Scoop  Parliament

Ministerial Statement On Kiwifruit Disease

When Parliament resumed the Agriculture Minister David Carter made a ministerial statement on the discovery of the kiwifruit vine disease Pseudomonas syringae pv. Actinidiae (Psa) on a number of vines in a Bay of Plenty orchard.

Mr Carter said resources were being made available to deal with the issue and while the disease was a potentially a serious threat to the sector, there was no need to panic at this stage.

A number of political parties spoke in support of the Government's action but Labour and the Greens were critical of what they described as cuts to biosecurity spending.

© Scoop Media

 

Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

Gordon Campbell: On Why Big Spenders Are Not Our Tourism Salvation

Covid and climate change have been changing the face of tourism. That’s why it seemed oddly premature last week for Tourism Minister Stuart to announce that New Zealand isn’t interested in mass tourism any more, or in attracting the sort of budget visitors who “travel around our country on $10 a day eating two-minute noodles.” Instead, New Zealand aims to focus its marketing efforts on attracting wealthy, big spending tourists. “In terms of targeting our marketing spin,” Nash said, “it is unashamedly going to be at … High-quality tourists.” Really? The comments have raised a few eyebrows overseas, and a few hackles here at home. Nash’s comments have also been something of a gift to an Opposition adept at portraying the Ardern government as a bunch of liberal elitists out of touch with ordinary people...
More>>