off potential conflict between parties arising from feed and financial issues. John estimates that there […]
Economic Week – 29 April
by Nick Clark, National Manager General Policy Farm sales slip but still stronger than a year ago The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand’s latest Rural Property Statistics have shown there were 395 farm sales in the three months ended March 2022. This was down 11.4% on the three months to February 2022 and also […]