The North Canterbury wine region is marking the official start of harvest, in what has been described as the ‘toughest season ever’. Hurunui District Council mayor Marie Black picked the first grapes of harvest at one of the region’s vineyards. “The North Canterbury Wine Region is a crucial part of our district’s fabric and I […]
Employment
Feds to Govt: Focus spending on value for money
Federated Farmers has called on the government to do its bit to dampen down inflationary fires by being responsible about managing its finances and ensuring spending provides bang for buck. Speaking to Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Select Committee earlier this month, Feds President Andrew Hoggard and Group Manager National Policy Nick Clark said in percentage […]
Helping others to climb the ag ‘ladder of success’
By Chris Lewis, Federated Farmers employment spokesperson It is February and farmers are – or should be – thinking about their employment needs for next season. It’s the right time to have a chat with staff on what they are thinking for the coming year and their goals for progression in the industry. It is […]
Ex-servicemen help Aussie farmers get through harvest labour shortage
Make sure you’re recognised as a critical service, get the best possible access to rapid antigen tests (RATs) and beware of the toll that Omicron positive and close contact isolation requirements will have on the workforce – particular supply and distribution chains. That was the advice of Tony Mahar, chief executive of the Canberra-based National […]
Economic Week – February 4
by Nick Clark, Group Manager National Policy Here comes another cost This week the Government unveiled an income insurance scheme, an expensive expansion of the welfare state which will cost businesses and employees billions. Under the scheme, a person who loses their job will be given payments worth 80% of their former income (capped at […]
Costly unemployment insurance wrong move, and certainly wrong timing
Federated Farmers is dismayed by the Government’s hugely expansive and expensive unemployment insurance scheme, unveiled yesterday. “It seems strange to say the least to advance this costly scheme, especially at such a time,” Feds President Andrew Hoggard says. “The nation is in the red setting and on the cusp of an expected Omicron surge that […]
Calling all truck drivers
The trucking industry is calling for all hands to the pump as New Zealand faces an indefinite length of time in the red “traffic light” which will strain the supply chain, says Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand chief executive Nick Leggett. “We know there are New Zealanders out there with a Class 2, 4 […]
Urgent action needed to stop carbon farming rort
By William Beetham, Federated Farmers Meat & Wool Chairperson Federated Farmers is calling on the government to live up to its pledge and review the Overseas Investment Act ‘special forestry test’ and be fair to sheep and beef farmers We understand that Forestry Minister Stuart Nash and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor have been lobbying for […]
Stretched rural contractors taken past breaking point
Stressed rural contractors, told in mid-December they could bring in 200 more skilled machinery operators, have not yet seen a single arrival given any MIQ space. Rural Contractors NZ CEO Andrew Olsen says despite the best efforts of MPI staff to help find MIQ beds for the approved operators, the indications now are that few, […]
Report trumpets scope for ice cream exports
Latest research into our premium ice cream industry suggests exporters could find new buyers in valuable overseas markets as consumers increasingly look for tip top quality in food. Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash has released a new report for the Food and Beverage Information Project. The project is run by government agencies MBIE, MPI and […]