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Aspirational vs achievable

June 14, 2021 Share

Wednesday’s final report by the Climate Change Commission challenged the target of 100% renewable electricity by 2030 saying it was more “aspirational” than achievable.

 

In the 419 pages, dubbed by some as the ‘road map to becoming carbon neutral by 2050’, that goal was lowered to somewhere between 95%-98%.

 

That’s fortunate as our current level of achievement with renewable electricity has dropped from a 84.9% high in 2016, to 78% (June 10, MBIE Quarterly Energy Statistics) — an 8.5% decrease.

 

It’s a trend that could continue.

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Regulation gap while bill is on hold

June 04, 2021 Share

NATIONAL’S Food Safety spokesperson Barbara Kuriger is throwing her support behind Natural Health Products NZ (NHPNZ).

The industry body with more than 145 members represents 85% of the country’s natural health industries, manufacturers, suppliers and branded goods companies.

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Comments not helpful

June 03, 2021 Share

I posted a clip on my Facebook page after a climate change discussion on TVNZ’s Q&A, Sunday May 30.

The topic wasn’t the problem, but there was a comment by one panelist, Iwi Chairs Forum spokesperson Mike Smith, supporting reducing the nation’s herds, who referred to dairy farmers using terms of “selfishness” and “greed”, “producing products for an elite market in Europe”!

He also wants more than a 15% nationwide reduction. This kind of uninformed, totally out-of-touch view of our country’s agribusinesses and how they operate is staggering!

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The power of two

May 28, 2021 Share

NATIONAL’S spokesperson for Energy and Resources is sending a shout out to two of New Zealand’s biggest energy companies.

Barbara Kuriger says winter is looking considerably better thanks to an agreement announced today by Genesis Energy and Methanex.

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The Minister is 'off planet'

May 28, 2021 Share

I’ve decided Minister O’Connor and I must live in an alternate reality.

And that’s a problem as it’s affecting Rural New Zealand and its communities badly.

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We're already in trouble

May 28, 2021 Share

“LISTEN to the experts.”

That’s National Energy & Resources spokesperson Barbara Kuriger’s recommendation to the Government following the release of a Gas Industry Company’s consultation paper on Monday.

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Drawing the line at online services

May 20, 2021 Share

RURAL communities are the second largest city in the country (600,000+ people), generating more than $26 billion in earnings, thanks to the dairy and red meat sectors alone.

“Yet those numbers don’t seem to rate highly enough with banks or the Government and its agencies,” says National Rural Communities spokesperson Barbara Kuriger.

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A promise is a promise

May 20, 2021 Share

NATIONAL’S spokesperson for Rural Communities Barbara Kuriger is backing yesterday’s call by Federated Farmers for the Government to deliver on its election promise to protect productive farmland.

“The Feds want a full review of government policies which are leading to the loss of productive farms, export income, employment and the undermining of rural communities,” she says.

 

 

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Govt stands by while farmers brace staff shortage impact

May 20, 2021 Share

With just 14 days until New Zealand’s dairy season begins, the dairy sector is bracing itself for the impacts of a severe labour shortage, National’s Rural Communities spokesperson Barbara Kuriger says.

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Why are we waiting?

May 19, 2021 Share

Why are we waiting?

The headline says it all really.

National Party Energy & Resources spokesperson Barbara Kuriger cannot understand why the energy industry, and the country, is still waiting for the Government’s Just Transition plan.

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