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The Royal New Zealand Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel HMNZS OTAGO has successfully completed its first patrol of the season in the Southern Ocean - one of the world’s most challenging environments.

“It is important to New Zealand and the world that we protect the fragile marine environment of the Southern Ocean by helping to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing,” Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter says the go-ahead for the Wairarapa Water Use Project has the potential to irrigate an additional 30,000 to 50,000 hectares of land and boost the area’s GDP by $400 million.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter is welcoming a boost to New Zealand’s biosecurity frontline with the graduation today of 46 new recruits.

With training completed of the largest intake of border staff in over a decade, the Ministry for Primary Industries is issuing warrants to 43 new quarantine inspectors and three new detector dog handlers at a ceremony in Auckland.

Battery cages for layer hens are to be phased out under a new Code of Welfare released today by Primary Industries Minister David Carter.

From tomorrow (7 December), no new battery cages can be installed by egg producers and a staged phase-out of existing cages will begin.  By 2022, all battery cages will be prohibited.

“Scientific evidence and strong public opinion have made it clear that change is necessary.  We need alternatives to battery cages,” says Mr Carter.

A package of support measures is to be made available to North Island kiwifruit growers affected by the Psa-V vine disease, Primary Industries Minister David Carter announced today.

Mr Carter has declared Psa a medium-scale biosecurity event under the Government’s Primary Sector Recovery Policy, triggering further assistance for growers dealing with the impacts of the disease. 

Primary Industries Minister David Carter has welcomed the announcement of another successful Primary Growth Partnership bid which lifts the total invested to more than $650 million.

The Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) is to fund half of an $87 million innovation programme proposed by leading meat exporter ANZCO.

Further strengthening a primary industries relationship and boosting trade is the focus of a visit to India by Primary Industries Minister David Carter.

“India is a rapidly rising player in the Asia-Pacific region and New Zealand is keen to develop stronger economic and agricultural ties,” Mr Carter says.

The Minister will also travel to Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter and Environment Minister Amy Adams welcomed the release today of the third and final report of the Land and Water Forum (LAWF).

“This report presented to the Government marks the culmination of three years’ hard work by LAWF and we thank the members for tackling the tough issues of New Zealand’s fresh water management,” say Mr Carter and Ms Adams.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter today announced amendments to the Raw Milk Regulations, the rules by which independent milk processors can access raw milk from Fonterra.

“The Regulations ensure dairy processors can access raw milk when they are starting up and aim to support competition in domestic dairy products,” Mr Carter says.

“The changes follow an extensive consultation and review process on how best to achieve a fair and efficient dairy market in New Zealand.”

The key amendments are:

Australian Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Hon Joe Ludwig will visit New Zealand for bilateral and primary industries meetings over the next two days.

Hon Ludwig, who will be joined by Primary Industries Ministers from NSW, Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory, will meet with Minister Carter this afternoon.

"This visit is a valuable opportunity to discuss two-way trade and issues in the primary sector that affect both Australia and New Zealand," says Mr Carter.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter has welcomed today's announcement of another successful Primary Growth Partnership bid which lifts the total allocated to around $600 million.

PGP is to fund nearly half of a $14.6 million programme led by PGG Wrightson Seeds to develop new pasture and forage crop technologies.

"In just three years, the PGP programme has worked with industry to develop some of the most exciting primary sector research and innovation proposals New Zealand has ever seen," says Mr Carter.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter has welcomed a move by New Zealand fish quota owners to forego fishing an increased orange roughy stock in the interest of long-term sustainability.

A bill that makes the most significant changes to the Biosecurity Act in 15 years has passed into law.

The Biosecurity Law Reform Bill makes a wide range of amendments to the Act, along with related amendments to four other Acts.

“New Zealand has a highly effective biosecurity system which is recognised as world-leading, but the legislation has not kept pace with the way the system has had to evolve to meet ever-growing challenges,” says Primary Industries Minister David Carter.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully and Primary Industries Minister David Carter today announced a new convention to manage fisheries across the South Pacific.

The convention establishes the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO), which will manage waters from Western Australia to South America, including the Tasman Sea and South Pacific Ocean.

“This is the culmination of six years of work by the New Zealand Government,” Mr McCully says. New Zealand co-sponsored the negotiations, alongside Chile and Australia.

Australia and New Zealand have today strengthened their long standing cooperation on forestry issues by signing the Arrangement on Combating Illegal Logging and Promoting Sustainable Forest Management. The signed Arrangement illustrates a shared commitment to working together to address illegal logging and promote sustainable forest management.

Nathan Guy is heading to Australia today for a range of meetings covering the Veterans’ Affairs, Immigration, and forestry portfolios.

Mr Guy will be meeting with Australian ministers and officials in Canberra to discuss planning for the 2015 Anzac commemorations at Gallipoli.

“It’s important we work closely together on what is going to be a very important event for Australia, New Zealand and Turkey.”

Mr Guy will also be meeting with Australian Immigration Minister Chris Bowen.

The Government is asking New Zealanders for their feedback on proposed changes to the animal welfare system.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter says the proposals set a strategic direction for animal welfare and improve the way the Animal Welfare Act operates.

"Animal welfare matters. It matters because how we treat animals says something important about us as a society.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter will travel to the United States tomorrow for a primary industries summit, and talks with agriculture sector political leaders and officials.

The Minister will meet with a range of agricultural organisations, including the Tri-Lamb Group and US Cattlemen’s Association to discuss common New Zealand–US primary industry interests.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter says updated scientific research has played a key part in his decision on management measures for the Auckland Islands squid trawl fishery (SQU6T).

Mr Carter today announced the maximum number of accidental fishing related sea lion deaths for the 2012/13 fishing season is to remain at 68.

“Improved scientific research shows Sea Lion Exclusion Devices (SLEDs), that enable sea lions accidentally caught in fishing gear to escape, are working. 

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

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.