Jacinda Ardern has told us that this is the year of delivery. What she means by that is unclear. Policies which make sense? More ministers who mislead Parliament or try to buy votes? Perhaps there will be action which will help stimulate the economy.
Home Block columnist Charlotte Rietveld alludes to the fact the PM may be talking about having another baby which is guaranteed to keep her on the front cover of magazines and retain popularity.
The Government’s billion trees programme and zero carbon target is screwing the scrum with companies buying up good farmland for forestry. It must be hard trying to make business plans (or even personal ones) while erratic policies keep flying out of Wellington.
Even renowned businessman and local government funding chairman Craig Stobo has reported as characterising Shane Jones’ provincial growth fund as boondoggle. A terrible waste of money.
Now the Government is considering a capital gains tax. In theory introducing a proposed capital gains tax is likely to slow down house and land sales as people will be reluctant to sell on the open market.
They might be more liable to sell within an existing entity. There is likely to be a lot of cunning plans hatched to avoid paying CGT.
In this issue we deliver gems, like our stories on the pathways into farming. With land, stock and plant prices high who is going to enter? One of the ‘facts’ bandied about is that the average age of farmers is their early 60s. Is that true or is it the age of the owners and not the ones doing the work?
The cost of entering may be high but is it harder or are there different ways to get a stake in farming?
If I was young again I’m not sure I would go farming or would I. Perhaps because I’m thinking like a baby boomer as there are those among generation Z and millennials who are confident of overcoming compliance issues such as environmental or health and safety. They tend to be tech savvy and using technology to help navigate their way through problems.
Nick and Sophie Brown are using new technology including a drone to improve their farming while they manage 470ha.
Sarah and Tom Wells are leasing a sheep and beef farm but have gone one step further by landing a lucrative deal to supply an airline with their beef.
It is not just the younger farmers making changes. Grant and Sandra McMillan have reduced their sheep labour costs by 61% after switching to wool-less sheep. Their shedding Wiltshire ewe deaths have halved and animal health improved. Lamb growth rates have increased.
