Hon Damien O’Connor

Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor today announced changes to the legislation governing the dairy industry.

​​​​​​​The Wellbeing Budget provides opportunities to grow and modernise New Zealand’s economy while ensuring a just transition to a low emissions future. We need to preserve and enhance our environment, as part of the foundation for our long-term wellbeing.

Almost 8,000 dairy farming locations are yet to re-register with the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme ahead of Moving Day.

The Government has announced an extra $400,000 to help West Coasters recover from the devastating March floods.

The findings of the independent review into New Zealand’s biosecurity passenger and mail controls released earlier today are pleasing and will be valuable for future planning, Biosecurity

Proposed law changes to further improve the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme were unveiled today by Minister for Biosecurity Damien O’Connor.

Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor has today expressed his thanks to Biosecurity New Zealand, the horticulture industry and everyone working on the fruit fly response in Auckland, as well as residents in the affected suburbs.

New survey research, released today, shows farmers are focused on sustainability and the impacts of climate change more than ever.

Minister for Rural Communities Damien O’Connor has welcomed the Minister of Health’s commitment to develop rural health training hubs.

Government Ministers Damien O’Connor and Eugenie Sage are visiting the West Coast to see how flood recovery work is going and hear views of the local community.

Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor says he is disappointed in the lack of unity between commercial beekeepers, as demonstrated by the failed apiculture commodity levy.

Changes to the Terms of Reference for the Interim Climate Change Committee will better prepare the Government to initiate meaningful change to key legislation, addressing the implications of our changing climate.

New Zealand’s primary sector exports continue to exceed expectations with revenue forecast to grow 6.9% on the previous financial year.  

Minister for Agriculture and Rural Communities Damien O’Connor announced today that the medium-scale event classification for the Tasman drought would be extended to cover Marlborough and Buller as well as

Hundreds of fruit fly traps will be checked daily and monitoring of the greater Auckland region will be stepped up following the discovery of a second Queensland fruit fly, Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor said.

Minister for Biosecurity Damien O’Connor says the second find of an unwanted fruit fly is disappointing and the Government is committed to ensuring it doesn’t establish here.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor travels to the United Arab Emirates this evening and then onto Egypt for meetings on trade, food security and agricultural technology.  

A New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement was top of mind in discussions today between Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and the EU’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Minister of Civil Defence Kris Faafoi and Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor have confirmed further Government support for the Tasman community, to help smal

A medium-scale adverse event has been declared for Tasman district, unlocking further Government support for farmers and growers, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has announced.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says the Southern Institute of Technology’s takeover of the Telford campus of Taratahi is a great move and will deliver the certainty needed for their students and staff.

The Coalition Government is taking action to ensure a key part of New Zealand’s biosecurity infrastructure is up to standard, Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor announced today.

The most sophisticated X-ray technology available to scrutinise the bags of international travellers for any unwanted pests was unveiled today at Auckland Airport by Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor.  

The latest winners of a New Zealand and CCAFS-funded international PhD scholarship have been announced following a three-fold increase in applications.