Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

On 9 March 2022, Parliament passed the Russia Sanctions Bill through all its stages in a single day. The Bill was introduced the previous day, received its first, second and third readings and completed its committee stage on 9 March, before receiving Royal Assent on 10 March.

The legislation created a dedicated framework allowing New Zealand to impose and enforce sanctions in response to Russia's military actions and those assisting Russia.

The speed matters.

New Zealand had debated autonomous sanctions for years. But when Russia invaded Ukraine, the Government moved urgently and Parliament acted.

Now Labour has made its Israel policy explicit.

In its foreign-policy speech on 23 September, Labour committed to recognising the State of Palestine, placing economic sanctions on Israel, and requiring the NZ Super Fund and ACC to divest from companies on the UN list operating in the occupied territories. Labour also committed to intervening in South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice concerning the Genocide Convention.

That is a significant step beyond Labour's earlier position.

In March 2025, Labour supported Chlöe Swarbrick's bill that would enable sanctions against Israel over its occupation of the Palestinian territories.

Then, in September 2025, Labour called for “meaningful sanctions” including cutting trade and economic ties, freezing assets and travel bans on named individuals, explicitly referring to the approach New Zealand had taken towards Russia.

So the political commitment is now clear.

The mechanics are not.

The Russia Sanctions Act was specifically designed around Russia's military actions. Its purpose is expressly tied to Russia and those assisting it.

If Labour wants to impose sanctions on Israel under a different legal basis, New Zealand needs to know what legislation Labour would use or introduce.

That is where the questions begin. When?

The Russia sanctions legislation went from introduction to all parliamentary stages in one day.

What is Labour's deadline for legislation or other legal authority to implement its promised economic sanctions on Israel? How?

Will Labour support and pass Chlöe Swarbrick's sanctions legislation, amend it, or introduce its own Government bill?

And if new legislation is required, how quickly would it be introduced? What sanctions?

Labour's current speech says only that it will “place economic sanctions on Israel.”

But Labour has previously identified much more specific measures: cutting economic and trade ties, freezing assets and imposing travel bans on named individuals.

Will those measures form part of the policy?

Would Labour also consider restrictions on settlement-linked trade, procurement restrictions, financial measures, and sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for violations of international law? What comes first?

Labour has now committed to three significant measures: recognition of Palestine, sanctions on Israel, and intervention in South Africa's ICJ case.

Will these happen simultaneously?

Or will there be a sequence and, if so, what is it?

These are not minor details.

A sanctions policy is a legal instrument, not simply a political statement. It needs legislation or legal authority, definitions, targets, enforcement mechanisms, exemptions, timelines and accountability.

Labour has said the right things about the need for consequences when international law is breached.

It has also demonstrated, through the Russia sanctions legislation, that New Zealand can act with extraordinary speed when Parliament decides that circumstances demand it.

So the question now is simple:

If Labour believes Israel should face economic sanctions, show New Zealand the plan.

Put the legislation on the table.

Put the timeline on the table.

Put the sanctions on the table.

And explain clearly how the promised action will move from a 23 September election commitment to an enforceable New Zealand sanctions regime.

The commitment has been made. Now the mechanics must follow.

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Every second person who dies in a house fire is over sixty. When the clocks roll forward an hour on Sunday 27 September Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s Community Education Manager, Tom Ronaldson, urges people to look out for their loved ones and their older relatives, friends and neighbours.

“Over the last five years we have seen an increase in the number of fatal fires involving people over the age of sixty,” Tom Ronaldson says.

“People only have around three minutes to get out before a house fire becomes unsurvivable.

“To give yourself and your older family and friends the earliest possible warning, you need working smoke alarms installed in every bedroom, hallway and living area.

“It is important to look out for older neighbours, family and friends who may not have the ability to install, test or replace smoke alarms themselves.”

Tom also says that people need to know smoke alarms don’t last forever and should be replaced after 10 years.

“We often see homes which have smoke alarms installed but they are well past their use by date so won’t be at their best. Checking alarms is easy – remove them from the base plate and check their manufacture and/or expiration on the bottom of the alarm.”

Fire and Emergency recommends people install long-life photoelectric smoke alarms in every bedroom, living room and hallway to have the earliest possible warning of a fire.

“Most New Zealand homes have smoke alarms, but now is the time to make sure they are working and in the right places and that means in every bedroom, living area and hallway, Tom Ronaldson says.

“Having smoke alarms is only the first step in your 3-step escape plan. When testing yours and your loved one's alarms make sure there are two clear exits and an agreed safe meeting place.”

Source: Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd

24 September 2026

• Total cash returns to shareholders1: $19.6 billion
• FY26 total cash dividends, fully imputed: 73 cents per share, up from 57 cents
• 2025/26 final Farmgate Milk Price: $9.69 per kgMS
• 2025/26 final Organic Milk Price: $14.13 per kgMS
• Total Group:
• Operating profit: $3.4 billion, up 97.6% on prior year, including a $1.2 billion Mainland divestment benefit
• Profit after tax: $2.6 billion, up 142%
• Underlying business2:
• Operating profit: $1.8 billion, up 23.6% on prior year
• Earnings of 71 cents per share, up 17 cents
• Return on capital: 14.2%, up from 11.7%
• FY27 forecast underlying earnings range: 65-85 cents per share
• 2026/27 forecast Farmgate Milk Price: $9.50 per kgMS, with a range of $8.50 – $10.50 per kgMS
• 2026/27 forecast Organic Milk Price: $14.30 per kgMS, with a range of $13.30 – $15.30 per kgMS

Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd has today reported its FY26 annual results, delivering $27 billion in revenue and nearly $20 billion in cash returns to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.

The final Farmgate Milk Price for the 2025/26 season was $9.69 per kgMS. The Co-op also declared a final fully imputed dividend of 33 cents per share, bringing fully imputed total dividends for the year to 73 cents per share. This includes the 24 cent interim dividend and 16 cent special Mainland dividend paid in April.

Fonterra Chairman Peter McBride says the Co-operative has continued building momentum and delivered at the top end of its performance expectations.

“Consistency is important to farmers and our shareholders. We’re proud of the collective effort that’s delivered another strong result, at the top end of our earnings guidance. The team hasn’t missed a beat despite the Mainland divestment process and the significant change that followed. Richard’s transition into the CEO role has been seamless and it’s exciting to see the energy his team is putting into building off this strong position.”

Fonterra CEO Richard Allen says the Co-operative’s disciplined approach to strategic execution has once again generated strong results.

“FY26 was a year of delivery. Our teams collected, processed and shipped near record volumes of milk, allocated products for the highest possible returns, and reliably delivered them to our customers right around the world.

“Despite some challenging conditions, including weather events and geopolitical volatility, we leveraged our full supply chain network and logistics partnerships to keep milk moving, achieving record shipping volumes and materially improving our delivery performance,” says Mr Allen.

Performance

Total Group reported operating profit was $3.4 billion, up from $1.7 billion last year, including the Mainland divestment benefit of $1.2 billion. Reported profit after tax was $2.6 billion.

“One year ago, we set a target for earnings to return to FY25 levels within three years if the Consumer and associated businesses were divested,” says Mr Allen.

“I’m pleased to share that our team’s focused execution of strategy in FY26 has got us to that target already, with underlying operating profit for our continuing business of $1.8 billion and profit after tax of $1.2 billion, equivalent to 71 cents per share.”

The Co-operative’s return on capital was 14.2%, above our target range of 10-12% and showing the value of our focused business-to-business (B2B) strategy.

“Our Ingredients business delivered $1,293 million in operating profit, supported by strong global protein demand, favourable pricing and product mix decisions. In Foodservice, we achieved $547 million in operating profit, which was driven largely by volume and pricing growth across all product categories and markets,” says Mr Allen.

Strategy

Mr Allen says Fonterra’s strategy to create value for farmers through disciplined capital choices, operational efficiencies, innovation and a customer focus is delivering results, and will continue to guide its new era as a B2B Co-op.

“Our foundations are in our New Zealand milk supply, and as we move forward as a B2B Co-op, we’ll stay focused on making our farmer offering as competitive as possible. This includes helping farmers with practical tools and services to make compliance easier and targeted support for the next generation of Co-op farm owners.

“This year, we also confirmed the planned expansion of our organic milk business into the South Island and are continuing with our recruitment drive for more organic farmers across the country to meet growing demand, off the back of a record organic milk price of $14.13 per kgMS.

“Our New Zealand milk is complemented by our high value, off-shore whey protein sourcing, which in FY26 continued to deliver outstanding returns to the portfolio.

“Our priorities in FY26 were to complete the Mainland Group sale, unlock new manufacturing capacity, and continue with our Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software roll-out. I’m pleased to report that we have executed on all of these this year.

“Following approval from our farmer shareholders, we completed the sale of Mainland Group in March and have been working to ensure a smooth separation of the two businesses.

“We progressed our capital investment programme and invested $1 billion in essential sustainability and growth projects.

“And finally, our ERP system replacement is on track and on budget, with five sites now live and two more planned for later this year.

“These priorities will continue into 2027 as we maintain our focus on investing for growth, operational efficiency and digital transformation.

“This year, we also continued with our sustainability efforts and made progress on a programme of long-term energy resilience projects across multiple sites to improve energy security, reduce gas usage and support our emissions targets and future processing growth.

“Today, we are announcing the Co-op will invest an incremental $1 billion over the next three years in the South Island to accelerate and expand our protein manufacturing network and improve our environmental performance, including our impact on water and emissions.

“These projects position the Co-op to respond to changes in how people want to consume dairy, with a growing focus on sustainably produced, protein-rich and nutrient-dense foods. They are critical to our future value growth and improve our optionality, increase our capacity and, as a result, strengthen returns for farmers and shareholders over the long term.

“Using the capital retained from the Mainland Group divestment, alongside our strong cashflow, this additional investment will help us move more milk from whole milk powder and commodities into high-value products, strengthen partnerships with existing customers, and pursue new opportunities as demand for advanced proteins continues to grow.

“Once operational in 2029, the investment is expected to create around 50 – 60 permanent roles, as well as supporting local businesses involved across the construction projects.”

Over the next three years, Fonterra expects total capital investment to be approximately $1.3-1.6 billion per annum.

Outlook

“Looking ahead, we’re planning for another season of strong milk supply. However, we are also well prepared for an El Niño weather pattern should this eventuate,” says Mr Allen.

The Co-operative is forecasting milk collections for the 2026/27 season to be just above 1.6 billion kgMS, and a Farmgate Milk Price of $9.50 per kgMS with a range of $8.50 – $10.50 per kgMS. The 2026/27 Organic Milk Price forecast is $14.30 per kgMS within a range of $13.30 – $15.30 per kgMS.

Having reached the target for earnings to return to FY25 levels, Fonterra will no longer report on that target and will revert to its prior practice of forecasting earnings for the relevant financial year.

Accordingly, the Co-operative’s forecast earnings range for FY27 is 65-85 cents per share. This improving outlook reflects continued delivery from our B2B businesses, as they continue to grow high-value demand across our markets. Geopolitical volatility remains and with only two months complete, previous seasons tell us that things can always change.

“This year, we’ve delivered a strong set of results, executed on our priorities and positioned the Co-op for a new phase of value growth as a global B2B dairy ingredients provider,” says Mr Allen.

“The sale of Mainland Group was a significant step forward. Now, as we head into an increasingly changing world, our farmers’ quality, grass-fed milk, combined with our flexible assets, reliable supply chain and deep customer and market presence will help us deliver growth into the long-term.

“We're building on our strong foundations, focused on making Fonterra’s products the world’s most sought-after source of nutrition and fostering an enduring Co-op for generations.”

Notes to editor: 1 Total cash payments to shareholders includes milk payments over the 2025/26 season for Fonterra farmers, ordinary and special cash dividends declared and the Mainland capital return during FY26. 2 Underlying performance is Fonterra’s continuing operations represented as if the Mainland transaction had occurred for the full period to provide a comparative of Fonterra’s continuing operations and align with the Pro forma historical financial information disclosed in the Notice of Special Meeting 2025 (29 September 2025).

About Fonterra As a global B2B dairy provider, we go to market through our global Ingredients brand NZMP <https://www.nzmp.com/global/en.html> and global Foodservice brand Anchor Food Professionals <https://www.anchorfoodprofessionals.com/global/en.html>. We provide high-quality products, valued for our dairy innovation and science expertise and New Zealand provenance, to customers in more than 100 countries around the world.

Source: Hasbro

From Cape Reinga to Bluff and everywhere in between, Kiwis have helped reimagine one of the world’s most iconic board games.

Earlier this year, Hasbro invited New Zealanders from across the country to answer one simple question:

What place deserves a spot on New Zealand's Monopoly board?

The response showed just how much pride Kiwis have in the places they call home. Hundreds of Kiwis shared the landmarks, attractions and destinations they believe best represent Aotearoa – places that shape our memories, inspire our adventures and reflect our Kiwi way of life.

You nominated. We listened. Now it's time to reveal the new board.

More than 20 years after MONOPOLY Here & Now: New Zealand Edition was released, the board has been reimagined for a new generation of Kiwis. Having an edition dedicated entirely to New Zealand is something special – and this time, New Zealanders helped decide which places would be celebrated.

The Reveal

Today, MONOPOLY New Zealand Edition is officially unveiled, featuring 22 destinations inspired by the places New Zealanders believe best represent Aotearoa. Spanning the length of the country from Cape Reinga in the Far North to Bluff at the bottom of the South Island, the board brings together natural wonders, iconic landmarks, cities, attractions and much-loved regional destinations.

• Brown – Te Puke
• Brown – Tongariro Alpine Crossing
• Light Blue – Hobbiton
• Light Blue – Russell
• Light Blue – Kaikōura
• Pink – Queenstown
• Pink – Lake Taupō
• Pink – Cape Reinga
• Orange – Aoraki Mount Cook
• Orange – Milford Sound
• Orange – Fox Glacier
• Red – Moeraki Boulders
• Red – Golden Bay
• Red – Ninety Mile Beach
• Yellow – Napier
• Yellow – Cathedral Cove
• Yellow – Rotorua
• Green – Taranaki
• Green – Christchurch
• Green – Wellington
• Dark Blue – Bluff
• Dark Blue – Sky Tower

A Journey Through Aotearoa

The new board takes players on a journey across New Zealand, celebrating the places and experiences that make Aotearoa unique.

The Sky Tower claims the coveted top dark-blue property, while Hobbiton and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing feature alongside natural wonders including Milford Sound, Aoraki / Mount Cook and Cathedral Cove. Regional favourites such as Te Puke, Russell, Kaikōura, the Moeraki Boulders and Golden Bay also earn their place on the board – each representing a different part of New Zealand’s story.

Players can travel around the board using distinctly Kiwi-inspired tokens, including a ute, surfboard and sheep. Along the way, they can experience some of the activities New Zealanders love most – from bungy jumping and jet boating to visiting a vineyard or heading to a stadium event.

For Kiwi kids, the game offers a fun way to discover more of their own country – recognising places they already know while being introduced to new destinations they may one day visit.

Inspired by Kiwi Life

The distinctly Kiwi character of the game extends well beyond the property squares.

The Chance and Community Chest cards have also been reimagined with uniquely Kiwi moments, celebrating humour, traditions and everyday New Zealand experiences. From winning first place at your local Ag Day and taking home a prize at a wearable arts show, to attempting to pronounce New Zealand's longest place name or receiving a refund after your Whangamatā holiday booking is cancelled, the cards capture the moments that generations of Kiwis will instantly recognise.

Together, the destinations and locally inspired cards transform one of the world's most iconic board games into a true celebration of New Zealand.

“Not every country has a MONOPOLY edition created especially for them, so the opportunity to reimagine the New Zealand board after more than 20 years was incredibly special,” says Stuart McAskill, Commercial Brand Manager, MONOPOLY. “We wanted to create a game that feels unmistakably Kiwi and gives people another reason to celebrate the places that make New Zealand so unique.”

“It was important to us that New Zealanders were part of creating this board,” says Rachel Chapman, General Sales Manager, Hasbro New Zealand. “Kiwis generously shared the places that mean something to them, and that sense of pride has shaped the entire game. We hope families will recognise places they know and love, while Kiwi kids discover new parts of Aotearoa they may be inspired to explore.”

The new MONOPOLY New Zealand Edition launches nationwide on 23 September 2026, inviting families and friends to travel around Aotearoa – one roll of the dice at a time.

Go big or go broke. Yeah, nah! #Monopolynz

Source: New Zealand Principals’ Federation

Statement to be attributed to NZPF President, Jason Miles:

A video has surfaced showing the internal workings of curriculum development within the Ministry of Education. Of greatest concern, it reveals official direction to protect the Minister and avoid public scrutiny by illegally circumventing the Official Information Act.

While it is always shocking when a public servant is forced to be a whistleblower in the pursuit of transparency and open democracy, I am frankly not surprised by what has been exposed. Only last week, the Waitangi Tribunal report on the Crown’s reform of Aotearoa New Zealand’s national curriculum- showed how the Minister overhauled it in relative secrecy, ignored Māori voices and opposition from educators, and rejected the lack of evidence that the changes would reduce inequities. The leaked footage shows us one example of what that looks like – I am sure there will be plenty more to come.

NZPF is striving to achieve the education system our tamariki and rangatahi deserve. Our proposal for a permanent and statutory Curriculum and Assessment Council would give Aotearoa New Zealand's education system the stability it needs, regardless of who is in government. Just last week, Labour’s education spokesperson Ginny Anderson publicly confirmed their party’s policy for the council, adding to endorsements from the Greens, New Zealand First, and The Opportunity Party.

It is exciting to see support growing within our sector, the public, and by political parties for a curriculum that is independent of political interference and ideologies. And it really begs belief that the Minister continues to argue that the NZPF is trying to inject ideology back into the curriculum. That is exactly what our proposed Curriculum and Assessment Council is trying to prevent.

To demonstrate the proposal’s validity and widespread support, NZPF is producing a public register where principals, educators, parents, organisations, and anyone with an interest in Aotearoa New Zealand’s education system can share their support. If you agree with our proposal for an independent Curriculum and Assessment Council, please add your name and help us share it further: nzpf.ac.nz/curriculum-and-assessment-council-proposal

One final note to Minister Stanford, the New Zealand Principals’ Federation is not a union nor are we little. We are the leading professional voice for principals and represent almost 2,000 members.

Hūtia te Rito o te Harakeke, kei Hea te Kōmako e Kō? The Stage Two, Part I Report of the Education and Training Amendment Act and Te Mātaiaho Urgent Inquiry. https://www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz/en/news/tribunal-releases-report-on-the-reform-of-the-national-curriculum

Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

The PSA has slammed Health NZ’s decision to move to the final phase of the Police’s Mental Health Response Change Programme as not only ill-conceived but dangerous for health workers and mental health patients alike.

Health NZ confirmed today that the final phase of Police's withdrawal from mental health call-outs will see handover times at hospital emergency departments cut from 60 minutes to 30 minutes, rather than the 15 minutes originally planned. The final phase had been on hold while the changes were reviewed, following safety concerns raised by health workers, ambulance staff, unions and the Mental Health Foundation.

“This is not addressing the problem with this ill-conceived and poorly planned programme,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

“Going from 60 minutes to 30 minutes does not change our fundamental concern about this programme. Mental health workers are still being assaulted, and this was never properly planned for in the first place.

“The whole programme should be shelved. Time and again we’ve raised the dangers with Health NZ and Police, and time and again we’ve been told the changes would proceed regardless.

“This is a serious health and safety issue which why we complained to the IPCA who agreed with us that violence and assaults against mental health workers are a ‘significant concern’ – but stated that it does not have the resources to investigate the Police Mental Health Response Change Programme.

“No health worker should ever be left facing a situation where the police aren’t there to help them. Health NZ have told staff that they should simply remove themselves from a dangerous situation – but we’ve heard from workers that’s completely impractical advice.

“It is fundamental that the safety of workers, patients and the public is the priority here – not an afterthought.

“Just like any New Zealanders, mental health workers should always be able to expect that police will be there to help them – at the other end of the phone, ready to respond – not treated as an option of last resort.

“We’re calling on Health NZ and the Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey, to shelve this flawed programme altogether, and to properly resource mental health services so that workers, patients and the public are safe.”

Previous statement:

5 Feb 2026 Police watchdog concedes violence against mental health workers 'serious' but too underfunded to investigate

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

Around 1200 senior nurses from around the world will attend an International Nursing Council conference in Wellington after the New Zealand Nursing Organisation won hosting rights.

Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says the International Nursing Council (ICN) has announced New Zealand will host the 2028 Nursing Practitioners and Advanced Practice Nurses conference.

“This conference in September 2028 at Tākina will bring around 1200 senior nurses to Wellington and showcase Aotearoa New Zealand. It follows a bid by NZNO, the Wellington City Council and Tourism New Zealand at an ICN conference in Helsinki, Finland in 2025.

The theme for the conference is Titiro Whakamuri, Arataki Whakamua, or Look Back. Lean Forward.

“It comes from the Māori whakataukī ‘ka mua, ka muri’ or ‘walking backwards into the future’ which reminds us that as we move forward, we are strengthened by the experiences, wisdom, and courage of those who have gone before us,” Kerri Nuku says.

“Across Aotearoa New Zealand, the journey of Nurse Practitioners and Advanced Practice Nurses has been to lead change where it matters most – alongside whānau, communities, and services working for better, fairer health outcomes.

“Their contribution reaches beyond diagnosis and treatment. They are redesigning services, strengthening communities, influencing policy, mentoring future generations of nurses, and bringing together clinical expertise, nursing values, cultural understanding, and systems leadership to improve health outcomes for our people.

“They embody what it means to look back and lead forward. They are carrying the strength of those who have gone before us while creating the change our people, our communities, and our future need now.

“We are looking forward to welcoming nurses from around the world to Wellington Aotearoa New Zealand in 2028,” Kerri Nuku says.

Source: Flinders University

23 September 2026

Electric vehicle batteries that can no longer efficiently power cars could be given a second life supplying energy for homes, farms and remote communities through a project at Flinders University.

Researchers are working with Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited, ResourceCo and other industry partners to develop a commercially viable pathway for repurposing end-of-life electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle batteries.

Supported by a Green Industries SA grant, the repurposed batteries could be used for lighting, water pumping, energy storage and reducing reliance on diesel generators.

The project is one of 21 industry collaborations showcased yesterday at the $19 million Flinders Factory of the Future at the Tonsley Innovation District.

The showcase highlights how the Factory of the Future helps industry partners test, develop and commercialise new technologies.

It also features FORGE Medical Devices, a $12 million initiative backed by the Australian and South Australian governments. Building on almost two decades of the Medical Device Partnering Program, FORGE aims to support 30 new ideas and 17 technologies towards clinical trials and commercialisation.

Turning ideas into Australian-made products

Built on the former Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited assembly site, the Factory of the Future brings together researchers, businesses, government and students to solve manufacturing challenges and turn new technologies into commercial opportunities.

Supported by $10 million from the Australian Government and $9 million in funding from the South Australian Government, its expertise includes automation, artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing, digital twins, prototyping, testing and workforce development.

The Factory of the Future also connects students with industry and provides training in the skills businesses need to adopt new technologies.

Supported by the South Australian Department of State Development, the $4 million Manufacturing Growth Accelerator helps small and medium-sized manufacturers adopt advanced technologies and improve productivity.

Factory of the Future – By the numbers (Federal and State MGAs)

• Engagement with 250 South Australian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
• 50 SMEs assessed for further support or tailored roadmap
• 37 Accelerator projects started with 37 SMEs

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers is welcoming changes that will further enhance New Zealand’s strong international reputation for high animal welfare standards in the dairy sector.

“New Zealanders can be very proud of our animal welfare standards that already go further than most other countries,” Federated Farmers dairy chair Karl Dean says.

“Kiwi dairy farmers are great at what we do. We produce high quality, sustainable and safe dairy products with some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world.

“The revised Code of Welfare: Dairy Cattle, released earlier today, shows we’re not resting on our laurels. We’re constantly striving to lift the bar and do better.”

The work of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and the wider sector in shaping these improvements speaks to the commitment to caring well for our livestock.

“We need to have a proactive attitude and continue building on that strong international reputation and brand,” Dean says.

“Dairy is so important for our rural communities and New Zealand’s economy. We’re the largest export earner and support more than 50,000 farm and processing jobs.”

Key changes in the revised code include:

• A new minimum standard related to the feeding, rearing, and weaning of calves. Calves must have access to milk or milk replacer at least twice-a-day in the first 2 weeks of their life.
• Dairy cattle with a body condition score of 3 or below will only be able to be transported off-farm with veterinary approval.
• Minimum standards relating to the tethering of dairy cattle will be strengthened, and new regulations on tethering will be developed following public consultation.

The revised code comes into effect from 19 April next year.

“I’m confident our dairy farmers are invested in making any changes to their farm practice to meet the new standards,” Dean concluded.

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace says Environment Canterbury (ECan) has thrown rural households ‘under the tractor’, after the regional council voted to ‘resolve’ the nitrate emergency it declared just one year ago.

Greenpeace Programme Director Niamh O’Flynn says, “Resolving the emergency makes it sound like it’s sorted, but a few discussions from the council has not magically cleaned up the nitrate pollution that is wrecking our rivers and poisoning the water in people’s kitchen taps.”

“Tens of thousands more cows have been consented for Canterbury, which is only going to exacerbate the existing crisis. ECan has essentially written off the problem, let polluters go for gold, and left households to stump up the costs associated with trying to access safe drinking water for their families.”

“In ten years time, when rural people in Canterbury are looking for who was responsible for allowing the dairy industry to poison their water, they should look at the records of this council meeting, and the politicians who have aided and abetted the dairy industry in its pollution.”

Greenpeace says this move to minimise the nitrate emergency, at the behest of industry lobby groups like Federated Farmers and Dairy NZ, is spineless.

O’Flynn says, “ECan has a bare minimum responsibility to keep telling the truth about the situation in Canterbury. There is a nitrate emergency. It hasn’t gone away – if anything, it’s gotten worse. And the only thing that the regional council has put in place to deal with this is a Drinking Water Action Plan which does not address the source of the pollution, and puts the onus back on households.”

ECan’s Drinking Water Action Plan prioritises education and evidence gathering, but does not provide solutions to stopping pollution from getting into groundwater in the first place.

“The evidence of the problem is clear,” says O’Flynn. “Prioritising ‘evidence gathering’ instead of calling time on the issue and addressing the source of the problem, is not only kicking the can down the road, but condemning more Cantabrians to increased risk of bowel cancer, pre-term birth, and the anxiety about their drinking water for years to come.”

“ECan has a responsibility to protect source water and stop it from getting polluted in the first place. But if its not willing to maintain its declaration of a nitrate emergency, then it is safe to assume they will not be taking action to make sure it doesn’t get worse.”

Greenpeace says that while ECan has a responsibility to protect drinking water at the source and advocate for its constituents, central Government is ultimately responsible for the failure to protect rural people’s health.

“The source of the nitrate emergency is the intensive dairy industry – an industry that successive Governments have let off the hook for decades. Fonterra and the other dairy corporations are poisoning rural drinking water and they’ve managed to avoid any kind of accountability for it.”

“Ultimately, the solution is clear. We need fewer cows, a ban on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser use, and a transition away from intensive dairying, towards ecological practices that don’t poison our drinking water and pollute our lakes and rivers.”