Sunday 27th Jun 1999
Owen Jennings
Media Release -- Other

ACT Conferences Focus On Rural New Zealand

ACT is gearing up for a strong campaign in Rural New Zealand over the next two weekends at Rural Conferences in Taupo and Timaru being run by the Party's Rural Spokesman Owen Jennings.

Owen Jennings said the Party would be showcasing its strong line up of rural candidates at the North and South Island conferences that kick off in Taupo on Friday night.

"ACT has really worked hard in rural New Zealand since the last election and our impressive candidates reflect the Party's standing on the farms and in the rural towns and communities.

"The many thousands of miles ACT's 8 MPs have travelled on the ACT Bus through heartland New Zealand on our 'listening tours' have really put us in touch with the issues Rural New Zealanders need addressed.

"The conferences are totally focused on those issues and ACT's practical plans to tackle them.

"We have achieved real gains for farmers like the abolition of stamp duty. But, there is still a long way to go to cut the red tape and bureaucracy that is biting deep into the profitability and viability of farming families. We have listened carefully to the problems farmers are facing and are recognised as the Party committed to getting the Government off their backs.

"The conferences are an important working weekend for ACT's rural candidates and myself to finalise our rural policy and work through our election strategy in the rural electorates.

"Farmers from the Taupo and Timaru regions will join the Conference open forums to hear keynote speakers from the agriculture industry and discuss their concerns as part of the afternoon programme.

"ACT is committed to a strong campaign in Rural New Zealand. We have laid the ground work well over the last two years and will continue that work with our experienced and talented candidates this election," said Owen Jennings.

Programmes for the Taupo Rural Conference 2&3 July 1999 and Timaru 9&10 July are attached.

ACT NORTH ISLAND RURAL WORKSHOP Friday 2nd July 1999 & Saturday 3rd July 1999

ACT NORTH ISLAND RURAL WORKSHOP
Friday 2nd July 1999 & Saturday 3rd July 1999

THE LAKELAND OF TAUPO MOTEL, TWO MILE BAY TAUPO

FRIDAY 2ND JULY 1999
5pm-6pm CHECK-IN & REGISTRATION TO WORKSHOP
6pm-10pm INFORMAL EVENING, CASH BAR, TEA & COFFEE

SATURDAY 3RD JULY, (9.00am-3.00pm CLOSED SESSIONS)
0900 0910am M.C. WELCOME KEVIN MORATTI.
9.10-9.15am. JOHN THOMPSON INTRODUCE OWEN JENNINGS
9.15-10.10am OWEN JENNINGS Q&A TIME
10.10-10.30am MORNING TEA
10.30-10.35am ROD TROTT INTRODUCE MURIEL NEWMAN
10.35-11.25am MURIEL NEWMAN MP Q&A
11.25-11.30am BREAK
11.30-12.15pm RURAL NZ PERFORMANCE REVIEW
12.15-1pm LUNCH
1pm-1.55pm OPEN FORUM- RMA, LOCAL GOVERNMENT,
1.55pm-2.00pm BREAK
2pm-2.55pm OPEN FORUM - PROPERTY RIGHTS, PRODUCER BOARDS

Conference opens to the public and media
2.55-3.15pm AFTERNOON TEA OPEN TO THE MEDIA & GUESTS
3.15 3.20pm IAN CARLINE INTRODUCE MATTHEW PICKERING
3.20-4.00pm MATTHEW PICKERING NATIONAL BANK RURAL MANAGER
4.00-4.05pm BREAK
4.05-4.10pm PENNY WEBSTER INTRODUCE ALISTAIR POLSEN FEDERATED
FARMERS 4.10-5.00pm ALISTAIR POLSEN VICE PRES FEDERATED FARMERS
5.10-5.15pm WRAP UP KEVIN MORATTI 5.10-5.15pm OWEN
JENNINGS TO CLOSE CONFERENCE

ACT SOUTH ISLAND RURAL WORKSHOP
Friday 9th July & Saturday 10th July 1999

THE BENVENUE MOTOR INN, 22 EVANS STREET, TIMARU

FRIDAY 9TH JULY
5.00-6.00pm CHECK-IN & REGISTRATION TO WORKSHOP
6.00pm-10.00pm INFORMAL EVENING, CASH BAR, TEA & COFFEE

SATURDAY 10TH JULY (closed sessions 9.00am-3.00pm)
9.00 9.10am M.C. WELCOME DEAN RICHARDSON
9.10-9.15am GERRY ECKHOFF INTRODUCE OWEN JENNINGS
9.15-10.10am OWEN JENNINGS MP Q&A TIME
10.10-10.30am MORNING TEA
10.30-10.35am GERRY ECKHOFF INTRODUCE RICHARD PREBBLE MP
10.35-11.25am RICHARD PREBBLE CBE, MP Q&A
11.25-11.30am BREAK
11.30-12.15pm RURAL NZ PERFORMANCE REVIEW
12.15-1.00pm LUNCH
1.00-2.00pm OPEN FORUM - RMA LOCAL GOVERNMENT
2.00-2.50pm OPEN FORUM - PROPERTY RIGHTS, PRODUCER BOARDS
Conference opens to the public and media
2.50-3.15pm AFTERNOON TEA OPEN TO THE MEDIA & GUESTS
3.15-3.20pm GRAHAM HEWITT TO INTRODUCE MR BOB WEBBER
3.20-4.00pm NATIONAL BANK RURAL BANKER MR BOB WEBBER
4.00pm-4.05pm BREAK
4.05-4.10pm GRAHAM HEWITT INTRODUCE TOM LAMBIE OF FEDERATED
FARMERS 4.10-5.00pm TOM LAMBIE VICE PRESIDENT FEDERATED FARMERS
5.00-5.10pm WRAP UP DEAN RICHARDSON 5.10-5.15pm
CLOSE OWEN JENNINGS

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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