Politics
Primary Sector
Farmers vs industry on day one of Zero Carbon bill hearings
By Pattrick Smellie Aug. 1 (BusinessDesk) - Farming communities' fears of mass tree planting ran smack into industries with big carbon footprints on the first day of hearings on the government's zero carbon legislation. Parliament's environment select committee heard from a...
Policy
Government announces new vocational education structures
By Rebecca Howard Aug. 1 (BusinessDesk) - Up to seven industry-governed Workforce Development Councils will be formed by 2022 to help tackle skill shortages and a mismatch between training currently provided and the needs of employers, the government says. The new councils...
Policy
New national drinking water regulator confirmed
By Pattrick Smellie July 31 (BusinessDesk) - A new central government regulator will take over responsibility for the nation's drinking water supplies after gaps in the current system were exposed by the 2016 Havelock North drinking water contamination that poisoned hundreds a...
Economy
UK trade secretary wants FTA with NZ 'one of the first' after Brexit
By Rebecca Howard July 31 (BusinessDesk) - UK International Trade Secretary Liz Truss reaffirmed the UK's commitment to move quickly on a free trade deal with New Zealand as soon as the country leaves the European Union. "I want New Zealand to be one of the first free trade...
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Pattrick Smellie
Founding Editor
Pattrick was judged New Zealand's best overall columnist and business columnist of the year at the Voyager 2021 Media Awards. He has more than 35 years’ experience reporting and working in New Zealand politics and the commercial sector. A former Press Gallery chairman, he is an award-winning journalist and has worked for titles including The Dominion, The Press, Sunday Star-Times and National Business Review. He was the first NZ correspondent for The Australian and co-founded BusinessDesk in 2008.
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