100% Pure takes another hit

Written By: - Date published: 11:22 am, December 18th, 2016 - 85 comments
Categories: Conservation, farming, farming, sustainability, tourism, water - Tags: , , ,

You can only live a lie for so long. By Hamish McNeilly on Stuff this morning:

Lord of the Rings actor says NZ tourists shocked by polluted ‘sewer’ Middle-earth

Tourists are shocked to discover New Zealand’s “Middle-earth” is dirty and polluted, says a Lord of the Rings actor who now leads high-end tours.
…
His criticisms come on top of a Ministry of Environment report noting water quality is poorer where there are pressures from agricultural and urban land use, and research by Waikato University’s Sandi Ringham that finds the clean, green brand is a sham. …

Johnathan Milne follows up:

Keeping us green and keeping us honest this summer

Lord of the Rings tour guide Bruce Hopkins is sure to get a whole bucketload of cow manure tipped over his head today.

That’s all too often what happens to those who are brave enough, or mad enough, to challenge New Zealand’s international tourism claims to be clean and green

We don’t like it. Just ask Dr Mike Joy. When the Massey University freshwater ecologist told the New York Times that New Zealand’s “picture perfect” 100% Pure brand was a fiction, he was slammed as a “traitor”. Climate change minister Tim Groser called his comment “deeply unhelpful”. Prime Minister John Key accused him of living in a different world from other New Zealanders; a world where the economy ground to a halt to keep the environmentalists happy.
…
Tourism NZ rejects that: its spokeswoman says “100% Pure” is about the people, landscape and activities, not about our environment or waterways.

With respect, that anonymous spin is, again, cow manure. The truth is tourists come from around the world believing our claim to purity, illustrated with stunning photos of our lakes, fiords and coastlines, to be a promise of cleanliness.
…
But it’s not just farmers who must take responsibility for the damage; we all must do our share in preserving the most beautiful parts of this country. As we head off on our summer holidays, it’s as simple as cleaning up after ourselves; as treading lightly on our fragile coastlines. …

Good advice. And time to change the government.

85 comments on “100% Pure takes another hit ”

  • Comments are now closed

  2. Phaedrus 2
    18 December 2016 at 11:32 am

    It’s aspirational according to our departed dear leader, i.e., 100% bullshit

  3. BM 3
    18 December 2016 at 12:03 pm

    I know what the greens want to do, but for the “left” to win it’s going to have to involve Peters, which will sideline the greens.

    What’s Labour and NZ first policy regarding dairy? herd reduction? big tax increases?

    • weka 3.1
      18 December 2016 at 12:05 pm

      🙄

      • BM 3.1.1
        18 December 2016 at 12:14 pm

        How do you think this three way will work?

        Peters big push is going to be in the provincial areas, herd reduction and increased carbon taxes are what the greens want, let’s be honest, these are not policies that are going to win over rural folk.

        For country folk to go with Peters, Peters has to show that these ideas are off the table and won’t see the light of day if he’s in government.

        • weka 3.1.1.1
          18 December 2016 at 12:25 pm

          Sounds like you don’t want it to work (for NZ to have clean waterways again)

          • saveNZ 3.1.1.1.1
            18 December 2016 at 12:29 pm

            +1 Weka

          • BM 3.1.1.1.2
            18 December 2016 at 12:59 pm

            Don’t despair artificial milk will see a massive reduction in the dairy herd in decades to come.

            • weka 3.1.1.1.2.1
              18 December 2016 at 1:37 pm

              We don’t have decades.

              • Paul …
                18 December 2016 at 1:41 pm

                We have very little time, according to a growing consensus of scientists.
                Indeed the events in the Arctic will create feedback loops that put things out of control.

            • weka 3.1.1.1.2.2
              18 December 2016 at 1:42 pm

              It’s worth pointing out that if it takes ten years for the cowshit/nitrogen to filter through the ground to start polluting a stream, it’s going to take another ten years for that pollution to cease arriving in the stream and then more time for the ecosystem to recover.

              Anyone who thinks that lab milk is going to save NZ waterways either has no fucking idea what they’re talking about or doesn’t give a shit. I’m guessing the latter for you.

              • Red Hand …
                18 December 2016 at 2:05 pm

                If he didn’t care he would not get involved in the discussion and ask the question below “what’s the left going to do about it?”, which is a fair enough question and has not been answered.

                The only rivers I am familiar with are not polluted, the Waitahanui, Hinemaiaia, Tauranga-Taupo and Tongariro. The other rivers I know less well are also clean, Wairoa, upper Waihou, Waitawheta, Mangatangi and Mangatawhiri catchments.

                To get people on side I suggest focusing on the truly polluted rivers, rather than implying that it’s all New Zealand rivers.

                • weka …
                  18 December 2016 at 3:03 pm

                  If he didn’t care he would not get involved in the discussion and ask the question below “what’s the left going to do about it?”, which is a fair enough question and has not been answered.

                  Coming from BM, I take the question as trolling. A better question is what righties like him want to see happen in NZ. I think he’s pretty much answered that – he doesn’t like the pollution but he’s not willing for anything meaningful to be done about it. This is why he’s happy to frame the conversation as what’s the left going to do and then go on to talk about how the left won’t form govt anyway. It’s bullshit framing.

                • weka …
                  18 December 2016 at 3:06 pm

                  The only rivers I am familiar with are not polluted, the Waitahanui, Hinemaiaia, Tauranga-Taupo and Tongariro. The other rivers I know less well are also clean, Wairoa, upper Waihou, Waitawheta, Mangatangi and Mangatawhiri catchments.

                  I live in the South Island and there are rivers here that aren’t polluted, but I suspect what you mean is the only rivers you are familiar with don’t appear to be polluted.

                  “To get people on side I suggest focusing on the truly polluted rivers, rather than implying that it’s all New Zealand rivers.”

                  straw man (who is saying all rivers are polluted?), and distraction (‘truly’ polluted, lol), so again the bullshit framing.

                  edited.

                  • Red Hand …
                    18 December 2016 at 5:24 pm

                    That’s exactly what I mean and no way do I want to be responsible for bullshit framing.

                    “truly polluted ” is imprecise. How about focusing on the waterways that freshwater ecologists and other informed people say have lost most of the organisms that used to live in them due to human activities ?

                    Clean up and restore the damaged rivers and make sure the undamaged rivers are protected.

                    How do you do this and maintain the jobs that contribute to the damage ? I have not read any policies that look like they could realistically achieve this because of economic and political factors, so I accept that a minority of NZ rivers are going to stay damaged for generations, but regulate and enforce to stop further damage.

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      19 December 2016 at 10:08 am

                      How do you do this and maintain the jobs that contribute to the damage ?

                      Why would we want to maintain them?

                      Dropping direct agricultural jobs from the present ~7% of the population to ~2% and shifting the freed up population to something else seems a reasonable action to protect the environment that we rely upon for our lifes.

                • Ab …
                  18 December 2016 at 11:06 pm

                  Judging from those rivers you are a trout fisher. I know those rivers too and the reason for being familiar with them is exactly because they ARE clean and hold populations of fish. So as long as you can have access to those clean rivers you don’t really care about anywhere or anyone else. Charming.

              • simbit …
                19 December 2016 at 8:55 am

                Can evidently take up to 70 years in some catchments (Taupo), 30 years here in Ellesmere.

            • Paul 3.1.1.1.2.3
              18 December 2016 at 1:44 pm

              Are you remotely concerned at the state or our environment?

        • KJT 3.1.1.2
          20 December 2016 at 10:11 am

          Herd reduction, reducing reliance on imported feed, and sustainable practices, are what farmers need to do if they want to continue farming. I think most long term farmers realise that.
          The Greens are happy to help farmers transition, if need be.

          The ones who just want to take their capital gains and run, of course………

    • Cinny 3.2
      18 December 2016 at 2:11 pm

      Fencing off rivers would be a good start… JS How about a bit of sustainable farming, why not go organic? .

      Farming for want of massive wealth does not create true farmers, it’s about the love of the land and the nurture of the animals. And this is where it all went wrong, the white gold rush and way too many bad intentions for self greed, yeah Judith you fit in that box nicely don’t you? BM sounds like you are in that box as well.

      If you’ve ever lived or worked on a farm you would know when the cattle strays into the creek or whatever, it takes a crap. Farmers fence off waterways if they are on well water, to protect their families health, they know it’s not good.

      Bigger the farm, bigger the cattle head count, bigger the profits, bigger the area of fencing required, don’t have a big farm if you can’t afford to fence it, especially the waterways, a river is not a fence.

    • reason 3.3
      18 December 2016 at 10:34 pm

      What we do know is that BMs arsehole is both smarter and more honest than its owner …

      Get your disco pants and maybe a gimp mask to go with that drink of nationals river water ….

      Put on a show and call it ‘right direction’ … an arsed-hole speaks the truth to a gimp

  4. tricldrown 4
    18 December 2016 at 12:27 pm

    Bullshitting Monetarist.
    Dirty Dairying is getting away with massive long-term environmental damage.
    Any other industry would be shut down told to comply fined and pay for the clean up.
    Subsidized pollution.
    For votes.

    • BM 4.1
      18 December 2016 at 12:35 pm

      So what’s the left going to do about it?

      • saveNZ 4.1.1
        18 December 2016 at 12:39 pm

        @BM – get rid of National next election.

      • WILD KATIPO 4.1.2
        18 December 2016 at 9:18 pm

        Pass a few basic legislative acts for a start. As Cinny has already suggested, – FENCING is probably one of the no – brainer , most fundamental first port of calls.

        BM wouldn’t understand that because he has no brain.

        Another thing BM hasn’t a clue about is enforcement of regulations – and that means govt dept inspectors who are not sold out to corporate interests to regularly monitor farming practice’s – with hefty fines for non compliance as well.

        And lets start making a few of these neo liberal politicians and ideologues comply with the usual rant about ‘personal responsibility ‘ handed down to the rest of us when it suits them – and we could also expand that to include ‘ corporate responsibility ‘ as well.

        That’ll make em scream bloody blue murder – I can hear the screams from here.

        Something else the far right wing neo liberal free marketer dunderhead abhors – hence Pike River.

    • saveNZ 4.2
      18 December 2016 at 12:38 pm

      Most farmers want a 100% pure NZ, and don’t want dirty dairy. It is actually people in the council, Fed farmers and Natz politicians that are the ones paving the way for dirty dairying. If the farmers were told to clean up and actually helped to do it by their member groups – they would in most cases.

      The trick with rural folk is to make it about common sense. Not policy papers, not complicated policy. Just make it simple. We don’t want shit in the water, so let’s fence the waterways off and make sure the effluent is contained. The Greens and Labour messages should be similar to NZ First on this – stop making the issues into divisions of rural vs city folks. Most of them want the same thing – 100% pure NZ. But it has to be practical.

      Fonterra and the government should have already done research into solving a lot of environmental issues. But what have they done, fired the scientists, stole public water for private hands and stolen democracy by putting in their own cronies to force on decisions

      Not good for most farmers as well as not good for city folk and not good for exports and not good for tourism – in short what the hell are the Natz doing environmental damage for – stupidity, ideology – who knows?

      • Rosemary McDonald 4.2.1
        18 December 2016 at 12:54 pm

        “Most farmers want a 100% pure NZ, and don’t want dirty dairy. It is actually people in the council, Fed farmers and Natz politicians that are the ones paving the way for dirty dairying. If the farmers were told to clean up and actually helped to do it by their member groups – they would in most cases.”

        All of them…but you missed out these guys….

        http://www.ballance.co.nz/Our-CoOp/Our-Community/News/2016/Spring/Ballance-scholarships-open-door-to-bright-futures-in-agribusiness

        …and their mates…

        http://www.ravensdown.co.nz/in-the-community/hugh-williams-scholarship

        Long after the shit has washed away, the damage done by excessive artificial nutrient use will go on, and on and on….http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/287590/farming-damaging-environment-report

        http://files.ecan.govt.nz/public/south-canterbury-streams/research/sccs-research-managing-catchment-nutrient-loads.pdf

        • Macro 4.2.1.1
          18 December 2016 at 1:38 pm

          Exactly Lake Eire is North America is now a cess pit. The water is so full of phosphates and nitrogen, washed off the high intensive farms of Canada and the Northern US, that it has become unsafe for the people of major cities (such as Toledo and Cleveland) who have used this water for their water supply, to drink.

      • BM 4.2.2
        18 December 2016 at 12:57 pm

        Riparian margins aren’t really going to help that much, the main problem is there are just too many cows per hectare.

        Unfortunately, riparian margins can only lock up so much nutrient runoff and at these higher stocking rates, they quickly reach a point where they can no longer absorb excessive nutrients.

        Because farmland is so expensive farmers have had to up their stocking rates to make their farms a viable business,
        The only way to improve things is to cut stock numbers.

        It’s going to be mighty difficult to persuade farmers to basically, go broke.

        • weka 4.2.2.1
          18 December 2016 at 1:43 pm

          still arguing against change BM?

          • BM 4.2.2.1.1
            18 December 2016 at 1:48 pm

            I’m not a great fan of Dairy, it’s cruel, it destroys the environment and has a terrible work culture.

            But it helps pay the bills, without dairy, there would be a fuck load of people doing it very very hard in NZ.

            • Paul 4.2.2.1.1.1
              18 December 2016 at 1:51 pm

              So destroying the environment is worth a short term benefit?

              • KJT …
                18 December 2016 at 2:12 pm

                I would argue that, if we hadn’t been so successful sful with primary produce we would have had to develop an economy.

                Oil producing nations have the same problem as oil demand drops. Lack of depth in their economy.
                For example Saudi Arabia. Propped up by the US, paying for their major source of employment, the military.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  18 December 2016 at 6:12 pm

                  I would argue that, if we hadn’t been so successful sful with primary produce we would have had to develop an economy.

                  Exactly.

                  Basically, we decided to cheat by doing things the easy way and now we’re up shit creek without a paddle. Give the RWNJs much longer and we won’t have a boat either as they would have sold it.

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    19 December 2016 at 9:41 am

                    Draco – while it’s fun to bag the” RWNJs” for this, BM’s question, what will the Left do about it, isn’t being answered. I suspect there’s little real difference between political parties around this question and that’s because it’s not at all easy to solve. From what I see, each party will just fiddle with the details and not even begin to address the root cause. Proposing recalibrations to agricultural practice is all I see on offer from politicians. We have to go much deeper than that. In that light, I find myself siding with BM in this thread 🙁

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      19 December 2016 at 9:45 am

                      what will the Left do about it, isn’t being answered.

                      I’ve given plenty of answers.

                      I suspect there’s little real difference between political parties around this question and that’s because it’s not at all easy to solve.

                      Actually, it is easy to solve but the political parties don’t want to accept that capitalism has to be done away with.

                      From what I see, each party will just fiddle with the details and not even begin to address the root cause.

                      True.

                      Proposing recalibrations to agricultural practice is all I see on offer from politicians.

                      True again.

                      But what are the people demanding?

                      I think you’ll find that the answer to that question is far different to what the politicians are offering.

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      19 December 2016 at 10:00 am

                      Draco – I agree with you on each point you make. Do you see a way forward and what actions do you believe are necessary?

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      19 December 2016 at 3:09 pm

                      There’s a way forward.

                      1. Limits on income
                      2. Limits on ownership
                      3. Sovereign monetary system
                      4. Strict regulations for farming
                      5. Massive investment in R&D
                      6. Full tracking of the nations resources
                      7. Devolution of government from parliament to the people – parliament would then write the laws that implement the policies the people have decided upon
                      8. A written constitution that limits government

                • Robert Guyton …
                  19 December 2016 at 9:32 am

                  KJT is correct, imo. In fact,on a global/historical scale, what he says, goes. Had agriculture not taken hold the way it did, we would all (humans and other-than-human organisms) would be in a very different space. However, that’s not what happened. Having bought into agriculture and its attendant civilizing effect, we find ourselves in a “position”, a perilous one that’s very difficult to extricate ourselves from.

            • Muttonbird 4.2.2.1.1.2
              18 December 2016 at 1:51 pm

              Rubbish. That land could be put to much better use. Housing the huge number of failed National MPs for one.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 4.2.2.1.1.3
              18 December 2016 at 1:52 pm

              Are you taking the piss, arsehole? Dairying is the reason people are doing it very very hard.

            • weka 4.2.2.1.1.4
              18 December 2016 at 3:07 pm

              “But it helps pay the bills, without dairy, there would be a fuck load of people doing it very very hard in NZ.”

              TINA? Really? You think NZers are so stupid they couldn’t come up with other ways to make a living?

              • Draco T Bastard …
                18 December 2016 at 6:09 pm

                Yes, the RWNJs really are that stupid.

                They haven’t worked out yet that if we didn’t import anything then we wouldn’t have those bills that they’re so concerned with paying.

              • Red Hand …
                18 December 2016 at 6:12 pm

                I’m not stupid, but I lack courage and drive (she’ll be right) and I’m very suspicious of people who don’t fit in (“fit in or fuck off”). The country has always expected everything to be handed to it and specializes in passive aggression (we lost thousands of men in fighting beside you against the Huns so you owe us a living) we are the international paragon of moral virtue (Kate Sheppard, Mururoa, exemplary Race Relations, Clean Green Environment etc etc ). I wish the dairy boom would slowly fade and the cockies move to town and get a fuck’n life !

                • greywarshark …
                  19 December 2016 at 10:12 am

                  Red Hand at 6.12 pm You said what many thinking people are thinking.

                  And BM at 12.57pm – Really good points. Why don’t you put in more joined up ideas that we can pick out the cherries from instead of your usual yahboo stuff? We can do with some more reasoned stuff that adds to the debate and tones down some of the heights of lefty theorising and posturing.

              • BM …
                18 December 2016 at 7:10 pm

                TINA? Really?

                At the moment, yes.

                This may come as a bit of a shock for left wing people such as yourself, you can’t just create new profitable business/products just like that.

                Takes a hell of a lot of work, luck and deep pockets to bring new products onto the market successfully.

                • Red Hand …
                  18 December 2016 at 7:21 pm

                  “deep pockets” All that money that could support NZ startups spent on Mercs, BMWs, “investment” property, overseas trips, tax avoidance advice and private school fees. You sicken me.

                • WILD KATIPO …
                  18 December 2016 at 9:56 pm

                  Deep pockets , eh?

                  Kaingaroa state forest… what era did that start up in BM?

                  Hydro schemes ?

                  Seems for some reason our forefathers didnt seem as cringing as we are now… and admittedly , we need to develop more ‘ value added’ products in these times – computer componentry perhaps?

                  Oh wait- we cant because we are all cashless because of neo liberalism and the big boys who already are invested in those industry’s don’t want any added competition…

                  And just because Japan can import its raw materials and convert it into product for the export market ,…well,.. we are not Japanese – just New Zealanders who need ‘ foreign expertise ‘ on how to do anything including clean a toilet seat these days , it seems…

        • One Anonymous Bloke 4.2.2.2
          18 December 2016 at 1:43 pm

          Re: riparian margins: says who? Anyone who takes your word for it is an idiot.

          It’s going to be difficult to continually subsidise polluters, whether you think they’re too big to fail or not.

        • saveNZ 4.2.2.3
          18 December 2016 at 1:46 pm

          Actually BM it is the opposite – various forces are trying to convert uneconomic property into dairy when the land and the location are inappropriate. Stop that number 1.

          Number 2, farmers are becoming broke by increasing their landholdings when interest rates will start rising, increased supplementary feed such as palm kernel when there is drought or overstocking. Reducing their stock levels will reduce the need for supplementary feed and bankruptcy during drought.

          Farm land prices are being driven up by immigration, overseas land sales and farm asset sales promoted by the National government and some councils.

          Better and more environmental pastural practises with scientific and organic principals should be trialled immediately to see what works the best.

          More cross and diversification of farm land should be encouraged. Such as Bees + dairy + tourism + horticulture

          When we were involved in world solving climate change talks, NZ was supposed to take a scientific approach to reducing emissions – what happened?? Who decided to fire the scientists and instead just buy fake credits?

          • greywarshark 4.2.2.3.1
            19 December 2016 at 11:44 am

            Important points save nz. Farming becomes unprofitable when people take advantage of high prices to exit from their unit and sell it on with a load of paid-out profit on it. This needs to produce an accepted percentage of return but on a higher base of investment than before which the farm has to be squeezed to meet.

            A drop in prices, a drop in land values, and the bubble bursts. If people sell to an overseas investor then the profits either flow out of the country, or are used to gain bigger landholdings, so whichever alienates NZ profit or land.

        • Macro 4.2.2.4
          18 December 2016 at 1:57 pm

          That is certainly true BM. So what is required is a government capable of thinking outside the square. What we have at the moment is a government incapable of any thought whatsoever!
          There are ways and means for farmers to work within the boundaries of the environment and make a profit. The reason many are in debt up to their eyeballs, and can see no way out, other to constantly increase production, is because that is what they have been encouraged to do – by both this govt and the previous one. This was, and is now becoming clearly evident, an unsustainable approach to farming.
          Shifting to sustainable practices, reducing stocking rates, moving from 2 milkings per day to one, etc, not only reduces stress on the livestock, but also stress on the farmer.
          NZ thinks that it is a major producer of dairy product – but in the scheme of things world wide we are a relatively minor player. India’s milk production is way in excess of ours. 146 million tonnes of milk compared to NZ’s 21.5 million tonnes.
          So essentially that means that NZ must always be a price taker – not a price setter.
          Maybe we, and our farmers, need to take a step back, and think of other ways we can use our land.

          • KJT 4.2.2.4.1
            18 December 2016 at 2:08 pm

            New Zealand is a minor producer, but we are the worlds biggest dairy exporter.

            Prices dropped because we got too greedy and basically flooded the market.

            • Macro 4.2.2.4.1.1
              18 December 2016 at 2:17 pm

              “Prices dropped because we got too greedy and basically flooded the market.”….. With a cheap and dirty product.
              What I am saying above – we need to rethink what we produce and how we produce it.

            • Draco T Bastard 4.2.2.4.1.2
              18 December 2016 at 3:00 pm

              Actually, it wasn’t us that flooded the market but other nations after they ramped up their dairy production because of the high profits. The thing is that they didn’t have to ramp up by much to flood us out of the market.

              For NZ to remain dependent upon exporting food is rather idiotic as every country in the world is quite capable of feeding themselves.

        • mauÄ« 4.2.2.5
          18 December 2016 at 7:50 pm

          I mostly agree with you for once. You’re sounding a tincy bit like Dr Joy which is concerning too.

        • WILD KATIPO 4.2.2.6
          18 December 2016 at 9:38 pm

          You can thank your glorious free market endorsed by your neo liberal cronies for that , BM .

          There was a time in this country where there were govt subsidy’s and incentives for farmers to be able to comply without running them to the wall or going broke. And while that money might have came from the taxpayer , we all benefited from a relatively healthy environment and an unstressed major industry.

          Any arguments to the contrary only need be directed at the ‘ TO BIG TO FAIL’ hypocrisy evident during , and after , the global credit crunch.

  5. saveNZ 5
    18 December 2016 at 12:48 pm

    P.S. Heard from multiple people that Fonterra management is now officially shit! Fonterra are making stupid decisions and have become completely impractical. The management are like a council creaming (literally) the profits while being out of touch and having zero interest in real practical projects that help dairy on a practical level like tankers, let alone the environment. In many cases the projects Fonterra are implementing are making things less efficient than 10 years ago!

    • tc 5.1
      18 December 2016 at 12:54 pm

      They’ve been shit for quite sometime, high returns mask a lot of defects and old boys lining each other’s pockets.

  7. Poission 7
    18 December 2016 at 1:10 pm

    unemployed middle earth actor, should visit middle island to see Medea in all her glory.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Hillier#/media/File:Lake_Hillier_2_Middle_Island_Recherche_Archipelago_NR_IV-2011.JPG

  8. mosa 8
    18 December 2016 at 1:10 pm

    Lets change from a government talking shit and doing jack-shit to one that will get shit done.

  10. Draco T Bastard 10
    18 December 2016 at 6:08 pm

    Wonder if we can book the government for false advertising on this.

    • Bob 10.1
      19 December 2016 at 2:34 pm

      Nope, New Zealand is 100% pure New Zealand, the good and the bad. It doesn’t say 100% clean environment New Zealand, you are just projecting that.
      It’s a play on words, clever marketing, which is probably why it has been our slogan for so long.

      • Draco T Bastard 10.1.1
        19 December 2016 at 2:57 pm

        No, that would be you making up BS to defend the indefensible.

        The adverts clearly show NZ as being environmentally clean and that is just not the case.

  11. bugsolutely 11
    18 December 2016 at 9:05 pm

    Having on meal per week of insect protein can save over 1/2 million liters of water per year and create very little green house gas, change your preconceptions.

  12. Adrian 12
    19 December 2016 at 11:46 am

    Anybody that quotes French tourists as being “shocked” at the cleanliness, or lack of, of our rivers loses all credibility.
    I love France but I wouldn’t put my toe into even a bloody puddle over there or anywhere in Europe for that matter.
    The gorgeous canals are so full of human shit it’s laughable and none of the canal boats big or small have holding tanks because there is nowhere to offload them.
    I think he’s grandstanding.
    Our practice is better than almost anywhere else in the world even though we’ve still got a way to go.

  13. greywarshark 13
    19 December 2016 at 2:48 pm

    @Adrain replies
    1 They do it too..
    2 I love France, (some of my best friends are French? )
    3 Our practice is better than almost anywhere else in the world even though we’ve still got a way to go.

    This is the puerile chat that passes for thinking amongst a majority in NZ.
    The point is that –
    1 We are a long way from France and Europe, and what they do is interesting but here is where our heart, home and wages are, and France has other countries around it, and a much bigger population (of people) than we have of cows.
    2 If we want tourists to travel all the way down here we must have some features that catch their fancy, are interesting, worthwhile, intriguing etc
    3 After promoting and advertising at great cost, and catching tourists’ interest, they expect us to have what we say we have, here and now, not be selling what we used to have before rampant careless greed went for broke and gave the rest of us the fingers.
    4 Tourism is vital to this country which has been denuded of other business opportunities since we decided to go global and cheap and a warehouse for remaindered product.
    5 Your quoted comment has two qualifications in it that negate the meaning of the whole sentence.
    Query – where do you get the cheek to put comment on this blog which means next to nothing?

  14. millsy 14
    19 December 2016 at 9:52 pm

    The only way to do this is to pay farmers not to pollute.

  15. Grant Henderson 15
    31 December 2016 at 11:44 am

    Rachel Stewart has also commented accurately in the NZ Herald on 28 December 2016 (“Who will stand up to dairying?”).

    She should in fact have asked “Who will stand up to dirty dairying?”.

    Certainly not the National government, which is completely cowed by Federated Farmers.

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  • Pharmac Chair appointed
    Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
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    14 hours ago

  • Taking action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says.  “Every day, ...
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    1 day ago

  • New sports complex opens in Kaikohe
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
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    2 days ago

  • Diplomacy needed more than ever
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in TĂŒrkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges.    “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
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    2 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
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    2 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, TĂŒrkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
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    3 days ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
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    4 days ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
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    5 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
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    5 days ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
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    6 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
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    6 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
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    6 days ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
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    6 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
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    6 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
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    6 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
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    6 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
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    6 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
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    6 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
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    1 week ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
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    1 week ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
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    1 week ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
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    1 week ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
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    1 week ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
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    1 week ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
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    1 week ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
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    1 week ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
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    1 week ago

  • Anzac commemorations, TĂŒrkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
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    1 week ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
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    1 week ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
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    1 week ago

  • Taupƍ takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupƍ as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupƍ International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupƍ Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
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    1 week ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
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    2 weeks ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
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    2 weeks ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
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    2 weeks ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
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    2 weeks ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
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    2 weeks ago

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