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A Bill that delivers a more transparent and efficient dairy market passed its third and final reading in Parliament today.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you Andrew and thank you Horticulture New Zealand for inviting me to speak with you today.

I want to use this as a good opportunity to talk about the one issue that is a genuine concern to many people in this room – New Zealand’s biosecurity system.

It’s also a good opportunity to challenge some of the exaggerated allegations about our biosecurity system.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter was on hand today for the graduation of the first labradors to become biosecurity detector dogs.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter today paid tribute to Hawke’s Bay businessman Graeme Lowe who has passed away following a long illness.

“Graeme was a true pioneer of the meat industry, leading Lowe Corporation from its inception in 1964 to become a major animal by-product processor and exporter.

“He was a hugely respected figure whose contribution to the industry was recognised just a fortnight ago when he was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter has welcomed today’s announcement of a major investment partnership for New Zealand’s export beef sector.

The Government’s Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) is to fund half of a $23.7 million programme led by Brownrigg Agriculture and Firstlight Foods to produce high-value marbled beef for premium markets.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter has welcomed immediate action on the recommendations of an independent review of import requirements and border clearance processes.

“I asked the Director-General of the Ministry for Primary Industries to commission an independent review of the relevant import health standards and border clearance processes in light of the outbreak of the kiwifruit vine disease, Psa,” says Mr Carter.

I would like to acknowledge your President Bruce Wills, Vice-President William Rolleston, Chief Executive Conor English, provincial presidents and delegates.

I am going to touch on topics across both my Primary Industries and Local Government portfolios and I am happy to take questions from you shortly.

I know you’ve just had a session on Local Government but I’d like to explain briefly what’s driving the reforms from the Government’s point of view.

New Zealand agriculture marks a significant milestone on 1 July when the National Animal Identification and Tracing scheme (NAIT) goes live, says Primary Industries Minister David Carter.

“NAIT is an important partnership between industry and the Crown which began eight years ago in recognition of the growing need for better animal identification and tracing systems.”

The scheme is mandatory for cattle from 1 July 2012 and for deer on 1 March 2013.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter has today announced further measures to protect Maui’s dolphins.

Following a public consultation process, the existing recreational and commercial set net ban will be extended along the Taranaki coast from Pariokariwa Point south to Hawera, and out to two nautical miles.

In addition, the use of commercial set nets between two and seven nautical miles in this area will be prohibited without an observer on-board.

Farmers and growers impacted by a biosecurity incursion may be eligible for recovery assistance under a new Biosecurity Recovery Framework, Primary Industries Minister David Carter announced today.

The new framework will sit alongside existing support measures provided to farmers and growers affected by significant climatic events, such as droughts and floods.

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.

It’s great to be back at New Zealand’s premier agricultural event.

I would like to acknowledge those on the stage with me:

• Rt. Honourable Jim Bolger (Chancellor, Waikato University)

• Professor Roy Crawford (Vice Chancellor)

• Sir Dryden Spring and David Hisco (ANZ Bank)

Primary Industries Minister David Carter will represent New Zealand at the APEC Food Security Ministerial meeting in Russia next week and travel to the US for a round of high level agriculture meetings.

The APEC meeting in Kazan will focus on a range of issues concerning agricultural productivity, including longer-term investment in sustainable agriculture and the role of international trade in improving food security.

The Government today announced it is to require reflagging of foreign-owned fishing vessels operating in New Zealand waters to address labour, safety and fisheries practice concerns.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter and Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson say foreign-flagged fishing vessels will no longer be able to legally operate in New Zealand waters after a four-year transition period.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter and Environment Minister Amy Adams are welcoming further progress in New Zealand’s fresh water management with the release today of the Land and Water Forum’s second report.

The report on fresh water governance and setting limits continues the work on water reform initiated by the Government in 2009 and builds on the Forum’s first report released in 2010.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, President, Executive Committee, and Federation members. I am delighted to address your Conference today, especially in my role as the Minister responsible for New Zealand’s fishery resources. 

To begin, I’d like to talk to you about the Government’s focus on economic growth, and the contribution that your industry can make to this growth.

You are a major part of the powerhouse of our economy – our primary sector. 

I am delighted to have the opportunity to reflect on the important contribution that deer farming has made – and continues to make – to the New Zealand economy, and to underline the Government’s continued support to enable the deer sector to achieve its potential.

The Government today released a consultation document setting out proposed changes to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.

“The ETS is the most cost effective and efficient way we can reduce our emissions and do our fair share on the global issue of climate change,” say Climate Change Minister Tim Groser and Primary Industries Ministers David Carter and Nathan Guy.

A Bill which oversees Fonterra’s farm gate milk price setting and aims to deliver a more transparent and efficient dairy market passed its first reading in Parliament today.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter told Parliament that because of Fonterra’s dominance, its farm gate milk price is effectively the default price that all dairy processors in New Zealand must pay to attract supply from farmers.

Mr Speaker, I move that the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill be now read a first time.

At the appropriate time, I intend to move that the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill be considered by the Primary Production Committee and that the Committee present its final report on or before 1 June 2012.

A new bill detailing proposals to oversee Fonterra’s farm gate milk price setting and ensure a more transparent and efficient dairy market was tabled in Parliament today by Primary Industries Minister David Carter.

“Because of Fonterra’s dominance in the New Zealand market, the price it pays its farmers for milk at the farm gate effectively becomes the default price that all dairy processors must pay to attract supply from farmers,” said Mr Carter.

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.

I know it’s a cliché to say that we live in ‘interesting times’ and I could start any speech to an annual meeting by saying this – but for sheep and beef farmers it’s very true.

2011/12 was a bumper season for most farmers. Despite the recent sharp decline in sheep meat prices, it was certainly the best that I have seen in my farming career.

The Government is considering further measures to protect Maui’s dolphins as a new study points to a decline in numbers of the critically endangered species.

A population assessment commissioned by the Department of Conservation shows the number of adult dolphins has gone down in the six years since the previous assessment, with an estimated 55 adult animals remaining.

The importance of the whole primary sector to New Zealand’s economy is recognised in the Government’s decision to rename the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, says Primary Industries Minister David Carter.

The new Ministry for Primary Industries will encompass all government work across the agricultural, horticultural, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry and food sectors, as well as biosecurity.

The Government has resolved to take a stronger line on the operation of foreign charter vessels (FCVs) in New Zealand waters, say Primary Industries Minister David Carter and Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson.

The Ministers today released the report of the Ministerial Inquiry into Foreign Charter Vessels.

The Inquiry, which was initiated by the Government last year, focused on several issues, including labour standards and protecting New Zealand’s reputation.

Mr Carter says the Inquiry panel has done a thorough job.