Green Party co-leader Rod Donald today said he was excited at visiting the first trial plantations of industrial hemp when they were planted later this year.

"I am really looking forward to visiting these trials in both the North and South Islands and I am hoping that all growers harvest good yields," he said.

"I am looking forward to seeing the range of products that come out of these trials."

Mr Donald congratulated the Hemp Industries Association for finally getting approval to conduct these trials and he also acknowledged the support given by groups like Federated Farmers.

"I am really pleased that, after years of lobbying, a plant that could offer much to New Zealand farmers is finally being given a fair go," he said.

"It will be a great thing to see these crops in the ground and growing."

Ends

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>