Bringing rural experience to Civil Defence role

Federated Farmers congratulates Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy for his increased ranking and taking on the Civil Defence portfolio as part of the cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Bill English this afternoon.

Mr Guy has taken a close interest in recent emergencies and natural disasters in rural New Zealand, including the last year’s Hurunui/Kaikōura earthquakes, and more recently the cyclone damage and flooding in the Bay of Plenty and Hauraki.

He has a strong understanding of the agriculture sector and the provinces and this will bring a useful rural perspective to the civil defence network and response, which has tended to have an urban-centric focus, said Federated Farmers board member Katie Milne.

ENDS