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5 ‘Critical’ lessons for deer sector Vol 21 No 18, May 15, 2023
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McAnulty flies into HB squall Neal Wallace
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ARMERS and growers say they are in limbo three months after Cyclone Gabrielle and hope the appointment of a third Hawke’s Bay Lead Recovery Minister will provide greater direction and certainty about government support. Wairarapa Member of Parliament Kieran McAnulty has been appointed to the position following the earlier demotion of Napier MP Stuart Nash and the defection to Te Pati Māori last week of Meka Whaitiri. McAnulty acknowledged the size of the task ahead and said he wants to hear what the community needs. “It is a locally led response. My job is to support that,” he told Farmers Weekly. He said more support is coming. Growers and farmers say they are in limbo, needing to make decisions as winter looms but waiting to learn the details of government aid. “On the ground everybody is running around in circles, wanting to get their farms fixed but they don’t know who will pay for it or if it is worth doing or how it will look on the bank balance,” Gisborne Wairoa Federated
Farmers president Charlie Reynolds said. They want to replace bridges, tracks and fences so they will not be destroyed by the next storm, but need government guidance on whether that is possible. ”That’s the type of direction we want, to improve our resilience and not just replace it with the same bridges and have the same issue next flood.” The reopening on Sunday of the crucial Waikare Bridge on State Highway 2 between Wairoa and Napier has been welcomed by local farmer Ben Lee for enabling people to reconnect and allow the movement of freight and livestock. Parts of the road are still vulnerable and Lee said locals have been advised to be prepared for road closures due to winter weather conditions. “This is concerning for all residents, workers, farmers and foresters and no one wants to be cut off again.” A Boston Consulting Group (BCG) study commissioned by Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers found the cyclone affected 35% of the region’s crops at total economic impact of $1.4 billion. It calculated it will cost $370m to remove silt, slash and other debris from farms, vineyards and orchards and contaminated crops, Continued page 3
Payday for school Farm Club Argyll East School Farm Club students, from left, Charlie Kent, Lottie Smith, Maddie Butler, Lachlan Foley, Remy Davidson, Austin Buckeridge and Tei Pirie give their cattle a final once-over ahead of last Wednesday’s sale at Stortford Lodge in Hastings. The Farm Club sold six R3 steers and one R2 heifer at the sale.
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Provincial voters could pick next government The National Party will need to produce a blue wave across the country if it wants enough votes to form a coalition government later this year.
POLITICS 18 Zespri says the kiwifruit harvest has produced its lowest yield in years with just 136 million trays.
South Korea’s ageing population is providing opportunities for Fonterra to develop new markets.
Volunteer first responders and rescue helicopters are increasingly left to cover rural health needs.
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