Apiculture New Zealand welcomes the move by the New Zealand and UK governments to a free trade agreement in principle which will see the removal of tariffs on all New Zealand honey into the United Kingdom. “The free trade deal will be a great outcome for our industry and will improve our competitiveness in one […]
Economy
Benefits all round in NZ-UK Free Trade Deal
Federated Farmers says today’s announcement of a free trade deal between the United Kingdom and New Zealand is great news for consumers and farmers in both countries. “The United Kingdom is walking the talk when it comes to promising a truly global Britain,” Federated Farmers National President Andrew Hoggard says. “We congratulate the New Zealand […]
Move now to define ‘regenerative’ on our terms
There is no unified, single definition of what ‘regenerative agriculture’ is globally. A new report argues New Zealand should step up and craft that definition – and seize the market premiums that could go with it. New York-based Alpha Food Labs spearheaded a global research project on consumers’ attitudes to regenerative agriculture on behalf of […]
Just in time market signals too late for local bread wheat growers
A ‘just in time’ attitude to sending market signals to New Zealand’s arable growers won’t cut the mustard in the current climate, Federated Farmers Arable Chair Colin Hurst says. “Harvest only happens once a year so really it’s a case of ‘get your orders in early’.” The 1 July AIMI (Arable Industry Marketing Initiative) survey […]
Transporting NZ unimpressed with emergency powers, ACC fees change
by Nick Leggett, CEO Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand OPINION: Transporting New Zealand’s work this past week has focused on the Government giving itself emergency powers until just before the 2023 election, ACC fees appearing to not back the Government’s Road to Zero road safety strategy, and minor tinkering with the driver licensing system […]
Economic Week – 15 October
by Nick Clark, Manager General Policy Government finances better than expected The Government’s accounts for the last financial year are out and they show a lower deficit, higher tax take, and lower net debt than forecast in Budget 2021. Core Crown tax revenue for the year ended 30 June 2021 amounted to $97.98 billion, $6.44 […]
Economic Week – October 8
OCR increased. After holding off in August, the Reserve Bank did what it had been widely expected to do, this week lifting the Official Cash Rate from 0.25% to 0.50%. This was the first OCR increase in more than seven years. The Reserve Bank had to strike a balance between the economic hit caused by […]
Economic Week – October 1
by Nick Clark, GM General Policy Outlook positive but confidence mixed The forecast for global sheepmeat and beef demand is positive for the 2021-22 season supported by solid market fundamentals, strong demand, and tight supply, according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s (B+LNZ) New Season Outlook. However, B+LNZ is also forecasting a stronger NZ Dollar, […]
Grant Watson to leave Miraka for top job at Synlait
The Synlait Milk Ltd board has admitted it has fallen short on execution of strategy in the past and has appointed a new CEO as it pursues a revamped plan to “return to robust profitability”. Grant Watson, who is currently CEO of dairy company Miraka, will take up the Synlait top executive role in January […]
Divest Chile operation, focus on sustainability feature in Fonterra’s strategy
At the release of Fonterra’s 2021 financial results this week, Chairman Peter McBride and CEO Miles Hurrell talked about the co-op’s long-term strategy and updated capital structure proposal. This is part of what they said in an email to farmers: Long-term strategyThe world wants our sustainably produced, high-quality milk and this comes at a time […]