Government

Legislation to be brought before new Parliament as a ‘priority’.

Matt Doocey hopes to partner with local groups to meet the mental health support need, as rural support trusts highlight "funding is not keeping pace with demand".

Trip will take trade minister to Geneva and United Arab Emirates.

With existing plans due to be scrapped, councils await direction from government.

We need decisions made on water and soon, says Craig Page.

There are still major holes in NZ’s water standards and surveillance, a University of Otago freshwater expert says.

The fact that farmers are targeted for the very things that local councils get away with has Alan Emerson holding his nose.

Removing the Ute Tax was a key election promise from National, and the new legislation was passed in late December.

A sign of its support for agriculture or a way to accommodate coalition dynamics? Either way, the appointment of three associate ministers of agriculture is unprecedented.

Allan Barber speaks to the new minister of trade and agriculture and his predecessor in the two key primary sector political roles.

A sign of its support for agriculture or a way to accommodate coalition dynamics? Either way, the appointment of three associate ministers of agriculture is unprecedented.

Two-year process to replace policy ‘will include a robust and full consultation process’.

In the first of three Associate Agriculture Minister profiles, Neal Wallace talks to Nicola Grigg.

New regime will ‘recognise the importance of local decision-making and flexibility for communities and councils’.

Dairy farmer Mark Cameron appointed in second term.

Since a change of government following October’s election, there is growing optimism in the primary sector, writes Craig Page.

It’s all very well to promise decentralisation, but the demographics might not support this government reset, writes Bryan Gibson.

Neal Wallace sat down with the former agriculture and trade minister as he packed up his office and reflected on his time in the Beehive.

No fewer than 13 ag policies of previous government earmarked for reversal or review.

Alan Emerson welcomes the way the coalition negotiations have brought voters' choices into sharper focus.

Incoming government has committed to our policy wish list, Langford says.

Cabinet list includes nine ministers with responsibility for ag and related matters.

The proposed plan approach to require assessment against cultural values for consents for normal farming operations could drive conflict, Feds says.

Federated Farmers calls on the government to address the 'broken promises' and 'unworkable' freshwater rules with urgency.

Concerns about ‘rushed consultation approaches being taken by councils’.

As well as helping farmers with policy directives, the MPI’s On Farm Support performs the very valuable service of telling Wellington what’s on farmers’ minds, Alan Emerson says.

It’s discipline this economy needs if it is to make the change of government a real fresh start, Cameron Bagrie says.

Three coalition hopefuls agree on most things when it comes to the primary sector.

How has the newly elected List MPs' time in Federated Farmers set them up for the job in politics? 

Alan Emerson on the rise of the five-country grouping that is beginning to flex its muscle.

Sector keen to discover who will handle sensitive ag and trade portfolios.

Feds say this election was all about restoring that confidence, putting the fun back into farming, and getting our communities humming again.

Alan Emerson lists the many ways National and its likely coalition partner are at odds.

The surge of National support in rural areas represents something of a resumption of ‘normal programming’ for NZ’s political landscape, writes Richard Rennie.

Number of MPs with farming ties grows by 50%.

Alan Emerson looks beyond the result of the General Election.