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MEDIA RELEASE & ARTICLES
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23-Feb-10
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Kaipara District Plan a mess
by Editor
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Farmers of New Zealand along with our membership represent approximately 6,000 individuals opposed to a plan produced by Mayor Neil Tiller and his Council. We have called for a Commissioner to be appointed. The Kaipara District Council should be sacked for incompetence
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25-Jan-10
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Brakes on Economy - Government
by Ian Walker
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The only real enemy of inflation is productivity and this is one of the few tools in the cupboard that we seem reluctant to use. In fact we actively ensure the most productive are penalised. Our politicians, at both local and central level, are at pains to make a mess of things. They continue to act in ways that reduce or curb the individual’s ability to be bold. Apart from our elite athletes’, who we expect to win at the highest level, barriers are placed in front of our elite entrepreneurs and innovators.
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30-Jun-09
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To Merge or Not to Merge
by David Barber*
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To this day, we have yet to find a single merged municipality anywhere in Canada which outperformed its predecessors. And, from our discussions with those who have investigated mergers in the U.S., the experience has been much the same.
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15-Jun-09
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Can we Afford to Close Down our Agricultural Enterprises?
by Owen McShane
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We have a strange situation where councils set their cannons against rural residential subdivisions on the grounds that they remove farmland from productive use, but then support those same rural residential landowners when they move to close down some of the most productive agricultural activities in the country.
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15-Jun-09
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The Political Outcomes of Large Amalgamations
by Editor
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In Auckland the proposed Auckland Super-City was first driven by the political left, but has now been adopted by the centre right. It was not an issue driven by the people of Auckland.
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15-Jun-09
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The Political Outcomes of Large Amalgamations
by Editor
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In Auckland the proposed Auckland Super-City was first driven by the political left, but has now been adopted by the centre right. It was not an issue driven by the people of Auckland.
Read story...
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15-Jun-09
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A New Brand For New Zealand
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There is a lot of nonsense talked about in the climate change debate. Not so much that we have added to atmospheric carbon because there is little doubt that globally we have. The real concerns are about the political response that has been less than objective. In a submission to the Select Committee considering Emission Trading the following was suggested.
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22-Jun-08
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Rural Affairs Commissioner Needed
by Ian Walker
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Politician’s talk about defending property rights and then weaken them. They promise to reduce compliance costs and red tape and immediately increase them. They support research and development but expect others to actually pay for it, and they promise investment in rural infrastructure but never get around to doing it.
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22-Jun-08
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Emergency Helicopters Poorly Funded
by Ian Walker
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When central government decided to downsize or remove rural hospitals emergency transport to distant hospitals was assured. The reality was very different.
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27-Mar-08
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Government Provides RMA Hearings Commissioners Poor Advice
by Ian Walker
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Over the next few months local government councillors will attend refresher courses aimed at improving their ability to make good decisions when hearing Resource Consent applications. Such a programme is welcomed because there continues to be a need for those hearing applications to operate in an objective and professional manner and in the past this has not always been the case.
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26-Mar-08
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Climate Change Minister Grilled For Answers
by Ian Walker
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The New Zealand government has stated climate change is real and must be addressed and is planning to spend billions towards carbon neutrality. But, have they done their homework? If it was your money would you invest in a scheme without serious due diligence? We have asked the questions that need to be asked.
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25-Mar-08
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Déjà vu for sheep and beef farmers
by Ian Walker
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Industry leaders go around in circles as the industry burns. We have heard it all before and the industry never seems to learn from its mistakes.
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