Are Kiwis Organic Growers?
07:28:07 PM - 2007-07-27
ARE KIWIS SLOW TO JUMP ON THE ORGANIC BANDWAGON?
According to a former UK organic farmer, kiwis are slow to jump on the organic bandwagon as growers and consumers.
In the United Kingdom 65% of all consumers buy organic food and last years turnover of the gaint United States whole foods market chain was $5.6 billion.This company started off in 1990 with a turnover of just US$45,000 and continues to grow at 25% every year. The reluctance of
New Zealand to embrace organics remains a mystery to this former UK farmer.
So are we slow to jump on the Organic Bandwagon.
Here are so of the reason why Kiwis are slow :
As an industry it is not consumer led and New Zealand is a big distance from the overseas markets.
There is also little government support for organics, weak reguluation of the conventional sector and poor food labelling laws.
Research into organics is uncoordinated and under-funded and suffers from a difficult investment climate.
There is limited cheap labour available.
A big advantage for organic farmers in the UK is subsidies.
So there is the answer why Kiwis are slow to jump on the Organic Bandwagon.
Farmers do not get any Subsidies in New Zealand for Farming our land.
It all comes out of the Farmers Pockets, not the Tax Payers Pockets.
Elsie Hagley |
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Tui's Crude Oil - Good New's!
06:50:30 PM - 2007-07-21
NEW'S - TUI'S CRUDE OIL PRODUCING BEFORE END OF JULY!
Good news for New Zealand!
The $700 Million Tui offshore oil feild will begin Producing before the end of July 2007.
The 50,000 barrel-a-day Tui flow is needed, because right now New Zealand's Crude Oil Production is at a 30-year low.
The last time it was that low was in 1975 which was prior to the beginning of gas and condensate production from Maui offshore field.
None of this Tui Crude Oil will go to New Zealand Refinery at Marsden Point.
Tui's light and sweet oil will be exported to Australia and Asia where it will command premium International Prices.
Any increase in Oil Production is good for New Zealand as it help us progress towards self sufficiency in Crude Oil supply, but it also represents income for New Zealand Government via the royalties it charges on indigenous Oil and Gas production. It is good for Taranaki too, as a result the Oil and Gas Industry is a major drive of economic activity.
The beginning of production from Tui, development of the Maari and Kupe offshore fields, and continuing exploration activities on shore and offshore, is Great New's for employment in the region, as 770 fulltime workers in 40 businesses, this was last years statistics contributing,
$733 million to the region.
The current High International Price for Crude Oil - is now at a 11 months high and worth more than NZ$100 a barrel.
Elsie Hagley |
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Port Taranaki Invests Millions!
06:50:15 PM - 2007-07-18
PORT TARANAKI INVESTS IN SOUTH ISLAND PORT OF GREYMOUTH!
Taranaki's - Port Taranaki has grown dramatically with a multi-million dollar investment in the South Island Port of Greymouth. The Taranaki Regional Council owned port is now the major shareholder of a new company that will upgrade and operate Greymouth - the harbour from which millions of tonnes of coal will soon be shipped to Taranaki for export overseas. The cost of the development will be up to $20 million N.Z. Currency.
The new company Greymouth Terminal Company Ltd is held 50.1% by Port Taranaki Ltd and the rest belongs to Port Westland. Greyport will lease the facility from Port Westland for an initial period of 23 years.
The announcement comes just weeks after completion of a $20 million harbour deepening at Port Taranaki so it can remain viable as a major export port capable of handling big Panamax-sized container vessels bulk carriers and tankers.
Port Taranaki and its activity employs 1485 people and contribributes $290 million to the regional economy.
Port Taranaki is New Zealands second-largest export by volume when costal trade is included and it is the fourth largest by value. While the investment in South Island Port of Greymouth will initially hit Port Tarananki profitability, it will provide substantial future income streams.
The redevelopement of the Port of Greymouth is with out doubt the biggest most significant development in their district in recent history, it will breathe new life into a port that over many years has been allowed to run down.At the same time it will create a new and exciting source of income for the district.
When Pike River exports are at their peak, two specially built 135m ships will transport the coal from Greymouth to Port Taranaki, where it will be stockpiled before being loaded into the Panamax-sized bulk carriers for export.
Spare capacity on these ships will enable the shipment of many other cargoes including wood, containers and fertiliser. |
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Climate Changes Worldwide!
08:18:59 PM - 2007-07-11
CLIMATE CHANGES - CAN THE WORLD IGNORE THE SIGN'S?
Climate changes - we have all heard about it - What can we do about it?
Here in New Zealand in the last month, east coast of the North Island where in their worst drought they had had in 125 years. All though they have had rain it is still a long way from over, a drought is only over when feed covers are back up to where they should be for that time of the year. Most farmers will not have enough feed at lambing and calving time to get the production they want. So their options are either to sell stock or buy supplements. The biggest losses are the weight those animals have loss, it increases the risk of stock death as there is not enough time for them to recover their weight before the new season start, so the east coast of the North Island in New Zealand are really feeling the pinch this winter. Meanwhile all Autumn saved feed is not there in Northland, it is all in flood waters, they are now having the second flooding in three months.
On Tuesday Morning (10 July 2007) the storm battered and delivered once in 150 years floods to the far north on the North Island N.Z - where 24 hour later there still remained a state of civil emergency in force, as a month's worth of rain fell in less than 12 hours, closing roads and thousands without power, some will not get power before the weekend, fallen trees had knocked down power lines and floods was hampering repairs, winds where bashing the Northland at over 100 km a hour.
Yesterday mornings (11 July 2007) winds and rain continued to lash Northland, with gale-force winds south easterlies in Whangarei, but last night, the worst of the weather had moved out to sea.
Hospital were running on emergency generators and petrol stations were unable to pump gas.
In the Far north, power company said the storm was more devastating to its power supply than the Cyclone Bola in 1988.
All this bad weather followed the $7 million Bill for the Tornadoes in Taranaki Last Week.
Yes can we go on ignoring the Climate changes in the world, New Zealand is only a very small part of the world, there is so much disaster over the world lately due to all the climate changes.
Elsie Hagley |
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Taranaki Hit BY Tornado's!
09:08:37 PM - 2007-07-05
TARANAKI STATE OF EMERGENCY AS TORNADO'S ATTACK THE PROVINCE!
AT Least 6 Tornado's have swepted across Taranaki Province in the last 24 hour's and more expected.
Trees have been uprooted, roofs flung from houses and powerlines torn from poles.
Meteorologists describe the Taranaki coast as a tornado hotspot as series of thunderstorms swept in from the tasman Sea spawning numerous tornado's last night on dusk, Miraculously here has been no serious injuries.
Power was cut to 7000 households in Taranaki effecting up to 20,000 people (Our household was one of them).Lucky no tornado came near Urenui, my Daughter living near Waitara one tornado stop about 100 meters from her home.
This is the second tornado to cause mayhem to the Waitara area, as about two years ago, in that same area two people lost there lives due to a Tornado going through 6.00am in the morning when farmers where milking there cows.
In Oakura, westside of New Plymouth is the worst damage up to 50% of the Houses's are damaged.
104km of distruction in Taranaki, Egmont Village, Stratford gateway to Mount Egmont/Taranaki.
The South side of Taranaki, Hawera, Normanby area had homes damaged, it is unclear at the momment, as the radio
is saying that power is still to br restored to farming area.
Maybe just as well it is winter and most farmres have their cows dried off.
Tornado's are not good, let's hope there will be no more tonight.
Elsie Hagley |
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