Speeches 2010
Save our farms…from those who wish to save our farms
Released 17 Nov 2010
Having recently returned from China, where I spoke on the New Zealand farming system at the China Yangling Agricultural High Tech Fair, I look forward to having a major discussion on foreign investment. Read more »
The New Zealand farming system
Released 02 Nov 2010
Federated Farmers of New Zealand was established in 1899 to provide farmers with the means to manage their off-farm risks. We are an independent union of farmers for farmers and comprise individual farms, farming families and allied industries. Read more »
What will be the issues for dairy farmers in 20 years time?
Released 03 Sep 2010
If we look over New Zealand’s history our story is pretty straightforward. We have some dirt, we’ve got some water, we grow some grass and from that we convert it into protein. It’s this protein that we sell to the four corners of the planet, earn some export dollars and pay our bills back here at home. The Dairy industry, of course contributes significantly to that and is on a growth rather than contraction path. Everyday we are trying to figure out how to do the process in this slide better. Read more »
Going forward, not backwards
Released 29 Jul 2010
With a certain log of wood in hand and a booming economy, you get the feeling Southland could almost become the Farmers Republic of Southland. Read more »
Spreading the word
Released 28 Jun 2010
With a certain log of wood in hand and a booming economy, you get the feeling Southland could almost become the Farmers Republic of Southland. Read more »
Challenges, opportunities, success
Released 25 Jun 2010
Last evening we celebrated the best agriculture has to offer. If there was a World Cup for farmers we’d be Brazil. Which makes Monday’s historic 1-1 draw with World Cup holders, Italy, as well as our historic placing above them in our Group, so very sweet. Read more »
Water, water everywhere (except when we need it)
Released 04 Jun 2010
Water has been described in a Forbes publication as being the ultimate commodity. Given this, New Zealand has the ultimate competitive advantage unless public policy, regretfully again, snatches defeat from the jaws of victory. Read more »
New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme - world famous in New Zealand
Released 18 May 2010
Its ironic Federated Farmers has had more media coverage in Australia on the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme than back across the Tasman. Here, you have a media that has shown a detachment and a willingness to revisit past positions; in New Zealand we get clichés. Let me illustrate. Read more »
Working with forestry
Released 10 Apr 2010
The New Zealand Farm Forestry Association was formed in 1957 and we were formed in 1899. You have 29 branches throughout New Zealand while we cover 24 provinces. You have five special interest groups while we, similarly, have seven specific industry groups. Your members manage or own six percent of New Zealand’s plantation forestry while our members directly contribute to half of New Zealand’s merchandise exports. Read more »
Yes we can catch Australia
Released 28 Feb 2010
While we’re probably not on Michael Laws Christmas card list, we believe the interests of farming serves the future of New Zealand. Read more »
